Illuminati
From RationalWiki
The Illuminati was a small freethinker society founded in 1776 in Bavaria. They ceased to exist by 1789.
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[edit] The legend
The spread of the Illuminati legend and continued belief in them today can be traced back to the book Proofs of a Conspiracy by John Robinson, a 1798 anti-Freemasonry book. It has been referenced and derived from by many conspiracy theorists since and republished by, among others, the John Birch Society. Moreover, many variations of the New World Order conspiracy theory believe that the Illuminati are in charge of the NWO.
[edit] Keeping the fire alive
The alleged continued existence of the "Illuminati" looms large in many conspiracy theories, tall tales by evangelical Satanic Panic-fakers like Mike Warnke and John Todd, crank anti-Semitic and anti-Masonic writings, pseudolaw theories, etc. Depending on which version of the "Illuminati" story one believes, they are either a Satanic, Masonic, Zionist, atheist, reptilian[1], or secular financial conspiracy. They secretly control world events and their symbol, the all-seeing eye, is on the back of the U.S. $1 bill. This belief, in whatever version, is patently ridiculous but it persists.
Several 20th century conspiracy theory books such as those by William Guy Carr and Des Griffin combined John Robinson's allegations about the Illuminati and Freemasonry with those of the hoax book, The Protocols of the Learned Elders of Zion, to come up with an explicitly anti-Semitic version of the Illuminati theory. Jack Chick and Alberto Rivera on the other hand promoted an anti-Catholic variant of the theory, alleging the Illuminati was a creation of the Vatican.
[edit] The liars get on board
As noted above, Mike Warnke and John Todd, two fake "ex-Satanist" Christian evangelists, both claimed the Illuminati was the highest level of Satanism. Warnke claimed he learned of the Illuminati when attending a high-level conference of Satanists and Witches, shortly before he dropped out of Satanism to join the navy and convert to Christianity. Todd claimed to have been a member of the Illuminati himself, which he said was a high council of druids secretly working to destroy Christianity and make witchcraft the official religion of the United States. Belief in the Illuminati as a Satanic conspiracy continues to be held by many evangelical Christians, despite both of those people being exposed as frauds.
[edit] Horizontal transfer of memetic material
More modern conspiracy theories about the New World Order often keep the essential structure and nature of the Illuminati theory but shy away from direct mention of the Illuminati in favor of other groups, such as the Trilateral Commission. Also see our article on memes.
[edit] Illuminati in culture
On a more comic level the Illuminati plays a role in such counterculture books as Robert Anton Wilson's Illuminatus trilogy and the joke religion of Discordianism.
It is also a kick-ass card game put out by Steve Jackson Games.
[edit] Easter eggs
They also have a tendency to put hidden symbols and clues to their existence around the world, and on money, for no apparent reasons.
