Tagalog, Kimberly Eve S.

English 12: R41

The Illuminati
Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements of the En12 Course First Draft

Sentence Outline

The Illuminati in history was a beneficial and harmless group unlike how it is being typecast in entertainment and pop culture.

Thesis statement: In order to open up the minds of the people about the Illuminati, we should prove that it was a beneficial and harmless group unlike how it is believed to be now.

I.

Introduction

The issue of The Illuminati as an Anti-Christ organization is very rampant nowadays. Many people believe this theory and they become very close-minded about the issue. I believe that the Illuminati were once a beneficial group and this should be proven by this research.

II. A. B.

The beliefs about The Illuminati That the Illuminati in history was a beneficial group That the Illuminati is a secret society that aims to promote a New World Order through

the entertainment industry.

III. A. B. C.

Reasons why the Illuminati is a beneficial and harmless group The Illuminati in history had contributions to sciences and arts. The Illuminati aims for social change and even to transform the educational systems. Its aim was to unify the world without violence.

Introduction A. Significance of the Study Now, in this time of strong media influence, we hear that secret societies control and influence our media. We hear that many of the celebrities we idolize are actually part of these secret societies and are considered Anti-Christs. But what is this secret society they typecast to be evil? This research paper will dig deeper into the Illuminati and its counterparts, including Freemasonry. The Illuminati (enlighted) is a name given to several groups, both real (historical) and fictitious. Historically the name refers to the Bavarian Illuminati, an Enlightenment-era secret society founded on May 1, 1776. In more modern contexts the name refers to a purported conspiratorial organization which is alleged to mastermind events and control world affairs through governments and corporations to establish a New World Order. In this context the Illuminati are usually represented as a modern version or continuation of the Bavarian Illuminati.1 This certain secret society has been said to have contributions in the past, but these contributions were covered by the classification of this being an Anti-Christ group. It is important for us to know the truths behind these secret societies and the benefits they have given to us now. B. Thesis Statement and Supporting Arguments Thesis statement: In order to open up the minds of the people about the Illuminati, we should prove that it was a beneficial and harmless group unlike how it is believed to be now.

"Illuminati." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 12 Oct. 2012. Web. 11 Dec. 2012. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Illuminati>.

The Illuminati in the past was called the Enlightened and many of them emerged during the enlightenment period. The Enlightenment thinkers were also believed to be part of The Illuminati. These Enlightenment thinkers contributed much to Science. The Science that we have now came from these Enlightenment thinkers and they have greatly influenced the world through this. C. Scope and Limitations The scope of my paper is The Illuminati and its counterparts, including Freemasons. It will present mainly on the contributions the said societies have given in history. It will also present the Illuminati in the context of popular culture. It will also include the history of the said societies and how they emerged. My paper will be limited to determining the contributions the said secret societies had and the benefits they have given to us in present time.

Background of the Topic The Illuminati (plural of Latin illuminatus, "enlightened") is a name given to several groups, both real (historical) and fictitious. Historically the name refers to the Bavarian Illuminati, an Enlightenment-era secret society founded on May 1, 1776 in Ingolstadt (Upper Bavaria), as the Order of the Illuminati. 2 It had an initial membership of five, by Jesuit-taught Adam Weishaupt. It was made up of freethinkers as an offshoot of the Enlightenment and seems to have been modeled on the Freemasons. The Illuminati's members took a vow of secrecy and pledged obedience to their superiors. Members were divided into three main classes, each with several degrees, and many Illuminati chapters drew membership from existing Masonic lodges.3 The founder- Adam Weishaupt was a Bavarian professor of law and he recruited his first brothers from among his students. Like the Jesuits, the Illuminati brotherhood was run on military lines. Members were requested to surrender individual judgment and will. Like earlier secret societies Weishaupts Illuminati promised to reveal an ancient wisdom.4 Weishaupt was initiated into the Masonic Lodge "Theodor zum guten Rath", at Munich in 1777. His project of "illumination, enlightening the understanding by the sun of reason, which will dispel the clouds of superstition and of prejudice" was an unwelcome reform.5 He had a goal of perfecting human nature through education to be one with nature, freedom from government and organized religion. He started working towards combining his system of Illuminism with that of Freemasonry.

