The Hidden History of the Illuminati
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VOICE OVER: Peter DeGiglio
The REAL Illuminati isn't what you think. In the digital age, where misinformation spreads as swiftly as legitimate news, the Illuminati have become a staple of conspiracy theories, often portrayed as the shadowy puppeteers behind global events. Real political and corporate conspiracies HAVE existed in history (just look up the Tuskegee Syphilis Study or Operation Berkshire)! But the real world is a chaotic and complex place, where conflicts and competing interests decide history. Has anyone close to you fallen down the conspiracy theory rabbit hole? We mean lizard people, New Order, QAnon level. Tell us how family dinners are going in the comments.
The Untold Story of the Illuminati
In the digital age, where misinformation spreads as swiftly as legitimate news, the Illuminati have become a staple of conspiracy theories, often portrayed as the shadowy puppeteers behind global events. But who are the real Illuminati?
The Actual Illuminati
The historical Illuminati, officially known as the Bavarian Illuminati, was a secret society founded in 1776 by Adam Weishaupt, a professor at the University of Ingolstadt. Emerging during the Enlightenment, the Illuminati questioned religious and royal authority, advocating for intellectual freedom, secularism, and self-expression, in stark contrast to the norms of the time.
Weishaupt was inspired by Freemasonry, a fraternal organization promoting moral and spiritual values. He adopted a hierarchical system of ranks within the Illuminati, including Novice, Minerval, and Illuminated Minerval. Members often used aliases to maintain secrecy, with Weishaupt himself going by the name "Spartacus." Other notable members included Johann Wolfgang von Goethe and Johann Gottfried Herder, influential thinkers of their time.
The society sought to establish friendly relations with Freemasonry, recognizing shared values and seeing it as a strategic move to gain influence. Joining the Illuminati in 1780, Adolph Freiherr Knigge played a significant role in these efforts, recruiting other Freemasons such as himself. The group expanded to include members of the nobility and political figures, creating a network of influential individuals committed to Enlightenment ideals.
However, their progressive agenda quickly brought them into conflict with established authorities. The exact membership of the Illuminati at its peak is debated. By the end of 1784, there were around 650 verifiable members, while Weishaupt claimed a figure closer to 2,500. But loose talk led to the society's exposure. By 1785, the Bavarian government, influenced by the Catholic Church's opposition to the group's secular ideas, banned all secret societies, leading to the disbandment of the Illuminati.
The Illuminati Revival
After their dissolution, the Illuminati became a vessel for various conspiracy theories. In the late 1790s, French priest Augustin Barruel and Scottish physicist John Robison published works falsely blaming the group for the French Revolution. They claimed that the Illuminati had survived and sought to overthrow monarchies and religious institutions across Europe. These accusations occurred within a broader effort to discredit Enlightenment ideas by pointing to the chaos of the Revolution. While there's no evidence to support Barruel and Robison’s claims, the narrative served to vilify the Illuminati and link them to societal upheaval. Within short order, these conspiracy theories reached the United States, eliciting fervent sermons and panic.
Amid Cold War tensions in the 1950s, the Illuminati were named alongside Freemasons in the New World Order conspiracy theory. In what became known as the Second Red Scare, or McCarthyism, Republican Senator Joseph McCarthy spearheaded a campaign of fear and persecution against alleged communists in America. In that anxious climate, conspiracy theorists alleged that a communist elite was conspiring to create a totalitarian world government. The theory has often featured antisemitic undertones, implicating Jewish figures and families as part of a global cabal.
Public imagination has also linked the Illuminati to Satanism. In the 1980s, the Satanic Panic swept through American society, with false accusations of ritual abuse becoming widespread. It was triggered in part by the discredited practice of recovered-memory therapy, and the perception of conservative parents that new trends, such as Dungeons & Dragons and heavy metal music, represented Satanic influence. One of the most prominent cases was the McMartin preschool trial, where members of the McMartin family were accused of numerous acts of child abuse. These allegations were later proven to be entirely unfounded, but not before causing a national outcry.
In the 21st century, popular fascination with the Illuminati, Satanism, and celebrity culture has converged, with celebrities like Jay-Z, Beyonce, Katy Perry, Kesha, and Lady Gaga accused of being members - their music videos analyzed for supposed symbols of allegiance. According to Illuminati conspiracy theorists, there’s only one road to fame - a pact with the devil. Strangely, the super secret society seems to have no problem with celebrities signaling their membership. Such symbolism is said to function as subliminal propaganda, compelling people toward black magic. Beware, the evil power of triangles!
