answersLogoWhite

0

The Illuminati is a fictional group based on the "Bavarian Illuminati," an Enlightenment-era secret society founded on May 1, 1776, which disbanded in 1785. The term continues to be used in popular fictional references, and in conspiracy theories. The actual modern existence of any such group is unproven.

The term "Illuminati" is the Latin form of "enlightened".

The movement was founded in May 1, 1776 by Johann Adam Weishaupt, of Ingolstadt, Bavaria. Alternative names for the Illuminati are known as Perfectibilists, The Order of the Illuminati, or Illuminatus. The movement is commonly referred to an offshoot of the Enlightenment-era and is said to be modeled from the Freemasons. They were allowed to operate freely only until 1785, when a keen proponent of "Enlightened Absolutism", the Duke of Bavaria, Charles Theodore, banned all secret societies from operating. The order itself was said to have had over 2000 members in ten years, many of them prominent politicians and leaders, and its influence extended into several European countries.

The Illuminati are often associated with Freemasonry. While there are some similarities there is one striking difference between them. The Illuminati were not a democratic, egalitarian movement. The Freemasons were a proto-democratic, egalitarian movement and have not changed much today. Both groups excluded woman from joining, but today there are female chapters of the Freemasons. Both groups had non-dogmatic belief systems, both favor Deism, and neither is associated with Satanic or Anti-christian beliefs as is commonly argued. George Washington himself was said to have been a Freemason.

The Illuminati are commonly associated with Conspiracy Theories by those who support and disapprove of such organizations. Those who are in favor of the Illuminati say that they are a group of free thinkers who want the best interest of the people they secretly hide from. They want to bridge the differences that come from politics, religion, and social order. Those who are not in favor suggest that they are the group behind the "New World Order," the movement that will cause corruption and ultimately the fall of governments. Their apparent goal is said to be a "Utopian" society where all of the world's countries are unified under one government.

This would require, however, that a modern Illuminatiactually exist, and there has never been any indisputable evidence to that effect.

To put it simply: there is no evidence whatsoever of this group existing past the 1700's. No living person has ever been proven Illuminati in a court of law. It is ludicrous to assume that such an organization could function for well over 200 years without a single exposure.

User Avatar

Wiki User

12y ago

What else can I help you with?