The Illuminati (plural of Latin illuminatus, "enlightened") is a name given to

several groups, both real and fictitious. Historically, the name refers to
the Bavarian Illuminati, an Enlightenment-era secret society founded on
May 1, 1776. The society's goals were to opposesuperstition, obscurantism,
religious influence over public life and abuses of state power. "The order of
the day," they wrote in their general statutes, "is to put an end to the
machinations of the purveyors of injustice, to control them without
dominating them."[1] The Illuminatialong with Freemasonry and other secret
societieswere outlawed through Edict, by the Bavarian ruler, Charles
Theodore, with the encouragement of the Roman Catholic Church, in 1784,
1785, 1787 and 1790.[2] In the several years following, the group was vilified
by conservative and religious critics who claimed that they continued
underground and were responsible for the French Revolution.
In subsequent use, "Illuminati" refers to various organisations which claim or
are purported to have links to the original Bavarian Illuminati or similar
secret societies, though these links are unsubstantiated. They are often
alleged to conspire to control world affairs, bymasterminding events and
planting agents in government and corporations, in order to gain political
power and influence and to establish a New World Order.

The Illuminati (plural of Latin illuminatus, "enlightened") is a name given to

several groups, both real and fictitious. Historically, the name refers to
the Bavarian Illuminati, an Enlightenment-era secret society founded on
May 1, 1776. The society's goals were to opposesuperstition, obscurantism,
religious influence over public life and abuses of state power. "The order of
the day," they wrote in their general statutes, "is to put an end to the
machinations of the purveyors of injustice, to control them without
dominating them."[1] The Illuminatialong with Freemasonry and other secret
societieswere outlawed through Edict, by the Bavarian ruler, Charles
Theodore, with the encouragement of the Roman Catholic Church, in 1784,
1785, 1787 and 1790.[2] In the several years following, the group was vilified
by conservative and religious critics who claimed that they continued
underground and were responsible for the French Revolution.

In subsequent use, "Illuminati" refers to various organisations which claim or

are purported to have links to the original Bavarian Illuminati or similar
secret societies, though these links are unsubstantiated. They are often
alleged to conspire to control world affairs, bymasterminding events and
planting agents in government and corporations, in order to gain political
power and influence and to establish a New World Order.
The Illuminati (plural of Latin illuminatus, "enlightened") is a name given to
several groups, both real and fictitious. Historically, the name refers to
the Bavarian Illuminati, an Enlightenment-era secret society founded on
May 1, 1776. The society's goals were to opposesuperstition, obscurantism,
religious influence over public life and abuses of state power. "The order of
the day," they wrote in their general statutes, "is to put an end to the
machinations of the purveyors of injustice, to control them without
dominating them."[1] The Illuminatialong with Freemasonry and other secret
societieswere outlawed through Edict, by the Bavarian ruler, Charles
Theodore, with the encouragement of the Roman Catholic Church, in 1784,
1785, 1787 and 1790.[2] In the several years following, the group was vilified
by conservative and religious critics who claimed that they continued
underground and were responsible for the French Revolution.
In subsequent use, "Illuminati" refers to various organisations which claim or
are purported to have links to the original Bavarian Illuminati or similar
secret societies, though these links are unsubstantiated. They are often
alleged to conspire to control world affairs, bymasterminding events and
planting agents in government and corporations, in order to gain political
power and influence and to establish a New World Order.
The Illuminati has never numbered more than a few thousand members. A
truly secret society cannot hope to retain its secrets if it reveals them to too
many people. When the Illuminati attempts to spread its ideas to a wider
audience, it does so via carefully chosen religions, organisations, secret
societies and esoteric orders. These groups are often led by members of the
Illuminati, but are not party to the core secrets of the Illuminati. They are
given a flavour of the central ideas of Illumination, but are denied the
complete picture. Even if these groups were to turn against the Illuminati,
they would not be able to betray any primary secrets.

The Illuminati have created the following movements in the course of history:
Ancient Egyptian and Greek Mystery religions, Druidism, Mithraism, most
versions of Gnosticism, Alchemy, Catharism (Albigensianism), the Knights
Templar, Freemasonry, Rosicrucianism.
Illuminati teachings have appeared, albeit in distorted form, in Christianity,
Kabbalah, Zoroastrianism, Hinduism, Buddhism and many other religions.
The religions furthest removed from Illumination are Islam, mainstream
Judaism, and numerous Christian sects that have appeared since the
Reformation.
All religions based on faith rather than knowledge are contrary to
Illumination. All religions that do not teach reincarnation are contrary to
Illumination. All religions that posit a benign creator of the earth are contrary
to Illumination. All religions that place humanity in an automatically
degraded state in relation to divine reality are contrary to Illumination. Men
and women are not afflicted by "original sin". They are not guilty from the
moment they are born as some religions would contend. They are not
condemned by the sins of others (e.g. "Adam and Eve"). They are not subject
to Christian predestination. They are not subject to Karma.
The essence of Illumination lies in the word "Becoming". Religions such as
Judaism, Christianity and Islam are based on "Being". Those who understand
the difference between being and becoming will start to see how Illumination
offers a radically different worldview, one that is utterly breathtaking in the
opportunities it offers to humanity.
But most people are not susceptible to the message of Illumination. The
following words are by Nietzsche, but they could equally well be written by
the Illuminati: