• PugJesus@piefed.socialOPM
    link
    fedilink
    English
    arrow-up
    25
    ·
    4 days ago

    The meme is saying that the actual Illuminati were secular and democratic, but are seen in the modern day as a shadowy, oppressive cabal

    • chaogomu@lemmy.world
      link
      fedilink
      arrow-up
      7
      ·
      4 days ago

      Fun fact, the downfall of the Illuminati was when one of their couriers carrying banned books and letters on democracy and such was struck by lightning and killed.

          • Optional@lemmy.world
            link
            fedilink
            arrow-up
            1
            ·
            3 days ago

            In his work of over seven hundred pages, Le Forestier gives an account of his exploration of German archives, where almost everything was preserved with Teutonic precision. When a member of the Illuminati of Bavaria, the Catholic priest Johann Jakob Lang (according to another spelling “Lanz,” 1735–1785), died struck by lightning on July 10, 1785, the police drew up,  and archivists preserved, even an exact inventory of what was in his pockets. So fastidious was Le Forestier’s work that later historians have been able to add only a few details, although they have not always accepted his interpretations.

            I think it’s using him as an example of how and why we know so much about them, not necessarily their downfall. But it is interesting!

    • cjoll4@lemmy.world
      link
      fedilink
      arrow-up
      3
      ·
      3 days ago

      I had no idea the Illuminati were a real group. I thought they were just some abstract boogeymen. Shows how ignorant I am. :(

      • king_comrade@lemmy.world
        link
        fedilink
        arrow-up
        10
        ·
        3 days ago

        Google the Bavarian Illuminati and enjoy the rabbit hole. They were mostly a bunch of nerds frustrated with the free masons and just wanted to trade books that were banned by the church.