The Illuminati: The Voices of Freethinkers?

[The Vegan Marxist]

This is not to start a conspiracy theory on how a supposed satanic cult is out to control the globe with a New World Order. Far from such as a matter of fact. What I'm actually wondering is if they were in terms with socialistic ideals or if they were just a bunch of freethinking rebels against a certain norm at that time? It's known that they had "progressive politicians" & freethinking artists/writers. Once Karl Theodor became ruler of Bavaria, he ended up banning the Illuminati, in which this led to views & goals they had begun seeking, in which was the overthrow of the Bavarian government. Of course, this was prevented, & the order was forced to go underground, in which led to their fatal disbandment.

On a side note, it's amazing how conspiracy theorists continue to see the Illuminati as a "satanic cult", which was originally made by the Catholic Church because the Illuminati showed an oppositional status against them, & that they want to bring about world governance, despite the fact that it was them who wanted to overthrow a corrupt government when they were still an actual group.

[BAM]

Insofar as you can get reliable information on these guys on the internet (instead of the mad ramblings of conspiracy theorists) it seems that the original Illuminati were Enlightenment radicals, as opposed to socialists.The Illuminati were accused of being all sorts of contradictory things: anarchists and totalitarians, atheists and mystics, etc., etc. "Illuminati" itself means "the enlightened ones" and they seem to have been composed of politicians, lawyers and intellectuals, etc.

They looked forward to a redemption of mankind wherein our true state is to be revealed through illumination and practice of freedom and equality, charity and tolerance. I'd say "freedom and equality" was meant in a liberal way, in terms of legal equality, as opposed to a socialistic way.

I am actually in the middle of reading "The Illuminatus! Trilogy" by Robert Shea and Robert Wilson. It's an hilarious "head-trip" of book and is full of information and dis-information on these guys and I'd say it were well worth a read, so far at least. Or you could go to the websites of David Icke or Alex Jones too ...

[Dimentio]

They were basically proto-liberals and wanted secularism and freedom of thought.

[RED DAVE]

They only existed from 1776-1784.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ILUMINATI

RED DAVE

[Hexen]

They were basically proto-liberals and wanted secularism and freedom of thought.

Or they were basically bourgeoisie rebels against feudalism at the time in favor in the world we got today.

Maybe those conspiracy theories about them kinda makes sense sort of way just without all those crazy speculations but just look what their ideology and who do they represent (a capitalist world it seems).

[A.R.Amistad]

how can a secret country club society be revolutionary? lol

[Hexen]

how can a secret country club society be revolutionary? lol

Exactly my thoughts kinda but the word "revolutionary" is subjective that can be twisted around to serve anyone's/anything's agenda.

[A.R.Amistad]

Exactly my thoughts kinda but the word "revolutionary" is subjective that be twisted around to serve anyone's/anything's agenda.

No matter how subjective it is or not, one cannot say that a bunch of too-square-to-be-frat boys sitting around arguing about whether to have a watercress sandwich or caviar, making their decision secret and making everyone think that they single handedly sparked the American Revolution and hold the key to treasure hidden under Obama's ass is kind of hard to lie to yourself about when you are describing "revolutionary." :laugh:

[The Vegan Marxist]

They only existed from 1776-1784.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ILUMINATI

RED DAVE

I would say that's actually pretty good if, through that short time, they ended up gaining thousands of supporters & members.