What is a Masonic conspiracy? Freemasons and Illuminati. Masonic conspiracy. Conspiracy against humanity
The Masonic conspiracy is the most widespread conspiracy theory in the world. Hundreds of books and articles are written on this topic every year. There are regularly heated discussions in the media about the existence of secret societies that rule the world. Proponents of the theory believe that the Masonic trace stretches back to the Middle Ages and leaves an imprint on all events in world history.
Conspiracy against humanity
This extends to the country's Founding Fathers, as well as the 13 signatures of the Constitution and 9 of the Declaration of Independence. Couldn't they be voracious Satanists? No, Freemasonry is not a religion. Freemasons who view it as such are mistaken. Freemasonry strongly encourages its members to belong to an established religion, although this is not prerequisite for membership. Freemasonry is a fraternal organization that encourages a philosophy of morality and charity and exploration.
But what about terms like "Temple", "Worship" etc
It has no clergy, no sacraments, and does not promise salvation to its members. Trade unions meet in the Labor Temple. The museum can be called a Temple fine arts. This does not mean that they are religious institutions. The term "worship" is associated with the use in English The 18th century, when Freemasonry in its present form was organized. The term has nothing to do with religious worship, but is an old synonym for "honorable" or "respected." Check good dictionary!
Origin of the Freemasons
In Western countries, the word mason is translated as “mason”. The Masonic conspiracy originates in medieval construction cooperatives. During the dawn of Gothic architecture, massive churches and temples were erected throughout Europe. Their size and exterior finishing required many decades of work. History knows of cases when one church could take more than a hundred years to build. Therefore the masons ( common name architects, engineers and other participants in the construction process) settled directly near the construction site and could spend more than half their life there. Being in such conditions prompted them to create various brotherhoods and organizations. The first Masons were simple masons who established rules of behavior in their settlements, hierarchy, etc., thus acquiring the appearance of a community.
Is there a conflict between Freemasonry and established religion?
Likewise, Masons participate in group prayer and have a chaplain, as do the armed services and houses of Congress. This does not make Freemasonry a religion. There is nothing in Freemasonry that contradicts most religions. However, Freemasonry does insist on religious tolerance. To the extent that some religious groups wanted to suppress other religions or persecute their followers, Freemasons would be in opposition to such actions, and supporters of such groups would be inconvenient and unwelcome within Freemasonry.
Influential people joining
Several centuries passed, and people who had nothing to do with the construction began to join the Masonic lodges. A lodge is an association of people on a territorial basis. All of them are subordinate to the Grand Lodge, which determines the supremacy of the local ones. The rich quickly realized that they could use inconspicuous associations of masons to expand their own influence. Thus, a Masonic conspiracy really existed in France and a number of other Western countries.
Masons in Russia
Additionally, some religious groups are misinformed about Freemasonry and believe that things about the Fraternity are not true; basing your opinion on this false information, they then formulate opinions that create conflict. It depends on what is meant by “cult.” By some definitions, Christianity, Islam and Judaism are cults. By another definition, golf, bowling and Internet surfing are cults. But in ordinary usage of the term, referring to a group that separates itself from society and its members from its non-member friends, demands slavish obedience on the part of its adherents, engages in brainwashing techniques, confiscates its resources, and sees itself in opposition to established society, absolutely not!
Gradually accepting new members, among whom there were even members of royal families, the Freemasons increasingly moved away from the masons. They began to call themselves "architects of life." The only symbols left from the founders are a compass and a square. Also, the image of an eye in a pyramid is often mentioned as an emblem. In general, the Masonic conspiracy involves the use of various occult symbols by secret societies.
On the contrary, in fact: Freemasonry does not recruit members, does not force attendance at any of its meetings, charges modest fees and charges, encourages public service and participation in civic and religious organizations and allows any member to leave at any time. It is easier to leave Freemasonry than to get into it!
Why do some fundamentalist groups oppose Freemasonry?
