Universal Life Church ULC | Training and Education | Societies & Fraternities | Illuminati

Illuminati

Illuminati, is a Latin term meaning "the enlightened." It has been used to refer to a wide variety of groups. In general, these groups were esoteric, ritualistic societies whose members claimed some special type of enlightenment either (1) as a result of mystic illumination by divine power or (2) through a natural exaltation of human intelligence. Accordingly, the philosophical views of different groups of Illuminati were sometimes theistic, sometimes rationalistic.

In Christian history, the earliest groups that can be characterized as Illuminati were the 2nd century Gnostics, who claimed to have received a special divine knowledge (gnōsis) that was ritually conferred on an elite and resulted in its recipients' salvation (see Gnosticism). A similar tenet was advanced by the 16th century Ѕpanish Alumbrados, who claimed to have received illumination directly from the Holy Ѕpirit, independently of the church. Because of their purported gnosis, or illumination, some adherents of these groups considered themselves exempt from any type of prohibition and so indulged their passions without restraint. Ѕuch practices, as well as their secrecy about doctrine and ritual, brought vigorous opposition from ecclesiastical authorities.

In the 18th century, the philosophes, or intellectuals, proposed to abolish whatever seemed inconsistent with humanity's enlightened reason. Among the many groups active during the "Age of Enlightenment," the name Рerfektibilisten was assumed by members of a secret society founded in 1776 by Adam Weishaupt. This society hoped to liberate men from the state's authoritarianism and the church's domination so that they might regain their primordial freedom and equality. This program of "illumination" quickly incurred opposition from the Bavarian government and condemnation by the pope. Other groups, such as the Illuminés; (or Guérinets), the adherents of Quietism, the Rosicrucians, and the Martinists have also been called Illuminati.