Yes.
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Depends on how you define "secret society". In free countries, membership in Freemasonry is not a secret, but is openly acknowledged by the wearing of Masonic emblems, etc. Much of the Masonic ritual is reserved to members of the Masonic orders.
However, in some countries ruled by totalitarian regimes and repressive dictatorships, membership in Freemasonry, and other personal freedoms, are outlawed. As a result, Freemasonry in those countries is very much a secret society, and it's membership, meeting times and places, and even the existence of the organization is secret.
No. Freemasonry is not a religion and has no religious teachings, and so it is not a cult. In fact, because it stresses tolerance among people of different religions and practices social interaction among them, Freemasonry is the opposite of a cult. Nor is it particularly secret: its aims and objectives are a matter of public record. Its leadership and membership is only kept confidential where such information might expose the individual to persecution (as is often the case in totalitarian and intolerant regimes). Although Masons do keep certain aspects of their rituals and signs secret, in this respect they are no different from the priest, the civil servant or the bank manager who keep confidential matters confidential.
No
The Freemasons and Illuminati did not merge.
No. While some Freemasons were briefly associate with the Order of Illuminati when that organization existed, when the Duke of Bavaria disbanded the Illuminati in 1785, those who were part of that organization quickly scattered and disavowed any association. Some writers of fiction and purveyors of conspiracy theories still like to draw connections, but there is none other than those manufactured in the imaginations of the paranoid.
No. The Illuminati no longer exists, not since 1785. While many Illuminati were also in the Freemasons, the two were separate orders.
The biggest difference is that the Freemasons exist and the Illuminati no longer does. As I understand it, for the short nine years the Illuminati did exist, not only did it resemble the Freemason organization, many Illuminati members in Ingolstadt, Bavaria were also Freemasons and members of other secret societies.
Nope. While there were a few Masons who were dual members of the Bavarian Illuminati and the Freemasons during the short time the Illuminati existed, when Duke Theodore disbanded the organization in 1785, they quickly distanced themselves to avoid persecution.
secrets, yes-dark-no
As far as the members of 30 Seconds to Mars affiliation with the Freemasons, only those members and the Freemasons know for certain. The Masons are a secret society and do not generally share membership rolls. Regarding membership in the Illuminati, that's a bit easier, none of them. The Illuminati does not exist, so no one is a member.
Well, the Freemasons existed long before the founding of The Order of Illuminati, and continue to exist long after the disbanding of the Illuminati in 1785.
If this question means "Do the Freemasons have anything to do with the Illuminati" the answer is no they don't. The Illuminati died out years ago, but Freemasonry is alive and flourishing.
No. The Masons have no interest in such, and the Illuminati does not exist.
There were several prominent Freemasons who were also Illuminati members, but no other connection has existed since the destruction of the Illuminati in 1785.
No. There are no footballers, no basketballers, no baseballers, no cricketters (sp?), no rugbiers, no one in the Illuminati. The Illuminati does not exist. It is fictionaly, at least since 1785.