Originally posted by General
[email protected] 30 2003, 08:04 AM
...sorry, but can you explain me - what illuminati is? :huh:
While David Icke is good for a laugh (and I will admit, he is one of the more amusing brands of conspiracy theory out there), there are more serious brands of the conspiracy theory.
Historically, the Bavarian Illuminati did in fact exist. It was a secret society founded by a Professor of Theology in Ingolstadt named Adam Weishaupt. Originally he had tried to gain the support of the Freemasons before founding his own society. As early as 1777 he tried to subvert the Masons, and the Illuminati was supressed by edict of the Bavarian government - the first actions taken against it were in 1784, the final outlawing under penalty of death in 1787.
There are in some sources a possible attempted revival of the order in Paris in the 1800s, which quickly fizzled out due to lack of support.
Modern conspiracy theory of the more sane sort usually has the Illuminati acting through "intermediaries" to control the world. Most often named as candidates are the Bilbergers in Europe, the Council on Foreign Relations in America, and the Trilateral Commission. That is assuming they find a way to survive to the present day.
See also:
Catholic Encyclopedia entry, Illuminati (http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/07661b.htm)
Everything is Under Control by Wilson, Robert Anton. Entries on Illuminati and Council on Foreign Relations.
There's another book I have somewhere around here, Rule by Secrecy I believe, that presents a more sane version of the conspiracy theory.