Humans are incredible creatures. Time and again, we surprise everyone including ourselves by coming up with the most absurd ideas and questionable solutions to non-existent problems, as we have seen in this collection of miscellaneous pictures.

On the other hand, context is everything. Some things may indeed feel and look weird, like a crocodile-shaped baked bread or the famous chicken church known as Gereja Ayam, which sits on a hill in a forest on the Indonesian island of Java. But the truth is, it’s neither abandoned nor was it left by Dutch colonists, as many fan theories suggest.

In fact, there’s a much more down-to-reality explanation for this whimsical architectural object. It was built by a man named Daniel Alamsjah, who’s now 75. According to Atlas Obscura, despite his lack of architectural experience, Alamsjah says he designed the church himself, trying to stay faithful to the dove he’d seen in his vision. And despite everyone telling him he was crazy, the chicken church became one of the most fascinating divine destinations, amassing thousands of visitors every year.

It’s no secret that the internet is a notorious breeding ground for fan fiction, myths, theories and conspiracies that bend reality in unexpected ways. We reached out to Audrey Tang, an award-winning writer, broadcaster, and psychologist who shared some interesting insights into why we come to believe crazy things, and how it comes down to the fact that we are all social creatures.

“Humans are social creatures, and one of the ways in which we establish and become comfortable with our pack status is validation from others,” Audrey explained. She argues that we are quick to establish an “in group” and “out group”: “sometimes for the plain fact that if you are not the latter, this keeps you ‘safe’ from harm (at least for now).”

There are many reasons why people are compelled to believe certain things are true and not others. For example, Audrey argues, “if someone wants to ‘fit in’ they may claim or state a belief that they do not actually hold but this can have the effect of influencing others (although it may cause cognitive dissonance within the person themselves - which is uncomfortable).”

On the other hand, “that claim in itself can then cause other people who also want to “fit in” to also hold it, OR, if the person claiming it is popular, this may create a following of their belief regardless of a) what the belief is; b) whether the endorser believes it; and c) whether the follower believes it too!”

Moreover, vulnerability may be another reason some people have a tendency to believe something, and it relates to the “need” for some description. “If you have a ‘need to fit in’ you may be more likely to change your belief to ‘go along’ with something. Alternatively, if your own personal narrative is such that you need to believe in something – for example, that a psychic can connect with a dear and missed family member – you are more likely to believe it and dismiss evidence to the contrary.”

Essentially, we need to remind ourselves to stay mindful and think critically. “While stories are enjoyable, check the source (ideally the original), and cite it if you are repeating it; be aware of our own influence and responsibilities surrounding that; and certainly, if something is too good to be true – check it out,” Audrey concluded.