Secret SocietiesSecret SocietiesRELS 225: Cults and New Religious

Movements

RELS 225: Cults and New Religious Movements

Slide 2.

RosicruciansRosicrucians

• Occult-cabalistic-theosophic "Rosicrucian Brotherhood", described in the pamphlet "Fama Fraternitatis R.C." (Rosae crucis), which was circulated in print in 1614

• Addition: "Allgemeine und Generalreforation der ganzen weiten Welt"

• Beginning with the fourth edition in 1615, "Confessio der Fraternitat", was also added to the "Fama".

Slide 3.

According to these documentsAccording to these documents

• founded in 1408 • Christian Rosenkreuz (1378-1484)• Concern: names in the Book of Life• Alchemy• secret study of Nature• annual meeting

Slide 4.

RosicruciansRosicrucians

• invited "scholars and rulers” to apply• Hoax• Like Luther's motto: "Des Christen Hertz auf

Rosen geht, wenn's mitten unter'm Kreuze steht"

• Pseudo-Rosicrucian societies• propagated by Freemasonry, • Since 1866 "colleges" of Masonic Rosicrucians• Only Master Masons are eligible for membership.

Slide 5.

Masonic RosicruciansMasonic Rosicrucians

• "the aim of the Society to afford mutual aid and encouragement in working out the great problems of life and in searching out the secrets of nature; to facilitate the study of philosophy founded upon the Kabbalah and the doctrines of Hermes Trismegistus, which was inculcated by the original Fratres Roseae Crucis of Germany, A.D. 1450; and to investigate the meaning and symbolism of all that now remains of the wisdom, art, and literature of the ancient world".

Slide 6.

Modern Rosicrucians: AMORCModern Rosicrucians: AMORC

• Is AMORC a Religion? No. • Ancient and Mystical Order Rosae Crucis

does not require a specific code of belief or conduct.

• Includes metaphysics and mysticism.• by applying natural laws which enable Divine

Consciousness.

Slide 7.

FreemasonryFreemasonry

• The official birth of Freemasonry is conventionally set at the founding of the Grand Lodge in 1717

Slide 8.

Freemason beliefs / practicesFreemason beliefs / practices

• Private: • modes of recognition amongst members

• "secrets of Freemasonry", are the signs, tokens and words associated with recognition in each degree

• elements within the ritual• Each lodge is independent, and can set its own rituals.

• central preoccupations:• charitable work in the community• moral uprightness

• belief in a Supreme Being• Developing fraternal friendship

Slide 9.

Anti-Masonry Conspiracy theoriesAnti-Masonry Conspiracy theories

• Secretive• conspiracy accusations:

• liberty, equality, fraternity, separation of church and state• Religious tolerance toward Jews (Nazis)• Jewish front for world domination (forgery The Protocols of the

Elders of Zion)• 1786 Disclosure of the System of Cosmopolitan Politics

claimed a conspiracy of Freemasons, Illuminati and Jesuits were plotting world revolution.

• 1797 John Robison pamphlet Proofs of a Conspiracy against all the Religions and Governments of Europe, carried on in the secret meetings of Freemasons, Illuminati and Reading Societies.

Slide 10.

Christian anti-MasonryChristian anti-Masonry• This theory was repeated by many Christians• other conspiracy theories claim

• all the US Presidents were Masons • Masons were involved in the JFK assassination• there are Masonic symbols in federal buildings and architecture.

• Charles Finney, The Character, Claims, and Practical Workings of Freemasonry

• Some Protestant and Eastern Orthodox denominations discourage joining Masonic lodges, ranging from mild concern to accusations of devil worship.

• The Roman Catholic Church punishes membership in the Masons with barring an offender from the Sacraments.

Slide 11.

Freemasonry and ReligionFreemasonry and Religion

• Freemasonry is not religion• nor is it a substitute for religion. • Requires belief in a Supreme Being • provides no system of faith of its own. • open to all religious faiths. • discussion of religion at meetings is forbidden.

• Freemasonry lacks the basic elements of religion. • a) no theological doctrine, and prevents one from

developing • b) no sacraments. • c) does not claim salvation by any means.

Slide 12.

Freemasonry and ReligionFreemasonry and Religion

• The Supreme Being • no separate Masonic God; a Freemason's God is the God of

his religion. • Volume of the Sacred Law

• The Bible is “the Volume of the Sacred Law”, open at every Masonic meeting.

• The Obligation of Freemasonry • Masons swear on the Volume of the Sacred Law (to keep

secret, to follow Freemasonry). • The secrets of Freemasonry are concerned with modes of

recognition.• Freemasonry Supports Religion

• Expects faith, and to place duty to God above all else

Slide 13.

IlluminatiIlluminati

• Founded on May 1, 1776, in Ingolstadt (Upper Bavaria), by Adam Weishaupt

• Freethinkers. AKA "Perfectibilists".• Secret societies banned in Bavaria in 1784• pledged obedience to their superiors• three main classes, each with several

degrees.• Ended in 1785.• Blamed for the French Revolution.

Slide 14.

Modern Illuminati theoriesModern Illuminati theories

• Dan Brown merges them with the Freemasons, as a resurrected society.