"Illuminati." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 12 Oct. 2012. Web. 11 Dec. 2012. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Illuminati>. 3 Ibid 4 Booth, The Secret History Of The World, 2008, p 369 5 "Adam Weishaupt." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, n.d. Web. 11 Dec. 2012. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adam_Weishaupt>.

In 1777, Karl Theodor became ruler of Bavaria and his government banned all secret societies including the illuminati. It is known that Illuminism is combined with Freemasonry. It emerged in the late 16th to early 17th century. Freemasonry is a world-wide secret organization professing to be religious in character, having as its object the utter demoralization of the masses, the destruction of all civil and religious authority, and the establishing of a universal God-less state with Masons in control.6 It consists of a Masonic Lodge which is the basic organizational unit of Freemasonry. Between 1797 and 1798 Augustin Barruel's Memoirs Illustrating the History of Jacobinism and John Robison's Proofs of a Conspiracy both publicized the theory that the Illuminati had survived and represented an ongoing international conspiracy, including the claim that it was behind the French Revolution.7 Until today, the Illuminati is still believed to be behind the different happenings that the world faced such as the 9/11 terrorist bombing, the assassination of President John F. Kennedy, the New World Order conspiracy theory, etc. Some famous celebrities are also believed to be members of the Illuminati and they have reflected this on their works. Some of those famous celebrities are Rihanna, Lady Gaga, Mozart, Beethoven, etc. The Enlightenment Thinkers The Illuminati called themselves The Enlightened Ones. These enlighted ones emerged during the Enlightenment Period and they contributed much to the sciences and philosophies we have today.

6 7

Clune, Free Masonry, 1925, p 5 "Illuminati." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 12 Oct. 2012. Web. 11 Dec. 2012. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Illuminati>.

In the year 1717, many men came into the fraternity who were called freethinkers. It means that they chose to think for themselves and were not able to accept many things officially taught by the churches. 8 The High Enlightenment (1730-1780) Centered on the dialogues and publications of the French philosophes (Voltaire, Rousseau, Montesquieu, Buffon and Diderot), the High Enlightenment might best be summed up by one historian's summary of Voltaire's "Philosophical Dictionary": "a chaos of clear ideas." Foremost among these was the notion that everything in the universe could be rationally demystified and cataloged. The signature publication of the period was Diderot's "Encyclopdie" (1751-77), which brought together leading authors to produce an ambitious compilation of human knowledge.9 Secret societiesthe Freemasons, the Bavarian Illuminati, the Rosicruciansflourished, offering European men (and a few women) new modes of fellowship, esoteric ritual and mutual assistance. Coffeehouses, newspapers and literary salons emerged as new venues for ideas to circulate.10 Enlightened rationality gave way to the wildness of Romanticism, but 19th-century Liberalism and Classicismnot to mention 20th-century Modernismall owe a heavy debt to the thinkers of the Enlightenment.11 Equality and Fraternity One of the aims of the Illuminati and Freemasonry is to achieve equality and fraternity among the people. True fraternity and equality stood as the ideals sought by every lodge. Freemasons knew full well that in the larger society there were ranks and stations, but inside the

8 9

A Past Master, Freemasonry: A Candid Examination, 1934, p 56 "Enlightenment." History.com. A&E Television Networks, n.d. Web. 11 Dec. 2012. <http://www.history.com/topics/enlightenment>. 10 Ibid 11 Ibid

