In recent years, more and more often in films and popular science works they tell who the Illuminati and Masons are. There is definitely a difference between them, but what it is, it is not immediately clear to an ignorant person. There is a feeling that they pursued similar goals and acted by the same means. What makes them different?
Masons and Illuminati
So who are the Illuminati and the Masons? The difference between them is very significant, some are convinced. Others believe that these are identical concepts.
Now the topic of secret conspiracies of world government and underground societies is very popular. This was mainly due to films and books. For example, a series of Dan Brown novels and their adaptation.
In such works of art and semi-documentary works, mysterious sects and secret organizations are mentioned more and more often. These, of course, include Masons and Illuminati. The similarities and differences between them will be discussed in this article.
The already mentioned secret societies are out of competition in the frequency of their mention. They are by far the most popular.
The premise for the emergence of secret societies
One of the first relevance and popularity of secret societies was felt by the American writer Dan Brown. On the pages of his novels, the Illuminati turned into dangerous and sinister sectarians who threaten everything that could disturb them.
In fact, in order to understand how Masons differ from the Illuminati, you need to carefully study the history of this issue. The Illuminati appeared in the second half of the 18th century. Then the Enlightenment reigned in Europe. This was a significant period for the development of the continent, which was characterized by large-scale ideological changes.
Many religious worldview began to be perceived as obsolete and irrelevant. He needed a replacement. All this gave rise to the emergence of secret societies that sought to set forth their own values and principles of life in this world. The Illuminati have become one of these communities.
Who are the Illuminati?
At the end of the 18th century, the Illuminati were one of the many European secret societies. Moreover, there were relatively few of them - no more than 700 people. They were mainly concentrated in Bavaria. The order was administered by the German theologian and philosopher Adam Weishaupt.
At the same time, the Illuminati officially did not last long. By 1784, local authorities abolished them. Then just began a large-scale campaign to combat secret societies that did not allow the Catholic Church to live in peace.
Among the achievements of the Illuminati, one can only note that they were included in the official lists of secret societies. From there, their name fell into anti-Masonic writings. And already from them conspiracy theorists of the late XX century borrowed it.
So it seems strange to relate such societies as the Illuminati and the Masons. The difference between them seems to be obvious. The Illuminati did not have a powerful and well-conspired organization. At least now there is not a single evidence that would confirm this.
Officially, society ceased to exist, and its members continued their activities in various Masonic lodges. Hence their main similarity.
Their main goal was to improve man. They believed that this could be achieved by building a "new Jerusalem."
Masonic organization
Researchers are sure that the Illuminati and Masons are unfairly ranked. The difference between them is very significant. It’s worth at least to say that most of the Illuminati were originally Masons. For example, their leader Weishaupt lured into his organization lower-level Masons who were unhappy with their insignificant position in the boxes.
In general, the history of relations between these organizations is rather complicated. Most of the Illuminati were simultaneously Masons. And they were them before they were inspired by Weishaupt's ideas, and remained them after the organization of the Illuminati was liquidated.
The Masonic organization itself is an example of a powerful structure that exists according to its rules and principles, with secret symbols and classified from uninitiated rituals.
The movement of Masons appeared in 1717. Today they are considered representatives of one of the most powerful secret organizations. It is with them that legends about the existence of world government are most often associated.
Secret symbols
Secret gestures of Masons and Illuminati are often similar. The most famous of them is the eye in the pyramid. The pyramid is one of the key symbols of these secret societies, it means the structure of the current government, when all of humanity on planet Earth is controlled and subordinated exclusively to a group of the elect, to which representatives of these societies belong.
Sometimes the emphasis in this sign is on the eye, which is called the All-Seeing Eye.
The difference between the Masons and the Illuminati
It can be concluded that the Illuminati and the Masons are almost the same people. True, the Illuminati nevertheless expressed some ideas with which most representatives of the Freemasons would never agree.
First of all, we are talking about the rejection of the religious and mystical component. The Illuminati recognized the existence of God; they were all believers. They considered him the creator of the universe, but at the same time denied him any significant role after that in modern life.
They believed that at the moment everything is in the hands of man himself and God in no way can influence the further development of events.
From this we can conclude that the Illuminati were a breakaway group from the Masons, who had a common goal with them, but intended to follow different paths to it.