what is the secret society and what is meta religion?
84856
Some of the masonic societies could be consider as a meta religious society.   Rosicrucians even more.
131155
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, perhaps the least secret of all secret societies in the world, described below. Most use refers to an alleged 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.\nOrigins\nSince Illuminati literally means 'enlightened ones' in Latin, it is natural that several unrelated historical groups have identified themselves as Illuminati. Often, this was due to claims of possessing gnostic texts or other arcane information not generally available.\nThe designation illuminati was also in use from the 14th century by the Brethren of the Free Spirit, and in the 15th century was assumed by other enthusiasts who claimed that the illuminating light came, not by being communicated from an authoritative but secret source, but from within, the result of exalted consciousness, or "enlightenment".\nAlumbrados of Spain\nTo the former class belong the alumbrados of Spain. The historian Marcelino Menéndez y Pelayo found the name as early as 1492 (in the form iluminados, 1498), but traced them to a Gnostic origin, and thought their views were promoted in Spain through influences from Italy. One of their earliest leaders, born in Salamanca, a labourer's daughter known as La Beata de Piedrahita, came under the notice of the Inquisition in 1511, as claiming to hold colloquies with Jesus and the Virgin Mary; some high patronage saved her from a rigorous denunciation. (Menéndez Pelayo, Los Heterodoxos Españoles, 1881, vol. V.). Ignatius Loyola, while studying at Salamanca in 1527, was brought before an ecclesiastical commission on a charge of sympathy with the alumbrados, but escaped with an admonition.\nIlluminés of France\nThe movement (under the name of Illuminés) seems to have reached France from Seville in 1623, and attained some following in Picardy when joined (1634) by Pierce Guerin, curé of Saint-Georges de Roye, whose followers, known as Gurinets, were suppressed in 1635.\nA century later, another, more obscure body of Illuminés came to light in the south of France in 1722, and appears to have lingered till 1794, having affinities with those known contemporaneously in Britain as 'French Prophets', an offshoot of the Camisards.\nRosicrucians\nA different class were the Rosicrucians, who claimed to originate in 1407, but rose into notice in 1614 when their main text Fama Fraternitatis appeared; a secret society, that claimed to combine the possession of esoteric principles of religion with the mysteries of alchemy. Their positions are embodied in three anonymous treatises of 1614 (mentioned in Richard and Giraud, Dictionnaire universel des sciences ecclésiastiques, Paris 1825), as well as in the Confessio Fraternitatis of 1615. Rosicrucians also claimed heritage from the Knights Templar.\nMartinists\nLater, the title Illuminati was applied to the French Martinists which had been founded in 1754 by Martinez Pasqualis, and to their imitators the Russian Martinists, headed about 1790 by Professor Schwartz of Moscow; both were occultist cabalists and allegorists, absorbing eclectic ideas from Jakob Boehme and Emanuel Swedenborg.\nHistory\nA movement of freethinkers that were the most radical offshoot of The Enlightenment — whose adherents were given the name Illuminati (but who called themselves "Perfectibilists") — was founded on May 1, 1776 by Jesuit-taught Adam Weishaupt (d. 1830), who was the first lay professor of canon law. The group has also been called the Illuminati Order, the Order of the Illuminati, and the Bavarian Illuminati.\nIn the conservative state of Bavaria, where the progressive and enlightened elector Maximilian III Joseph
839773
There are many secret societies in the US. Several people in my family belong to them. But if you're talking about conspiracy theories (the country being run by the Illuminati, Bilderbergers, Skull & Bones, etc), you'll find debates on either side.
375883
Gnosticism is a blanket term for various religions and sects most prominent in the first few centuries AD Many elements of 2nd century gnosticsm are pre-Christian. The name of gnosticism comes from the Greek word for knowledge, gnosis (γνώσις), referring to the idea that there is special, hidden knowledge that only a few may possess.  It's basically a religious orientation advocating gnosis as the way to release a person's spiritual element; considered heresy by Christian churches
370588
1) Freemasonry is not a secret society.  Check the topic out at a decent library and you'll find all you ever want to know.  (If you look hard enough, you'll even find out why people think everything's a secret!)\n\n2) Freemasonry is not a cult.  A cult deals with religion and freemasonry does not.  True, it is based upon religious texts... but only for the moral values found therein.