lodges, in the citizenry we are members of one body to which we all belong in our society where there is this equality wherein we know no station.12 The Freemasons considered one another as brothers. It is their order to have a society of confraternity and equality. They render to one another the honor and deference that is justly due to them amidst their rank in civil society. The Freemasons were also one of the first societies to accept women. There were moments in the eighteenth century when the Enlightenment endorsed a new social and economic reality that afforded greater freedom and equality to a very few women. By 1780s their participation, particularly in French freemasonry, was increasing commonplace. 13 They considered everyone as equals and they helped promote fraternity among the people in that time. Liberty for the Women Freemasonry became a way of life for some the French women. It provided them chances to hold their charitable activities. It also provided a center for female friendship and hospitality. Their equality among themselves increased as they helped the abused. In their ceremonies, the ritual language began to demand equality in knowledge, wealth, and influence. Women freemasons took up the educative ideals of the Enlightenment.14 The women began to develop justifications for their participation in all social institutions and they acclaimed their ability to live out the valued Masonic ideals. The moment when the feudal tyranny lost its power in France, it was, without doubt the epoch when women tasted the first fruits of liberty; the century of Louis the Great put the finishing touches to the light of justice.15

12 13

Jacob, Living The Enlightenment, 1991, p 147 Ibid, p 138 14 Ibid, p 140 15 Ibid

Conclusion The Illuminati is a secret society that aims to perfect human nature through education, to free us from the government, and to have an organized religion. Many people tend to believe that the Illuminati is behind the many happenings in the world, such as the French Revolution, the 9/11 terrorist attack, etc. Some famous celebrities are even believed to be part of this secret society. They are believed to be Anti-Christ and they reflected this in their works. The Illuminati is also believed to be a group of Anti-Christs who wants to change the world. These beliefs have been labeled to the Illuminati in the entertainment industry and in popular culture. When we see the bizarre costumes and actions of Lady Gaga, we tend to assume that she is part of the Illuminati and that she is an Anti-Christ. In order to open up the minds of the people about the Illuminati, we should prove that it was a beneficial and harmless group unlike how it is believed to be now. The Enlightenment thinkers who contributed much on Philosophy and Science were known to be part of the Illuminati. The Enlightenment period opened up new opportunities for the people during that time. It offered the people a new venue for ideas to circulate thus giving new information and knowledge. The Illuminati also promoted equality and fraternity during those times. The members of the society treated one another as brothers. They treated everyone equality no matter what the rank is of that person in society. The secret societies also gave way to the liberty for the women. Freemasons were considered one of the first societies to accept women. They provided chances for the women to hold their charitable activities. It also became a way for the women to be shown friendship and hospitality. As the women held charitable activities to help the abused, they began to increase

equality among themselves. The women were able to participate in the Masonic ceremonies and they were treated as equals. The Illuminati and its other counterparts like the freemasons, was beneficial in history. With the three proofs said, it showed that they did no harm. In fact, they helped develop the world. There has also been no proof that the Illuminati was behind all the cruel happenings that occurred in the past. The proofs gathered showed that they were in fact beneficial in history unlike how it is being typecasted in entertainment and popular culture. Recommendations for Future Study My conclusions are significant in my research because it showed and summarized all the data that has been gathered. It showed the contributions of The Illuminati in the past and contradicted on what the mass says about the said society. The mass would benefit from this research because it would state the truths about the controversial secret society and it would open up their minds on the said topic. It would make them think twice on what the media and the entertainment industry typecasts certain groups. For future researchers, I recommend the further study of Freemasonry and its link to the Illuminati in detail. I would also recommend the further study of the other secret societies that are counterparts of Freemasonry and Illuminati.

Bibliography 1. A Past Master. Freemasonry: A Candid Explanation. London: Burns Oates & Washbourne Ltd., 1934. 2. Booth, Mark. The Secret History of the World. New York: Overlook, 2008. 3. Clune B.A..L.P.H..B.C.L., Geo. Its Origin, Aims, and Methods. Freemasonry. Ireland, 1925. 4. Jacob, Margaret C. Living The Enlightenment. New York: Oxford University Press, Inc., 1991. 5. "Adam Weishaupt." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, n.d. Web. 11 Dec. 2012. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adam_Weishaupt>. 6. "Enlightenment." History.com. A&E Television Networks, n.d. Web. 11 Dec. 2012. <http://www.history.com/topics/enlightenment>. 7. "Illuminati." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 12 Oct. 2012. Web. 11 Dec. 2012. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Illuminati>.