Secret Societies and Conspiracy Theories
The Freemasons, a real fraternal organization, and the Illuminati, a real secret society. Their names became linked with conspiracy theories about "puppet masters controlling the world." This chart separates the history of real organizations from rumors and conspiracy theories.
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The connections in words
- Adam Weishaupt Founded it → Illuminati Founded in 1776 by Adam Weishaupt, a Bavarian university professor.
- Illuminati Recruited in lodges → Freemasonry The Illuminati recruited members through Masonic lodges.
- Pyramid Eye Tablet Similar symbol → Freemasonry The eye-and-pyramid symbol is often linked with Freemasonry.
- Illuminati Cast as mastermind → New World Order Conspiracy theories claim it survived its dissolution and controls the world.
- Freemasonry Cast as mastermind → New World Order Its private rituals made it a target of conspiracy theories.
- Illuminati Card Game A game using its name → Illuminati A card game about secret societies; its "prophecies" are after-the-fact interpretations.
- Reptilians Rulers are aliens? → New World Order The claim that the rulers are reptilian aliens. There is no evidence.
- Satanism Linked by rumor → New World Order Baseless rumors that secret societies practice satanism.
- Moon Landing Hoax Theory "The government hides it" → New World Order The same pattern: a hidden truth behind a major event.
- The Urge to Doubt Why it spreads → New World Order
The Story
- Two real organizations
Freemasonry is a fraternal organization whose first Grand Lodge was founded in London in 1717. The Illuminati was a secret society born in Bavaria in 1776 and dissolved about ten years later. Both really existed.
- Secrets breed rumors
Private rituals, and a government ban that forced dissolution, led to rumors that they still control the world behind the scenes.
- "New World Order" as a slogan
The phrase "new world order" originally described the international order after the Cold War. It became a rallying cry for conspiracy theories about secret elites planning world domination.
- Rumors that link up
Reptilian rulers, satanism rumors, the moon landing hoax: baseless stories are tied together in the same tale of a hidden "mastermind."
- Symbols and games
The eye-and-pyramid symbol and a card game about secret societies are sometimes read as "hidden messages." Most are after-the-fact interpretations.
- Why we want to believe
The desire for simple answers to complex events is said to drive conspiracy theories. Labeling specific people or groups as "masterminds" can lead to discrimination and defamation.