the illuminati. are they the skull and crossbone, freemason bilderberg guys ?? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bilderberg_Group
FREEMASONS, n. An order with secret rites, grotesque ceremonies and fantastic costumes, which, originating in the reign of Charles II, among working artisans of London, has been joined successively by the dead of past centuries in unbroken retrogression until now it embraces all the generations of man on the hither side of Adam and is drumming up distinguished recruits among the pre-Creational inhabitants of Chaos and Formless Void. The order was founded at different times by Charlemagne, Julius Caesar, Cyrus, Solomon, Zoroaster, Confucious, Thothmes, and Buddha. Its emblems and symbols have been found in the Catacombs of Paris and Rome, on the stones of the Parthenon and the Chinese Great Wall, among the temples of Karnak and Palmyra and in the Egyptian Pyramids always by a Freemason.-Ambrose Bierce The Cynic's Word Book
Illuminati were a group in the late 18th century that died out after being suppressed by the governments. Skull and Bones is a college based fraternity out of Yale. Freemasons is one of the oldest fraternities around. None of these groups are actually connected by hierarchy or structure. They are each their own group and have their own history. Disbanded about a decade after they were formed. Grotesque? Our ceremonies are not grotesque. The origins of Freemasonry cannot be definitively traced to any period of time or historical figure. Our rituals surround the building of King Solomon's Temple and is allegorical of building ourselves.
Yeah, I know. That's one of the facts that makes what Bierce wrote so hilarious, and what you wrote so dull and colorless. Your rituals are grotesque,,, and childish. Each one of you has his own little, special things to say about what you do and why you do it. Why should anyone take anything any of you say seriously? What a bunch of tools.
If you know that the origins of Freemasonry are not conclusively known then why post what you did? It seems like you were supporting that belief. What I wrote was the truth. As I said, our rituals are not grotesque or childish, as you now put (and I've gone through many). Our rituals when done properly are extremely impressive and are known for their solemnity. Is there some "pomp and pageantry"? Sure, but there is nothing wrong with that. Sometimes our costumes are very elaborate and sometimes I giggle when I put them on, but again harmless. I have researched Freemasonry since before I even joined. In recent years I have kicked into high gear and I can provide evidence of my assertions, can you? Plus, my integrity is intact as many on this board can vouch to and I at least understand I have some bias, unlike the vitriol that seems to spill out from the tin-foil crowd. I'm not the one coming on here name-calling.
I am curious as to the OP coming back and clarifying the meaning of the thread. I'm curious as to if he is suggesting a "secret society" is behind his scandalous birth certificate.
Wow! Are you a child? What I posted was not written to explain anything about freemasonry, but to mock it. It's satire. Grow some skin. Your rituals are grotesque and childish, and there's nothing you can say to make me see them as wholesome or useful.
Uh...guys... Either one of you ever hear of the Shriners? Yeh, they're about one of the silliest and sometime most "grotesque" groups you'll ever see. They try to be. They were created in the 1870's and their whole purpose was to parodize the Masons, who some said were becoming too serious. And Masons were the first to join and became their biggest supporters Nowadays, they also run 22 hospitals for sick kids that never refuse anyone based on the ability to pay. Really, this is like arguing about how the Loyal Order of Moose is planning a raid on the White House. Lighten up, willya.
Ummm...once or twice I've heard about them [/sarc] Their ceremonies are not really grotesque, I jokingly refer to them as the "fratboys of Freemasonry". They like to have fun and their ceremonies are not solemn, but rather spectacles. Only Masons are allowed to join. Oh, come on. Some people need something to (*)(*)(*)(*)(*) about...someone to blame.