Illuminati

The Order of the Illuminati was an elite organization widely believed to have been founded in Bavaria by Adam Weishaupt in 1776 with the primary goal of bringing about spiritual and political change. The organization’s members included forward-thinking, influential leaders from the top tiers of society who opposed what they considered to be culturally entrenched superstition, prejudice, religious oppression, and political abuse. The group swiftly swelled from its original five members to more than 2,000 participants in branches all across Europe at its peak. The Order of the Illuminati had become a substantial political force throughout the world by the time the Pope mandated its demise less than a decade after it emerged. In 1785, the Bavarian government made it a criminal offense to join or support the Order of the Illuminati. Some contend that the group went underground and continues to secretly wield influence over global politics and industry.

Background

Adam Weishaupt was born in 1748 in Ingolstadt, Germany. When his father passed away seven years later, Weishaupt was placed under the care of the Jesuits for his early education. By that time, the Jesuits had gained a stronghold within Bavarian politics and education. The Jesuits were the most influential group in Germany, despite having been suppressed in other countries due to supposed occult practices and subversive leanings.

In 1773, Weishaupt became chairman of natural and canon law at the University of Ingolstadt, which was still under strong Jesuit dominance. By then, Weishaupt had warmed to emerging Enlightenment philosophies that were in direct opposition to Jesuit beliefs and behaviors centered on control and supremacy. He quickly became convinced that the world would benefit from the overthrow of all government and religious institutions. His goal was to replace the institutional establishment with members from a global, selective, and secretive committee that combined spiritualism and politics under a collective sphere of influence which fostered morality and virtue over the perceived decadence and dishonesty permeating society.

To achieve his vision, Weishaupt sought to combine what he had learned from the Jesuits about power and persuasion with his knowledge of increasingly popular occultism. He considered trying to infiltrate the Freemasons with his ideas but ultimately decided the best course of action would be to create his own secret society with select members who would embrace and propagate his views. After the Order of the Illuminati was outlawed—and many believe well before that time—members of the group may have integrated into the Freemason organization, which continues to operate in contemporary times. Modern Masons position themselves as members of a selective interest group that promotes equality and service in society.

Some researchers assert that the Illuminati can trace its roots much further back than eighteenth-century Bavaria. They claim that some of the central philosophies of the order hearken back to the teachings of the Knights Templar, which emerged in the twelfth century as an elite war machine that amassed tremendous political and economic power and asserted significant influence on society while crusading across Europe and the Middle East in the name of religion.

Overview

The Order of the Illuminati originating in eighteenth-century Bavaria was somewhat a product of its times. At that period in history, Europe was entrenched in what is known today as the Age of Enlightenment. Starting late in the seventeenth century many of Europe’s intellectual elite became part of a cultural movement that sought to challenge the status quo in society by emphasizing knowledge over superstition and tradition. In much the same way, the Order of the Illuminati was made up of freethinking leaders who sought to instigate a departure from the political and cultural norms of the day through an orchestrated web of influence, authority, and action.

Weishaupt’s Illuminati became very popular very quickly, exploding from its original five members in Bavaria to some 2,000 active followers across Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, Holland, Hungary, Italy, Poland, and Sweden by the time it was forced to disband just nine years later. Each member of the order—many of whom are believed to have been recruited from practicing Masonic groups—was required to take a vow of secrecy and pledge unwavering obedience to higher-ranking members of the organization.

There were three main levels of authority within the original Illuminati membership base: Novice, Minerval, and Illuminated Minerval. Entry-level (Novice) members of the order were new recruits who had been enticed by promises of enhanced wisdom, personal betterment, and insight into the occult. Novices were shown some of the workings of the order’s Jesuit-like, hierarchical organization but were not made privy to the Illuminati’s political aspirations or intricate power plays.

A Novice who proved to be dedicated to the order and worthy of advancement was promoted to the next level of membership, Minerval. At this second tier of membership, indoctrination into the Order of the Illuminati’s spiritual principles began through formal instruction. Members at the Minerval level were given the privilege to meet and engage in discussions with some of the superior-ranking members of the order, which acted as a strong motivator for new initiates.

Select members from the Minerval class were elevated to the rank of Illuminated Minerval. These elite members were given specific tasks to complete within the order to prepare them for making a mark for the Illuminati cause in the outside world. Toward that end, Illuminated Minervals were educated about human nature and ways to direct it in support of the order’s cause. Each Illuminated Minerval was charged with overseeing a small group of Minervals and guiding them along the Illuminati path.

Additional higher levels that mirrored those of the Freemason brotherhood were added to the Illuminati hierarchy after a German diplomat named Adolf Franz Friederich Knigge joined Weishaupt’s order around 1780. Knigge had significant ties to the Freemasons and is said to have helped pave the way for integration between the Masonic system and the Illuminati.

There are those today who believe that the Order of the Illuminati has been perpetuated through fraternal organizations for centuries. According to some, several key historical events have been driven by the workings of the Illuminati, including the French and American Revolutions, both world wars, and even the rise of communism. Among believers, the group’s rich and powerful members continue to brandish influence over contemporary business, politics, and culture throughout the world.

The Illuminati and Modern Popular Culture

Theories of Illuminati influence have surfaced within the entertainment world and have spread throughout the United States via the ubiquitous and increasingly accessible platforms available through the Internet. In its modern form, the Illuminati has also become associated with Satan and dark magic. These accusations have infiltrated almost every aspect of popular culture, including literature, art, television, and films. Author Dan Brown's novel Angels & Demons, the forerunner to his worldwide bestseller The Da Vinci Code, even features a version of the Illuminati and a fictional plot by the society to destroy its enemy, the Catholic Church.

Perhaps the cultural arena most saturated with suspected Illuminati presence has become the music industry. Successful musicians in genres ranging from popular music to rap have been accused of affiliations with the supposedly defunct society. Some believe that the increased number of lyrics and performances that seem to reference or symbolize the group and its philosophy indicates that the music industry has actually come under the control of the Illuminati. In response to insinuations of her involvement, iconic singer Madonna included a song titled "Illuminati" on a 2015 album, explaining her definition of the society and who belonged. After vocalist and former Christian Katy Perry performed during the halftime show of the Super Bowl early that year in front of millions of fans and viewers, conspiracy theorists took to the Internet to continue labelling her as an Illuminati, citing everything from her lyrics to props and stage design. Such discussions further prove that at least the idea of the Illuminati has and will remain in the cultural conscience.

Bibliography

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