Secret SocietiesFrom TinWiki.org(Redirected from Secret society)
Secret societies are, it is often thought, made up of organized conspirators working in secret to achieve a hidden agenda. Members use secrecy to protect themselves and their movement. Critics view secret societies as malevolent organizations working against the general will of mankind. Members may be required to conceal or deny their membership, and they are often sworn to hold the society's secrets by an oath. Violating the oath may result in the application of severe sanctions. Like the most successful forgeries, the most effective secret societies are unknown beyond their adherents. Members may be required to deny the organization itself exists. Secret societies are often associated with Conspiracy Theories that involve global domination and the introduction of a NWO. These groups are most often characterized in having a hierarchical structure with an ascending series of degrees.
[edit] LegendsSecret societies generally claim to have a long--and often legendary--history. They claim direct "initiatory descent" from a fabled founder or group of founders. By definition, no secret society can appear to be a novelty. Thus, the Society of the Horseman's Word claims to have been founded by Cain. The Rosicrucians claim direct descent from Christian Rosenkreuz (1378 - 1484). The Odin Brotherhood claims it was established in 1421. [edit] FunctionSecret societies have many functions. Some, such as the Odin Brotherhood, the Rosicrucians, or the Thelemic societies, exist to maintain, spread, and practice their esoteric or occult knowledge. Others, while they have esoteric philosophies, are social organizations, such as Greek Fraternities or Elk Lodges. Others were created to provide benefits and charity to members, such as the Knights of Columbus or Woodsmen. Some secret societies have been considered dangerous by their enemies. Freemasonry, especially irregular masonry, was highly political in the past and involved in radical movements. The Carbonari of Italy was an outright revolutionary, anti-monarchist movement. The Ancient Illuminated Seers of Bavaria (Illuminati) were so considered so dangerous that they were crushed and suppressed by the State. The Sons of Liberty were also a secret society which helped launch the American Revolution. One especially provocative secret society was the Black Hand of Serbia. Organized in 1911 as a secret society of Serb assassins, its purpose was to use targeted killings to liberate Serbian lands held by other nations. Dmitrievich recruited assassins who were young and were suffering from terminal diseases. A member of the Black Hand, Gavrilo Princip, was 19 years of age when he sparked World War I by firing 2 shots–with a pistol–and killed an heir to the Austrian throne and his wife. Princip was dying of tuberculosis when he was recruited. [edit] InitiationAdmittance into a secret society begins with an initiation ritual. Often, this involves darkness, blindfolds, blood oaths, and symbolic icons such as skulls, daggers, and sacred texts. The candidate undergoes some kind of ordeal, often a symbolic death and resurrection. According to historian Ronald Hutton, initiation in the Society of the Horseman's Word involves reading the Bible backwards three times over three years, indulging in a mock Eucharist (with bread, jam, and whiskey), and--at the climax of the initiation--"shaking the devil's hand." On the last point, the blindfolded initiate had to grasp a heated spade. According to Kenneth J. Beatty, initiation into the Human Leopards of West Africa involved murder, cannibalism, and cutting permanent markings on the body. Many secret societies will have layers of membership, with a person entering first as a neophyte of some sort, and then advancing through the ranks as he participates more in the organization. These ranks are very often called "degrees". Some organizations have as few as one or three degrees, others as many as thirty-three. As the applicant advances through the ranks, he will often learn new passwords, hand grips, or other modes of recognition during the rituals. [edit] International or non-governmental organizationsThese groups are often considered and talked about in the context that they are secret societies.
[edit] Student societies
[edit] Fraternal organizations
[edit] Historical secret societies
[edit] Revolutionary or Underground Organizations
[edit] Secret society - Alleged secret societiesEither existence, or secret society status, is subject to significant doubt
[edit] Religious
[edit] See Also[edit] References
[edit] External Links[edit] Relevant Discussion Threads
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