"Illuminati", literature

[Marc von Martial]

Hi guys,

I´m looking for a real and trustable book about the history of the "Illuminati". Definetly not one of those that discusses every "23" on this planet as a "conspiracy date". Any recommends?

[wodin]

Try a search on Amazon. Then check the reviews. I do that alot!

[Marc von Martial]

Thanks, I don´t really trust those Amazon reviews on such topics, especially the ones about the "Illuminati" [;)]

I checked quite a few in the last days, non of them were really helpfull.

[KG Erwin]

Marc, you now using administrator privileges on a subject that belongs at the Steakhouse? Hmm, I got dressed down at one time for using my rank for personal use. Be careful here, comrade. [;)]

[Marc von Martial]

I´m simply asking fellow forum members for literature recommandations. Not trying, god beware, to pull up a discussion about the "Illuminati" and what else so seem to be jumpy about with this topic [;)].

I don´t have to be carefull with a literature request I think [8|].

[Brainznik]

Marc,

You may try some of the following:

1) The Illuminatus! trilogy, by Robert Shea

2) A History of Secret Societies, by Arkon Daraul

3) World Revolution, by Nesta H. Webster

Of course, none of these are to be taken "very" seriously. After all, you don't believe in conspiracies... don't you? [:D]

Don't know if there are any titles "auf Deustch" as the historical Illuminati society was from Bavaria. Maybe you could take a short trip down to München for a on site investigation. Who knows what might happen?


-- João Pedro Jacques

[DamoclesX]

Your attempts to gather information about our organization have been noted.........[:'(]

[Clockwork_Shrine]

I was just stopping in this forum for a quick question concerning an old Matrix game, but this caught my eye. Lol

I think the Illuminati are pretty much Robert Shea and Robert Anton Wilson material comprised in several comedy/sci fi novels seemingly intended to unsettle agnostics.

In other words, as far as the Illuminati are concerned, all you're pretty much going to find are conspiracy, metaphysics, and fictional stories.

[coregames]

Hi Marc,
Though Robert Anton Wilson may have a reputation for not taking this subject seriously (due to co-authoring the Illuminatus! trilogy with Robert Shea), he did write a serious non-fiction book about it -- Cosmic Trigger: The Final Secret of the Illuminati. In it he writes less like a man on acid and more like a scholar, and his knowledge of the subject is profound. His mystical background is still clear in the book though, so you might prefer a more pragmatic treatise on the subject. On the web are many sites on the subject, but a good overview is:

http://freemasonry.bcy.ca/Writings/Illuminati.html

Fascinating subject! There's a crackpot theory (among a multitude of them) that George Washington was actually Adam Weishaupt. Certainly, most of America's Founding Fathers were high level freemasons, and no mistaking the eye atop the pyramid on the dollar bill. Also, though Illuminatus! is a psychedelic counterculture work, I still recommend it very highly if you want a flavor of the discordian movement from the late sixties, as well as the nominal sequel trilogy, Schroedinger's Cat.

[coregames]

ORIGINAL: Clockwork_Shrine

I think the Illuminati are pretty much Robert Shea and Robert Anton Wilson material comprised in several comedy/sci fi novels seemingly intended to unsettle agnostics.

In other words, as far as the Illuminati are concerned, all you're pretty much going to find are conspiracy, metaphysics, and fictional stories.

Actually, they were a real organization, outlawed by Pope Clement XIV, and the topic of their founder, Adam Weishaupt, was addressed by no other than the author of the Declaration of Independence:

"As Weishaupt lived under the tyranny of a despot and priests, he knew that caution was necessary even in spreading information, and the principles of pure morality. This has given an air of mystery to his views, was the foundation of his banishment.... If Weishaupt had written here, where no secrecy is necessary in our endeavors to render men wise and virtuous, he would not have thought of any secret machinery for that purpose."
- Thomas Jefferson

[Clockwork_Shrine]

ORIGINAL: coregames

Actually, they were a real organization, outlawed by Pope Clement XIV, and the topic of their founder, Adam Weishaupt, was addressed by no other than the author of the Declaration of Independence:

"As Weishaupt lived under the tyranny of a despot and priests, he knew that caution was necessary even in spreading information, and the principles of pure morality. This has given an air of mystery to his views, was the foundation of his banishment.... If Weishaupt had written here, where no secrecy is necessary in our endeavors to render men wise and virtuous, he would not have thought of any secret machinery for that purpose."
- Thomas Jefferson

Interesting, so what were Weishaupt's intentions? Obviously not world domination. Lol. =)

[Brigz]

Marc,

Try this link:

http://www.stateoftheart.nl/phenomenon/index2.html

Follow the "Cults" link and you will find a section on the Illuminati. May be of some help.

[coregames]

ORIGINAL: Clockwork_Shrine
Interesting, so what were Weishaupt's intentions? Obviously not world domination. Lol. =)

According to one of the many websites devoted to the subject:

Adam Weishaupt founded the Illuminati of Bavaria on May 1, 1776 on the principles of his early training as a Jesuit. Originally called the Order of the Perfectibilists, "its professed object was, by the mutual assistance of its members, to attain the highest possible degree of
morality and virtue, and to lay the foundation for the reformation of the world by the association of good men to oppose the progress of moral evil."

The full text is here: http://www.nii.net/~obie/adam.htm

From what I understand, there was a conflict within the Illuminati about their aims. Weishaupt and Knigge saw the goal as creating a freer, more secular society. Later, rumors emerged that more radical elements had risen up in the organization, favoring bringing the system down from within, including abolishing Christianity. At that point, accusations were leveled against the Illuminati, and Weishaupt in particular, that led to Weishaupt's banishment. It was Barruel's and Robison's accusations that painted the picture of a sinister behind-the-scenes conspiracy to take over the world. If not for those two 18th century McCarthies, the Bavarian Illuminati would probably be deserving of no more than a footnote in history.

[Clockwork_Shrine]

ORIGINAL: coregames

According to one of the many websites devoted to the subject:

"its professed object was, by the mutual assistance of its members, to attain the highest possible degree of
morality and virtue, and to lay the foundation for the reformation of the world by the association of good men to oppose the progress of moral evil."

From what I understand, there was a conflict within the Illuminati about their aims. Weishaupt and Knigge saw the goal as creating a freer, more secular society. Later, rumors emerged that more radical elements had risen up in the organization, favoring bringing the system down from within, including abolishing Christianity. At that point, accusations were leveled against the Illuminati, and Weishaupt in particular, that led to Weishaupt's banishment.

So this was a rather innocent organization merely interested in teaching and maintaining morale order, somewhat like Christianity, however were made into fiends by a few of thier own renegade members, and then, eventually, transformed into monsters by modern day sci-fi novelists. =)

I wonder what benefit it served those members to bring the original Illuminati down?

[coregames]

ORIGINAL: Clockwork_Shrine

I wonder what benefit it served those members to bring the original Illuminati down?

Not to worry, we have something much better in modern times: The Bilderberg. They are much more like what people thought the Illuminati were.

[jjhouston4]

http://www.informatik.hu-berlin.de/~bach/gwd/

[coregames]

have you had any luck finding good sources on the subject Marc?

[sol_invictus]

Check out Kessinger Publishing, LLC on the web. http://www.kessingerpub.com