The Illuminati: The Conspiracy Theory Phenomenon
Over time, some conspiracy theories have become so widespread that they’ve surpassed every other one in popularity, an example of this is today’s topic. Today, we will be covering the Illuminati, one of the most famous conspiracy theories of all time. This conspiracy has introduced many people to the conspiracy theories realm and will no doubt continue to be passed through generations. But what actually is the Illuminati? Join us today as we go over the history, theories, and media around this conspiracy theory phenomenon.
History
The Illuminati’s first presence in history was on May 1st of 1776 because of Adam Weishaupt, a professor at the University of Ingolstadt, in Bavaria, which is a part of present-day Germany.
Weishaupt could not afford the admission fee to join the Freemasons group so instead he founded his own group named “The Order of the Illuminati”. This secret society was very progressive for its time as it was created with the intention to promote Enlightenment ideals such as self-knowledge, self-improvement, social reform, free thought, and especially separation of the church and state. It was initially comprised solely of intellectuals and professors, and it involved secret rituals which led many people to theorize about the going on’s of the group. However, due to the secrecy of the group, its growing influence, and disdain from conservatives due to the societies ideals, it was oppressed by the Bavarian government and had to disband in the late 1780s. Along with this, the recruitment of people into secret societies was criminalized in Bavaria, but supposedly the group secretly continued and even spread to France before finally fizzling out. Despite its short run, the Illuminati left a large influence in its wake, becoming a symbol of secret societies.
The Theory
Throughout the next couple of centuries, the symbol and concept of a secret society known as the Illuminati continued to grow in its lore. The Illuminati is now one of the most well-known conspiracy theories in the world, however, it has changed a lot from the secret group advocating for social change it started as.
One way it grew throughout the centuries was through its symbols, with the iconic Eye of Providence, or an eye within a triangle, becoming associated with the Illuminati along with other symbols like owls and pyramids.
As for the main conspiracy theory around the Illuminati today, it states that the Illuminati never fizzled out and instead became an even more secretive and hidden group which now consists of the most powerful figures in the world. This group supposedly controls governments, societies, and economies with the overall goal is to establish a “New World Order”, or a centralized government with control over the entire world.
There are also several rituals which are allegedly part of the group. First, is Initiation Ceremonies which include things like pledges and symbolic rituals. There is also theorized to be blood oaths where members pledge allegiance through symbolic acts involving blood which symbolize a binding commitment to the group. These ceremonies are said overall to emphasize secrecy, loyalty, and commitment to the Illuminati’s agenda. There are also alleged satanic rituals performed by the group which involve sacrifices, sinister activities, and the overall worshipping of dark forces. Lastly, there is a supposeed heavy use of disguises, aliases, and hidden identities by those involved in the group in an effort for members to conceal their affiliation with the Illuminati.
Involvement with Powerful Figures
There are also various smaller theories about the Illuminati regarding what and who makes up the group or its goals. One popular theory is that powerful figures are involved in the group, ranging from musicians to politicians to financiers and corporate leaders. It is said these people join the Illuminati in exchange for fame, wealth, and success which, after securing, the members then have to use to manipulate the masses and further the Illuminati’s agenda. It is said that through this, the group has been able to manipulate international trade, orchestrate wars, control governments, and influence geopolitical decisions.
The alleged use of symbols and gestures, such as the use of triangles, eye symbols, and hand signs, by influential figures are often cited as evidence for this theory. Many celebrities have been theorized but the most popular are Jay-Z and Beyonce due to supposed symbolic imagery in some of their performances and music videos including at Beyonce’s Superbowl performance. These instances have occurred so often that there was a 2017 article on the topic named “All The Times Beyonce referenced the Illuminati in The Past Year”.
There are a multitude of other popular entertainers theorized including Madonna due to supposed symbolic performances, Justin Bieber due to his quick rise in fame, and Kanye West who has come out and officially stated that he is not part of the Illuminati. West also stated that if the Illuminati is real, it would be filled with people like heads of energy companies, not celebrities who he claims are being “pinpointed as decoys for people who really run the world”.
As for other powerful figures, many have been accused, but especially U.S. Presidents, ranging from Barack Obama all the way to George Washington.
Ancient Societies Involvement
Another popular theory about the group is that the Illuminati has been around for much longer than people believe. Some theorize that the Illuminati has been controlling societies and world events for centuries, branching back to Ancient times such as within Ancient Egypt and Atlantis. Theorists believe this because some have claimed to have found Illuminati symbols and imagery within ancient artifacts, structures, and texts. However, there is no evidence of this, and symbols have been subjective throughout time and cultures so there is no proof that these would have been associated with the Illuminati.
Relationship with Extraterrestrials
Some also theorize that the Illuminati has secret alliances with extraterrestrials who exchange knowledge and resources with each other.
The theorized reasoning for this ranges from technological advancements to wanting to guide humankind’s destiny, like manipulating human evolution to make them more controllable. Some speculate that the group uses the advanced technology from extraterrestrials for mass surveillance and mind control through microchips. This theory also suggests that government officials within the Illuminati provide the group with underground, hidden bases where they can conduct secret operations with the aliens and/or to test their advanced technology while keeping it hidden from the public eye.
Media Control
Another theory is about the media, it is theorized that the Illuminati controls mainstream media including newspapers, news channels, television networks, online platforms, music, and more. It is theorized that the group manipulates the information flow in order to shape public perception and control the narrative of situations such as political events, social issues, and global affairs. It is theorized that the group does this by censoring information that goes against their agenda, promoting propaganda for the group, and displaying symbolism throughout media. Supposedly, this symbolism can be seen in certain images, phrases, or symbols in movies, television shows, and advertisements but are coded and only meant to communicate with members of the group.
Illuminati in Pop Culture
The Illuminati was already a popular theory, but the rise of the internet definitely helped with its growth, leading to the creation of forums to discuss Illuminati theories with people around the world, more access to Illuminati media, and even memes about the group.
There has also been a multitude of cultural references to the group that can be found within media. Some popular examples being non-fiction books like “The Illuminati: The Secret Society That Hijacked the World by Jim Marrs which discusses the conspiracy theory and its alleged influence. Along with fiction books such as “The Illuminatus!” Trilogy by Robert Shea and Robert Anton Wilson which is a satirical take on the Illuminati. The group has also been the focus of documentaries such as the 2016 film “The Illuminati” which explores the history and influence of the Illuminati from a conspiracy theory perspective. It has also been referenced in plots of popular fiction movies such as 1999’s “Eyes Wide Shut” in which the main characters investigates secret societies, including one that resembles Illuminati-like elements.
The group has also been featured in music such as the 2015 song “Illuminati” by Madonna and the 2021 song “ILLUMINATI” by Lil Pump. Lastly, and most popularly within the past few years, there has been a lot of online content covering the Illuminati, especially through YouTube videos. The most popular videos being a skit about the Illuminati from nigahiga named “Proving the Illuminati is Real!” which has over 37 million views as well as a video from Buzzfeed Unsolved Network named “The Secret Society of the Illuminati” which delved into the conspiracy theory and has over 27 million views.
What do you think of the Illuminati conspiracy theory?? Do you believe the Illuminati is a real group? Are they controlling the world? Do they have extraterrestrial connections or advanced technology? Are they hiding on a secret government base? Let us know all your thoughts on our social media pages!!
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