Who are the Illuminati?

[Michie]

Belief that a ‘corrupt elite is secretly running the world’ is one of the longest-running and most widespread conspiracy theories of our time

It has become a “byword for a corrupt elite” ruling the world, said indy100, and supposedly boasts Beyoncé, Madonna, Jay-Z and Donald Trump among its members. The name “Illuminati” is “so powerful that it has begun to rule TikTok”, becoming last year’s “most talked-about counter-mainstream idea”.

The story is “pretty compelling” – but “that’s all it is, a story”. And it is one that the “stars themselves have shrugged off or even mischievously fuelled”. While most of the rumours surrounding the Illuminati and its members are fiction, the group was at one time real – though its influence was not nearly as vast and enduring as modern conspiracists claim.

How did the Illuminati start?​

The idea of an “illuminati”, meaning “enlightened” or “illuminated”, has been around since the 15th century, wrote author and academic Chris Fleming. Early groups included the Spanish Alumbrados (the “illuminated”), who believed people could “attain direct communion with God” and thereby gain spiritual enlightenment without traditional worship or the sacrament. Alleged sympathisers include St Ignatius of Loyola, the founder of the Jesuit order, who was questioned by the Inquisition in 1527 over possible links.

Continued below.

The Illuminati: what is it, how did it develop and who are its members?

Belief that a ‘corrupt elite is secretly running the world’ is one of the longest-running and most widespread conspiracy theories of our time

theweek.com

 

[Michie]

An interesting ending to an informative article concerning the origins of the supposed Illuminati ending with a couple paragraphs about AI-


More than 2,000 participants discussed a conspiracy they believed with an AI system called “DebunkBot”, knowing that they were talking to a chatbot. About 20% of those in the “treatment” group showed a “reduced belief in conspiracy theories” after a three-round back-and-forth conversation, as the bots were “not perceived as having an ‘agenda’”, making them seem “more trustworthy”. Scientists found that the AI chatbots were mostly accurate, too.


Although chatbots can “promote misinformation or conspiracy”,; if their underlying data is wrong, or biased, chatbots can “put together an argument”, which is more persuasive and effective against fake beliefs than “a simple recitation of facts”. The “personalised approach”, with counterarguments “relevant to their beliefs”, made participants “feel heard”, said Psychiatrist.com. One participant who believed in the Illuminati conspiracy said the AI had “shifted their perspective for the first time”, adding that the response “made real, logical sense”.

 

[Gregory Thompson]

Belief that a ‘corrupt elite is secretly running the world’ is one of the longest-running and most widespread conspiracy theories of our time

It has become a “byword for a corrupt elite” ruling the world, said indy100, and supposedly boasts Beyoncé, Madonna, Jay-Z and Donald Trump among its members. The name “Illuminati” is “so powerful that it has begun to rule TikTok”, becoming last year’s “most talked-about counter-mainstream idea”.

The story is “pretty compelling” – but “that’s all it is, a story”. And it is one that the “stars themselves have shrugged off or even mischievously fuelled”. While most of the rumours surrounding the Illuminati and its members are fiction, the group was at one time real – though its influence was not nearly as vast and enduring as modern conspiracists claim.

How did the Illuminati start?​

The idea of an “illuminati”, meaning “enlightened” or “illuminated”, has been around since the 15th century, wrote author and academic Chris Fleming. Early groups included the Spanish Alumbrados (the “illuminated”), who believed people could “attain direct communion with God” and thereby gain spiritual enlightenment without traditional worship or the sacrament. Alleged sympathisers include St Ignatius of Loyola, the founder of the Jesuit order, who was questioned by the Inquisition in 1527 over possible links.

Continued below.

The Illuminati: what is it, how did it develop and who are its members?

Belief that a ‘corrupt elite is secretly running the world’ is one of the longest-running and most widespread conspiracy theories of our time

theweek.com

It started as some bankers that the Pope didn't want to pay back.

Of course back then, the church was still entangled with state governments and had theological applications it does not have today.

 

[Michie]

It started as some bankers that the Pope didn't want to pay back.

Of course back then, the church was still entangled with state governments and had theological applications it does not have today.

Did you read all the history of it?

 

[Gregory Thompson]

Did you read all the history of it?

No, since this is the conspiracy theory section, that's just what I heard. Though this theory is concerning something in the 1300s.

 

[Michie]

No, since this is the conspiracy theory section, that's just what I heard. Though this theory is concerning something in the 1300s.