Conspiracies Everywhere
Today’s conspiracy theory culture provides fertile soil for claims about the Illuminati. The allure has only intensified in recent decades, thanks in part to a history of actual conspiracies being exposed. Real events such as the Tuskegee Syphilis Study, the CIA's MKUltra program, and CIA-led coups in foreign countries have contributed to widespread distrust of authority. Operation Berkshire, a program initiated in 1976 by the world's major tobacco companies, manufactured and promoted controversy over the established link between smoking and disease. These actual conspiracies lend a veneer of plausibility to more outlandish theories, blurring the line between fact and fiction.
Conspiracy theories have become staples of film and TV, further embedding them into the public consciousness. Social media and the internet have also played pivotal roles. The abundance of information, including misinformation and disinformation, seems to have made the problem worse. Algorithms create echo chambers, reinforcing existing beliefs and biases.
The rise of movements like QAnon, with its echoes of the Satanic Panic, demonstrates that these theories have real-world repercussions. In recent years, we've seen conspiracy theories erupt in actual violence, such as with Pizzagate and the Capitol Riot.
Many of these theories cherry-pick evidence and are constructed to be unfalsifiable, where contradicting evidence is interpreted as part of the conspiracy. Got an argument against the theory? You must be part of the Illuminati!
A Modern Supervillain
One appeal of Illuminati conspiracy theories lies in the simplicity of such explanations for seemingly complex global events. The Illuminati acts as a catch-all supervillain for the many problems that plague the world.
Sure, your own eyes and ears might tell you that the world is a complicated place, driven by competing interests and factions. But that’s an illusion; a secret cabal is pulling all the strings, orchestrating world events. This cabal can predict just how events will unfold, and plan for every variable - a trope known in fiction as the Xanatos Gamble. Every outcome is part of a grand plan.
In a world where we often feel helpless - where powerful individuals, factions, corporations, and lobby groups control events and narratives - it’s a lot easier to blame one overarching villain. Illuminati conspiracy theories offer comfort, giving the illusion of order and control. And because this villain is so abstract, we don’t actually have to do anything about it.
Have YOU got one of those friends who’s convinced that Illuminati lizard people are cloning pop stars underneath Denver Airport? What do you say to them? Tell us in the comments.
In the digital age, where misinformation spreads as swiftly as legitimate news, the Illuminati have become a staple of conspiracy theories, often portrayed as the shadowy puppeteers behind global events. But who are the real Illuminati?
The Actual Illuminati
The historical Illuminati, officially known as the Bavarian Illuminati, was a secret society founded in 1776 by Adam Weishaupt, a professor at the University of Ingolstadt. Emerging during the Enlightenment, the Illuminati questioned religious and royal authority, advocating for intellectual freedom, secularism, and self-expression, in stark contrast to the norms of the time.
Weishaupt was inspired by Freemasonry, a fraternal organization promoting moral and spiritual values. He adopted a hierarchical system of ranks within the Illuminati, including Novice, Minerval, and Illuminated Minerval. Members often used aliases to maintain secrecy, with Weishaupt himself going by the name "Spartacus." Other notable members included Johann Wolfgang von Goethe and Johann Gottfried Herder, influential thinkers of their time.
The society sought to establish friendly relations with Freemasonry, recognizing shared values and seeing it as a strategic move to gain influence. Joining the Illuminati in 1780, Adolph Freiherr Knigge played a significant role in these efforts, recruiting other Freemasons such as himself. The group expanded to include members of the nobility and political figures, creating a network of influential individuals committed to Enlightenment ideals.
However, their progressive agenda quickly brought them into conflict with established authorities. The exact membership of the Illuminati at its peak is debated. By the end of 1784, there were around 650 verifiable members, while Weishaupt claimed a figure closer to 2,500. But loose talk led to the society's exposure. By 1785, the Bavarian government, influenced by the Catholic Church's opposition to the group's secular ideas, banned all secret societies, leading to the disbandment of the Illuminati.
