SELLING FEAR
by Gregory S. Camp
Baker Book House, 287 pages, $15.99

Gregory S. Camp subtitles his book, “conspiracy theories and end times paranoia.” He is the perfect one to write on the history of conspiracy because he is an associate professor of history at Minot State University, in North Dakota. He has done advance studies in U.S. history and holds an M.A. in American History from the University of South Dakota and a Ph.D. from the University of New Mexico.

Camp starts with the illusive Illuminati in the 1700s and moves on through nineteenth and twentieth century conspiracy theories. He deals with the Council on Foreign Relations, The Federal Reserve and the Bilderbergers. He further surveys the panorama of New Age conspiracy theory, and also the anti-Semitic, hate mongering strain. It is amazing how much the conspiracy theorists differ among themselves as to the parameters and promoters of the imminent world takeover. In the end it is only the idea of a world conspiracy and imminence of this takeover that unites them.

Nothing is missed in this fine book as Camp deals with the end time conspiracy ideas of Texe Marrs, Jack Van Impe, Hal Lindsey, Pat Robertson, Larry Burkett, Jack Chick and others. These teachers take a biblical and prophetic slant. This book is everything you wanted to know about the conspiracy view of history but didn’t know where to find it.

The author pleads for discernment and caution: “Expect to see even more of this ‘sign reading’ in the months and years to come. You will see them in the area of economics, politics, and religion. All will tend to be highly apocalyptic; some will be conspiratorial in content and tone. Caution, again, must be the watchword for Christians” (pg. 191).

The book is heavily documented with a handy index. It is a voice of reason and sanity in the centuries’ old, ever-changing, paranoid world view. Selling Fear is a fascinating and informative read.

—GRF

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