What I meant was… did you read the article posted on the op? I was just wondering what people’s thoughts are on it. I pretty much believe it myself. What caught my attention was AI walking conspiracy theorists out of the rabbit hole… which I found intriguing. I don’t trust AI as far as I can throw it at this point in time.

 

[Gregory Thompson]

What I meant was… did you read the article posted on the op? I was just wondering what people’s thoughts are on it. I pretty much believe it myself. What caught my attention was AI walking conspiracy theorists out of the rabbit hole… which I found intriguing. I don’t trust AI as far as I can throw it at this point in time.

The article seems in line with standard Illuminati conspiracy theory ideas. Nothing really new since the 1990s version that was prior to AI.

 

[Michie]

The article seems in line with standard Illuminati conspiracy theory ideas. Nothing really new since the 1990s version that was prior to AI.

? How so?

 

[Gregory Thompson]

? How so?

I just recall how the illuminati was a big deal in the 1990s and the kind of stuff they talked about. It didn't sound all that different. The celebrities and politicians and all of hollywood were part of it apparently.

It's just a theory that is popular because the subconscious looking for a reason why certain people get paid to act like a fool, and they don't.

"it seems the whole world is against me" sentiment causes belief in an overarching boogieman. It could be any other name. Illuminati is probably chosen just because it starts with the world "ill."

 

[Coolerranch]

In order to understand what the 666 is or how the “Illuminati" supposedly tie into it, one has to understand what it means to be sealed by God in Revelation. In order to be “sealed" by God a person has to be a finished work of God. They can only do this by believing in the current covenant between God and His people brought forth by Jesus Christ. This is the ram described in Revelation in the throne room of God amidst the 7 lamps. In order to try and hide the covenant God created, satan devised its' own version of the ram by trying to get people to unknowingly be subjected to a very powerful beast, that's kinda a false throne room of God, sustained by a beast called a “dragon." Satan is then able to get people to worship the beast by using a lamb that speaks like a dragon. This is the false ram. The law or method satan uses to get people to take the mark. If you have the mark, you're constantly worshipping or being subject to the beast. Pretty much being satan's idea of Jesus (666). This is so because the people who have the mark don't believe in God's Love or Goodness and how He supports them.

From what I can gather, groups like the Illuminati are supposed be used to try and get people to never escape the mark.

The Bible pretty much only records spiritual history not necessarily physical history so that's why somethings can seem confusing. But we're literally living in the things described in Revelation right now. Somethings have happened in the past, somethings are constantly happening (The 4 horsemen for example), and somethings haven't happened but will in the future.

 

[prodromos]

It sounds like the name of a Boy band made up of PhD's.
[Edit]
What the heck! There are a number of bands named "Illuminati", from Canada to New Zealand and Japan! Don't know if any of the members are PhD's though
[/Edit]

 

[Apple Sky]

@prodromos

In 1776, Adam Weishaupt, former Jesuit and professor of natural and canon law at the University of Ingolstadt, Bavaria, founded a secret society that came to be called the Orden der Illuminati – the “Order of the Illuminati”.

Who are the Jesuit's ?

 

[prodromos]

@prodromos

In 1776, Adam Weishaupt, former Jesuit and professor of natural and canon law at the University of Ingolstadt, Bavaria, founded a secret society that came to be called the Orden der Illuminati – the “Order of the Illuminati”.

Who are the Jesuit's ?

Why don't you google it?

 

[Apple Sky]

Why don't you google it?

I googled it & this is what it read;

• Secrecy and Infiltration. Unlike other orders, Jesuits did not always wear distinctive ecclesiastical garments, leading to suspicion that they could "pass without being recognized and thus to infiltrate unsuspecting society". Documents like the Monita secreta ("Secret Instructions") purported to reveal secret plans for power.

What is the monita secreta?


The Monita Secreta (also known as: Secret Instructions of the Jesuits, or the Secret Instructions of the Society of Jesus) is an alleged code of instructions from Claudio Acquaviva, the fifth general of the Society of Jesus, to its various superiors which claims to lay down methods to expand the power and influence.

 

[prodromos]

There you go
I'm not sure why you asked me in the first place. I'm not Catholic, so I'm not particularly familiar with the various Catholic religious orders.

 

[Michie]

From the op:

The story is “pretty compelling” – but “that’s all it is, a story”. And it is one that the “stars themselves have shrugged off or even mischievously fuelled”. While most of the rumours surrounding the Illuminati and its members are fiction, the group was at one time real – though its influence was not nearly as vast and enduring as modern conspiracists claim.