Mainly due to ignorance and misinformation, although perhaps due to fear of competition for time and attention with the church. Ignorance of Freemasonry allows for the spread of misinformation. For example, it is claimed that Freemasonry has a “plan of salvation” that is contrary to the Christian Church. It's simply not true; nothing in any of the Masonic degrees signifies salvation.
Spread of the theory
Masonic conspiracy - according to which secret societies accept prominent public figures, politicians, rich people and other “elites” to influence world system. The ultimate goal of the Masons is the complete unification of the world and the creation of a new order, where lodges will play a decisive role. The popularity of such a theory reached its peak in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Although even during the time of Elizabethan Russia, the first accusations of a conspiracy against the Russian people appeared. The Empress accused the boyars and some members of the intelligentsia of belonging to Masonic lodges and embezzling the treasury. 
Isn't there Masonic theology?
A study of the degrees will show that there is a basic theology of Freemasonry, viz. There is a Supreme Being who created the Universe, who established and revealed the moral law. These five points are supported by material in lectures and related degrees, such as the Working Tools discourses. But there is nothing in these points that contradicts any serious religion in the Western world.
What about claims that Freemasonry is satanic or pagan?
Most of them are complete fabrications; the rest are misunderstandings of the institution and its rituals. Several forgeries and purported surveys of Freemasonry have been created over the past century. Most claims of "Satanism" in Freemasonry can be traced back to one or two of these fraudulent sources. Other similar accusations are simply made up statements about what various Masonic emblems and symbols mean.
Since the beginning of the 20th century, similar theories have been widespread in France, America, Russia, and Germany. In the United States, there was a popular belief that the “founding fathers” (Lincoln and others) were members of the Masonic lodge. This fact is confirmed by real historical sources. On a number of US administrative buildings there are various symbols that are identified as Masonic. For example, on the Capitol building, the White House, at the Dallas airport.
Influential people joining
This is one of the "ornaments" of the Lodge, introduced into the degree of "Entered Apprentice". The Freemasons "worship" the Brilliant Old One. The Bleating Star is somehow identified with Lucifer, the Bleating Star is a "false dawn" which can then be identified with the false light, and so the Freemasons engage in devil worship. Isaiah 14 is a chapter with a prophecy against the kings of Babylon, in particular Nebuchadnezzar. The verse quoted in my Bible is, “Daystar, son of the morning, how did you fall?” In this passage the prophet states that the arrogant king of Babylon considered himself as glorious as heavenly body, but that the destruction of the kingdom of Babylon will return him to earth. The ancient Greeks and Romans used different words for this planet when it appeared in the morning sky from its appearance in the evening sky. The Greeks called it Hesperus in the evening and Phosphorus in the morning; the Romans called it Venus in the evening and Lucifer in the morning. Therefore, the translation of Hebrew via Greek language in Latin would naturally mean the word "Lucifer" as the correct Latin translation Hebrew. The term "Lucifer" as a name for the devil or Satan cannot be traced further back than the Middle Ages, and was widely popularized by Milton's epic poem " Lost heaven" The Masonic leadership of Minnesota clearly identifies Shining Star as a symbol of the Star of Bethlehem, hardly a “satanic” reference. In other words, the claim about Freemasonry in this case combines many errors: taking part of one Bible verse out of context, misinterpreting its translation, misunderstanding an astronomical term, incorrectly identifying the Masonic emblem with an astronomical object, and incorrectly describing the importance of the symbol in ritual.
Masonic conspiracy theory: the sacrament of Zionism
Most conspiracy theorists associate the Masonic conspiracy with Zionism. This concept gained popularity among the masses in the first half of the 20th century. At this time the first appeared large corporations who had a significant influence on the politics of their countries. Among the richest people in the world there was a very high percentage of Jews (for example, the Rothschilds). They organized entire societies within their families. Such dynastic organizations attracted a storm of criticism from right-wing conservatives. The assassination of John Kennedy, who allegedly spoke out about his intentions to put an end to “supernational structures,” caused a huge resonance.
