Originally posted by Valkyr
Surely if all the speculation is so wrong, then we all need clarification. Stop saying the information is out there and start telling it direct, if
you're a Mason then tell us rather than fart around and let us research ourselves leading to finding apparent rubbish about Illuminati links or
whatever.
All this has been elaborated upon
ad nauseum on this forum, in an almost infinite number of threads. These threads usually spread out to 5 or 6
pages, then fade into oblivion, only to have someone else start a new on the exact same subject, asking the exact same questions, a few days later.
It is true that Masonry had (at least indirect) ties to the
real Illuminati. But the real Illuminati, and the “Illuminati” of conspiracy
theorists, are two completely different things. The latter is the product of hysteria, paranoia, and papist propaganda, and has never existed outside
of the fantasies of those inclined to conspiracies everywhere.
The real Illuminati was a semi-secret fraternal organization founded in 1776 in Bavaria (in what is now Germany) by Dr. Adam Weishaupt and Adolph Von
Knigge. Both of these men were Masons, as were most other members of the Illuminati, including Goethe, Mozart, and the Comte de St. Germaine.
We know that Weishaupt was a professor of law at Ingolstadt University previous to having formed the Illuminati. We also know that he was fired by the
Jesuit governors because he was a Deist and a “free thinker”, and “encouraged his students to become free thinkers.” Liberal professors are the norm
nowadays, but were not tolerated by the Roman Catholic Church or Jesuit Electorate of Bavaria.
Weishaupt formed the Illuminati for the purpose of righting these wrongs. Since it was illegal to openly question the government or the Church, he was
forced to organize his new Society in secret. At the time, “illuminati” was a general term applied to all “free thinkers”, who had been “illuminated”
by the Enlightenment. He therefore chose this name for his Society.
The Illuminati consisted of 12 degrees, with the 4th, 5th, and 6th degrees being the first three degrees of Masonry. The Illuminati’s 7th degree was
practically identical to the degree called Scottish Knight of St. Andrew in the Rite of Perfection, which is now the 29th degree of the Scottish Rite
of Masonry.
The Illuminati became revolutionary, and were strongly influenced by the revolution in the American colonies. In America, an Illuminist secret society
called the Sons of Liberty was formed, and its leaders were Washington, Franklin, Jefferson, and Franklin. Their purpose was to organize the
revolutionary movement, and Weishaupt began basing his Illuminati on the model provided by the Sons of Liberty.
The ultimate purpose of the Illuminati was to overthrow the Church’s dictatorship in Bavaria, and establish a constitutional democracy, which allowed
free speech, freedom of religion, and separation of church and state. Almost immediately, the Illuminati were infiltrated by the Bavarian secret
police, which ended with the dissolution of the Order a decade later, and Weishaupt having fled into exile, where he died.
The Church immediately began a propaganda campaign against Illuminism, Freemasonry, and free thought in general. They claimed that Masonic societies
were responsible for the “satanic” revolution in the Colonies, and for the separation of church and state. It was thus the duty of all god-fearing men
to oppose “Illuminism, Freemasonry, Liberalism, and reading and intellectual societies” on behalf of Mother Church, who was the only legitimate
authority. Since the Illuminati called the Church a liar, by stating that all legitimate authority rests with the people instead of the Church, it
must be eliminated.
Modern conspiracy theory is directly descended from the Inquisition’s absurd superstitions, and the Church’s violent anti-intellectual propaganda
campaigns against freedom of thought and conscience. Modern conspiracy theories use the exact same arguments as did their Jesuit forebears. It was a
scourge on reason and liberty then, and remains so today.
Fiat Lvx.
) Mason's are not uniquely different. They just happen to the the topic of
this thread. As I say, I do not mean to offend Masons, but as an organization they are not infallible, much as some members would like to think.
) to created chaos instead of deny ignorance. 
