Ok, for a start, this is a article inspired by another user, which I really like.
A long time ago, I got given a novel by a friend that suggested that if I wanted to expand my mind, that I should read it. It was a compendus of three books put into one format and it was called the Illuminatus! Trilogy. The makeup of the book was pure fun, and confusing on the first time through, mainly because I had no idea what the Illuminati was.
That same year, Steve Jackson realeased a CCG called Illuminati: A New World Order. Every now and then the Illuminati would pop up, as recently as the first Tomb Raider movie.
Who were the illuminati?
Wikipedia.org has this to say: The Illuminati is the name of many groups, modern and historical, real and fictitious, verified and alleged. Most commonly, however, The Illuminati refers specifically to the Bavarian Illuminati, described below. Most alleged and fictitious uses refer to a shadowy conspiratorial organization which controls world affairs behind the scenes, usually a modern incarnation or continuation of the Bavarian Illuminati. Illuminati is sometimes used synonymously with New World Order.
They are supposed to be a shadow organization that runs the world behind closed doors. For instance, George W Bush getting re-elected could be construded as the Illuminati making a decision to put him back into the Presidency for their own dark needs. It is usually connected with famous people, and some famous people have claimed to be connected throughout history with the Illuminati. The lengendary Skulls and Bones secret society is also beleived to be a american branch of the Illuminati.
Hitler was once beleived to have been inducted, and that he would be "the illuminated one" if his war was successful.
Its members, drawn primarily from Masons and former Masons, pledged obedience to their superiors, and were divided into three main classes: the first, known as the Nursery, encompassed the ascending degrees or offices of Preparation, Novice, Minerval and Illuminatus Minor; the second, known as the Masonry, consisting of the ascending degrees of Illuminatus Major and Illuminatus dirigens, the latter also sometimes called Scotch Knight; the third, designated the Mysteries, was subdivided into the degrees of the Lesser Mysteries (Presbyter and Regent) and those of the Greater Mysteries (Magus and Rex). Relations with masonic lodges were established at Munich and Freising in 1780.
The order had its branches in most countries of the European continent, but its total numbers never seem to have exceeded two thousand. The scheme had its attraction for literary men, such as Goethe and Herder, and even for the reigning dukes of Gotha and Weimar. Internal rupture preceded its downfall, which was effected by an edict of the Bavarian government in 1785.
There has been discussion about the secret society for centuries, believing also to have come down from such sources as the Knights Templar, The Rociscursians, and other groups. Even in the media, the Illuminati has made its appearence. In Dan Browns first book Demons and Angels ( the book before the sequel, the DeVinci Code), figures the Illuminati in the plot. Disney's Gargolyes featured this group, as well as the video game Deus Ex.
Do they exist?
That is the question. The idea is that the powerful men of the world are lurking behind the curtain of humanity and changing things in some global chess game freak the beezeeses out of me. THe premise is so believeable tho, considering some of the other things that peopel have done in centuries pass.
For furth information, please consult your local internet..but they might be watching.
Thomas Jefferson: " they intended to spread information and the principles of true morality. He attributed the secrecy of the Illuminati to what he called 'the tyranny of a despot and priests'".