Perhaps all this can be explained by ignorance, but since the facts are easy to obtain, we need to think about how such statements arise and are maintained. Claims about "pagan" material in Freemasonry may be based on the study of material from ancient world to some extent. But this is not paganism. In fact, many of the early teachings of the Church depended heavily on the works of such "pagan" philosophers as Plato and Aristotle; Christianity absorbed such pagan elements as the Christmas tree, the name Easter, and the actual date of Christmas.
Overthrow of regimes
Various conspiracy theorists also see a Masonic trace in the revolutions of the 19th century, which overthrew regimes in European countries, taking advantage of the material support of Jewish capital. The Masonic conspiracy in Russia gained fame after the 1905 uprising. Radical nationalists, better known as the Black Hundreds, accused Masonic lodges and Zionist sect leaders of organizing the revolution. Since then, conspiracy theories have caused a wave of debate in the world from time to time. Russian society. Almost all public figures of Jewish origin were accused of belonging to the lodge.
Indeed, the myths about the fall of Lucifer from heaven in underworld have pagan origins, derived from the Greco-Roman legend of Hephaestus, who fell from the mountain. Olympus to the lower regions, where his forges were located, and to ancient art depicted lame from a fall. During the Judeo-Christian era there were many thinkers and learned people in cultures other than Western peoples, and studying them is not “paganism.”
If Freemasonry is so superior, why is it "secret"?
There are fewer secrets of Freemasonry than most non-members imagine; even many Masons do not quite understand what is and is not a secret in Freemasonry. Moral principles Freemasonry is the same as those who teach you in Sunday school or at your mother's knee, it is only the precise procedures and words by which these principles are taught in Freemasonry, which are secret, since it is the knowledge of these which distinguishes a Mason from those who are not members. To have the Lodge's right to communicate, a Mason must be able to identify himself, and these secrets provide the means to do so.
Who confesses
Most often, far-right nationalists and radical conservatives who are in opposition to the current authorities in their country talk about a Masonic conspiracy. What it is, no one can say specifically. For such people, the very membership of a lodge is a priori something reprehensible. Conspiracy theories are used for political purposes. Symbolism and numerology are cited as evidence. For example, they are looking for hidden meaning in the dates of significant events in world history. Such statements are often criticized by philosophers and scientists. On this moment existence Masonic lodges is a well-known and unconcealed fact. 
The debate is only about the degree of their influence on society. It is worth noting that so far no significant facts or documentary evidence of the Masonic conspiracy have been provided. However, this topic is often used famous writers. For example, Dan Brown wrote a whole series of books that mentioned the secret societies of the Masons and the Illuminati.
What about blood oaths and disgusting fines?
Freemasonry is not public organization, such as a school board or city council. It is a private citizens' association, like a country club or a church. No one who is not a member has a right to know the inner workings of any of these things. They are private to the group, not "secret". It is true that Freemasons must take solemn obligations to be true to the principles of Freemasonry, and their nature and seriousness mean that there must be penalties. However, the language of these obligations makes it clear that penalties are not actually imposed by the Lodge or any body of Freemasonry, but are an expression of how to be feared and despised for the violation of such an obligation.
The theory of Masonic conspiracy originated from the era of the French Revolution, although already in the 18th century there were serious opponents of Freemasonry. The most thorough and well-reasoned works that exposed the Masonic and atheistic orientation of the French Revolution were the works of the French abbot Augustin Barruel, as well as the Englishman John Robinson.
In some jurisdictions, the candidate is told that sanctions have " ancient origin and only symbolic." Later degrees make this even more obvious, even if the actual information is not specifically addressed to the candidate. But the real penalties for violating the laws of Freemasonry are only three: warning, suspension or expulsion. Stories of Freemasons being maimed or killed for breaking their oaths are simply that: fiction. Not a single copy can be documented, despite numerous attempts by the enemies of Freemasonry to promote this slander.
The striking fact is that Robinson himself wasMember of the English Masonic Lodge. But the trip he went on across Europe led him to the conviction that English Freemasonry of that time (quite loyal to the Church) was very different from continental Freemasonry, which had a clear anti-God character. The title of Robinson's main work speaks for itself: “Evidence of a Conspiracy against all the Religions and all the States of Europe, gleaned from the Assemblies of the Illuminati, Freemasons, and Literary Societies.” It is interesting that another person who exposed Masonic conspiracy also became a Freemason who had highest degree dedication to Joseph de Maistre.