636800
It was started as sort of a joke by the Rothschilde family shortly after the American revolution, borrowing methods and rituals from other "secret orders" of the time, like the Freemasons.  Where Freemasonry was dedicated to preserving thought and knowledge despite the oppressiveness of Church rule, the Illuminati was originally a coterie of financiers that sought to progress an elitist agenda through our current system of financing loans, essentially creating a society of debt-serfs and wealthy nobles (bankers).  It is thought that the Illuminati spawned an off-shoot, the Skull and Bones, in the 1840's, of which the Bush Family and Kerry family are a part.\n\nThere has always been a conflict between these two beliefs in our society since its inception, with the Illuminates hijacking the "conservative" movement and controlling the media, with the Freemasons continuously finding new ways around them.
588157
it is called secret of unknown. because it is a secret\n\nthat no one should know...
457473
Try http://www.xenu.net/ for a more objective view.  It's a cult.\n\nhttp://www.xenutv.com/ has some great videos of crazed scientologists.
1062250
In the super-mystical realm of Yahoo, JDism is a parody religion. Click on my dragon picture, click on my 360 link, scroll down to my groups, and click on the avatar with the body of an ape, and the head of a man (Darwin).\n\nJim is a spectre, he may be listening...
721332
From what I can tell it is strictly a cult.  A specifically states they want your money and your soul.  It also appears to be sanctioning any behavior in order to get what you desire sexually, no matter how normal or deviant.  What was your take on it?
259855
It was the secret meeting place of world renowned phycists during the early part of 2nd world war and later developed by the millionaire Lee Loomis of East Hampton. These people met at this stylish place and these meetings gave rise to a lot of inventions and discoveries later.
1173008
My friend, anyone considering ANY form of Christianity or worship of ANY Christ should do so only after reading the eye opening text The Hiram Key by Robert Lomas and Christopher Knight.  Their research into Masonic ritual has led them to uncover truths long kept secret by the Church for more than two thousand years.  The book is both frightening, and at the same time seems to be authentic.  It discusses the Illuminati (and NOT the Dan Brown Illuminati everyone seems to be so familiar with), Freemasonry, and their links to early Christianity; the origian teachings of Jesus Christ, before the Church decided what should be written.  The book is powerful, and revealing.  I reccomend it to anyone with an open mind who is seeking a high truth than whta is given to us by those who know nothing!\n\nAve,\nShawn
350058
Yup.  I recommend visiting Church of Virus and also reading about memetics and propaganda.\n\nYou might also want to study how the different religions formed (ancient and modern).  There are many tactics that are universal to all religions.\n\nThe hardest thing to do is be able to speak publicly and speak well.  If you can do that... it's relatively easy.\n\nI also suggest clicking on my link below.\n\nGood luck!
874948
The whole thing is rife with Freemason symbols.\nWhat's with the pyramid, this isn't Egypt!\nit also says novus ordo seclorum which I have heard means new world order.\nThe eye is supposed to be the all seeing eye of Horus from the egyptian mystery religions.\nAh, the masons and their ilk- is there really a sinister shadow fraternity within an apparently benign lodge? Is there a sinister shadow government that really controls?\nIf you read Morals and Dogma, a book of masonic literature you will be exploring an "occult" realm of philosopy and theosophy.\nBut I don't know for sure most of them aren't just members of a club that does community service.\nTripping on Illuminat conspiracies while interesting, doesn't seem to really lead anywhere productive!
962094
The Illuminati and The Protocols.\nhttp://jahtruth.co.uk/illumin.htm#main
502672
They are projecting.  They are the ones who are, in fact, working on a dubious, conniving plot by rich, powerful, secret (and highly evil) secret societies seeking to control our government.\n\nWant the facts (they are pretty indisputable).  Go here:\n\nhttp://www.discoverthenetwork.com/
1174040
Our symbols are everywhere, and we make no attempt to hide them.  The Illuminati, however, have nothing to do with us.  They don't even exist anymore.  Their organization barely lasted a decade, and they disbanded.  They are nothing like the Freemasons, a fraternity that publicly admits membership, and who does charitable work to help others.