The Illuminati Revival
After their dissolution, the Illuminati became a vessel for various conspiracy theories. In the late 1790s, French priest Augustin Barruel and Scottish physicist John Robison published works falsely blaming the group for the French Revolution. They claimed that the Illuminati had survived and sought to overthrow monarchies and religious institutions across Europe. These accusations occurred within a broader effort to discredit Enlightenment ideas by pointing to the chaos of the Revolution. While there's no evidence to support Barruel and Robison’s claims, the narrative served to vilify the Illuminati and link them to societal upheaval. Within short order, these conspiracy theories reached the United States, eliciting fervent sermons and panic.
Amid Cold War tensions in the 1950s, the Illuminati were named alongside Freemasons in the New World Order conspiracy theory. In what became known as the Second Red Scare, or McCarthyism, Republican Senator Joseph McCarthy spearheaded a campaign of fear and persecution against alleged communists in America. In that anxious climate, conspiracy theorists alleged that a communist elite was conspiring to create a totalitarian world government. The theory has often featured antisemitic undertones, implicating Jewish figures and families as part of a global cabal.
Public imagination has also linked the Illuminati to Satanism. In the 1980s, the Satanic Panic swept through American society, with false accusations of ritual abuse becoming widespread. It was triggered in part by the discredited practice of recovered-memory therapy, and the perception of conservative parents that new trends, such as Dungeons & Dragons and heavy metal music, represented Satanic influence. One of the most prominent cases was the McMartin preschool trial, where members of the McMartin family were accused of numerous acts of child abuse. These allegations were later proven to be entirely unfounded, but not before causing a national outcry.
In the 21st century, popular fascination with the Illuminati, Satanism, and celebrity culture has converged, with celebrities like Jay-Z, Beyonce, Katy Perry, Kesha, and Lady Gaga accused of being members - their music videos analyzed for supposed symbols of allegiance. According to Illuminati conspiracy theorists, there’s only one road to fame - a pact with the devil. Strangely, the super secret society seems to have no problem with celebrities signaling their membership. Such symbolism is said to function as subliminal propaganda, compelling people toward black magic. Beware, the evil power of triangles!
Conspiracies Everywhere
Today’s conspiracy theory culture provides fertile soil for claims about the Illuminati. The allure has only intensified in recent decades, thanks in part to a history of actual conspiracies being exposed. Real events such as the Tuskegee Syphilis Study, the CIA's MKUltra program, and CIA-led coups in foreign countries have contributed to widespread distrust of authority. Operation Berkshire, a program initiated in 1976 by the world's major tobacco companies, manufactured and promoted controversy over the established link between smoking and disease. These actual conspiracies lend a veneer of plausibility to more outlandish theories, blurring the line between fact and fiction.
Conspiracy theories have become staples of film and TV, further embedding them into the public consciousness. Social media and the internet have also played pivotal roles. The abundance of information, including misinformation and disinformation, seems to have made the problem worse. Algorithms create echo chambers, reinforcing existing beliefs and biases.
The rise of movements like QAnon, with its echoes of the Satanic Panic, demonstrates that these theories have real-world repercussions. In recent years, we've seen conspiracy theories erupt in actual violence, such as with Pizzagate and the Capitol Riot.
Many of these theories cherry-pick evidence and are constructed to be unfalsifiable, where contradicting evidence is interpreted as part of the conspiracy. Got an argument against the theory? You must be part of the Illuminati!
A Modern Supervillain
One appeal of Illuminati conspiracy theories lies in the simplicity of such explanations for seemingly complex global events. The Illuminati acts as a catch-all supervillain for the many problems that plague the world.
Sure, your own eyes and ears might tell you that the world is a complicated place, driven by competing interests and factions. But that’s an illusion; a secret cabal is pulling all the strings, orchestrating world events. This cabal can predict just how events will unfold, and plan for every variable - a trope known in fiction as the Xanatos Gamble. Every outcome is part of a grand plan.
In a world where we often feel helpless - where powerful individuals, factions, corporations, and lobby groups control events and narratives - it’s a lot easier to blame one overarching villain. Illuminati conspiracy theories offer comfort, giving the illusion of order and control. And because this villain is so abstract, we don’t actually have to do anything about it.
Have YOU got one of those friends who’s convinced that Illuminati lizard people are cloning pop stars underneath Denver Airport? What do you say to them? Tell us in the comments.