Freemasons played an important role in the civilization of the New World, tamed the West, liberated Latin America etc. Freemasons have established many charitable activities primarily focused on the health sector, such as the famous Shriners Hospitals for the treatment of orthopedic problems and burns, Scottish Rite speech disorder clinics, Masonic Cancer Centers, Tall Cedars muscular dystrophy activities and many others.
Not to mention nursing homes and even dorms at the University of Texas. Antimazons do not have charity groups, and only fundraise for support: they sell books for profit, seek donations to support their TV "ministries", and contribute nothing to society as a whole.
The thought of Barruel and his followers was as follows: Freemasonry is not a philanthropic organization of innocent humanities scholars, as was believed in the 18th century, but a secret society of demonic anti-Christian tendencies. The goals that this secret society set for itself include the destruction of the Church, as well as the European monarchical powers, with the subsequent establishment of dictatorships and demonic cults. Barruel argued that Freemasonry has a history going back centuries and was responsible for the major catastrophes of European Christian history. Under the cover of liberalism, Freemasonry hides militant atheism and tyranny, and the external meaninglessness of Masonic rituals is only intended to veil the extensive international structure that covers the whole world. French revolution became a terrible manifestation of this satanic power.
This is all a matter of public record; these facts do not depend on a person's ability to determine who is telling the truth. Moreover, we have the experience of history to teach us that we need to believe in a group of "anti" things, be they anti-Semites, anti-Catholics or anti-Masons. This historical experience has shown that those who single out a group, especially one different from the majority in society, for insult and hatred, as a rule, are not telling the truth about that group, but are seeking to benefit themselves from inciting the passions of the crowd.
In other words, if we knew nothing about the Freemasons and the anti-Masons, it would be difficult to know whom to believe. But we are not that ignorant. Anti-Masons, faced with their own contradictions, pile on new assumptions. Prove that "Lucifer" is not mentioned in the Symbolic Rite of the first three degrees, and they claim that it is the Scottish Rite which teaches "devil worship." Prove that there is no such thing in 32 degrees, and they claim that it is taught in the 33rd degree. Denial by the 33rd degree of Mason would result in the attribution of Satanism to the Knights Templar.
All rituals of Freemasonry were interpreted by Barruel from the point of view of a demonic orientation, this secret society Demon worship, blasphemy and sacrilege were charged, including black masses. Late conspiracy theories as a whole did not acquire new theoretical additions, but added many new facts and interpretations of facts.
What was the reason for such a sharp difference between English Freemasonry and the rest (later everything leveled out)? One of the reasons for this change in Freemasonry can be considered the transition of Masonic lodges under the control of the Illuminati. And although the Illuminati existed long before the events mentioned, only two hundred years ago the Illuminati of Adam Weishaupt, the main ideologist of the idea of the New World Order, entered the arena of history. Freemasons and Illuminati became essentially a single whole, after their merger the development of mankind sharply changed course towards globalization. It was this time that became the starting point for the inexorably developing “mystery of lawlessness.”
A hundred years later, Pope Leo III issued an anti-Masonic bull, which contains the famous call: “Tear off the mask from the Freemason, show him as he is!” At this time, such famous conspiracy theorists as Armand Joseph Fava, Paul Copin Albanselli, de Bessonnier, Abel Clarin de la Rive, Leo Taxil appeared.
In the 20th century, the anti-Masonic line was developed by Emmanuel Malynsky, who owns 25 volumes of The Mission of God's People, and his co-author Leon de Poncin, publisher of the magazine Counter-Revolution.
In Russia, the anti-Masonic theme of the West was supported by Alexei Shmakov and Alexander Selyaninov, who introduced an Orthodox element into the anti-Masonic polemic. The most famous person was Sergei Nilus, who published the famous “Protocols of the Elders of Zion” - documents that gradually outlined the theory of the Masonic conspiracy in a very impressive first-person form.
