JOHANN ADAM WEISHAUPT: FROM SENSATIONALIST AND SLANDEROUS MYTHS TO DOCUMENTED FACTS
“It was the full conviction of this, and of what could be done, if every man were placed in the office for which he was fated by nature and a proper education, which first suggested to me the plan of Illumination.”
— ADAM WEISHAUPT
Johann Adam Weishaupt (1748-1830) was the founder of the Order of Illuminati in Bavaria in 1776. Weishaupt was initiated into a Masonic Lodge of Strict Observance — the Lodge Theodore of Good Council, in Munich early 1777. The term “Illuminati” (Latin. illuminatus) means “the enlightened” or “initiated adepts.” It is equivalent to the Rishi (ऋषि) or Magi, i.e., meaning a circle of enlightened individuals or ‘initiated adepts.’
P.M.C.V. is an acronym for the Latin motto, Per Me Caeci Vident, meaning “through me the blind become sighted.” P.M.C.V. was one of the acronyms on the seal of Johann Adam Weishaupt’s Bavarian Order of the Illuminati in the eighteenth-century. Written on an open book and held by an owl, it signified learning. It is surrounded by a laurel wreath, symbolizing graduation, and therefore indicates, this should be understood through a general knowledge of how initiatic systems operate. The use of the acronym immediately describes philosophy and objectives relating to the ANCIENT MYSTERIES.
The recurrent theme in the polemics against esoteric organizations has been the methods by which teachings and instructions are transmitted to their members by means of secrecy and oaths. The combination of the general populace’s attitude and religious group’s polemics against secret societies with anti-Jew paranoia creates a difficulty nearly impossible to remedy. This was true after the publication of the fabricated Protocols of Zion (alleged a Jewish-Masonic conspiracy to take control of the world) as it is at present.
The real historical Illuminati Order was not an outgrowth of the Freemasons, Rosicrucian, or the Alumbrados. The German Rosicrucians were actually not too fond of Adam Weishaupt and his order. This tells that there are actual historical power struggles of ideas and approaches, including with the Illuminati order itself adopted by Weishaupt. Adam Weishaupt incorporated Freemasonry or his model of “degrees” (or classes) into the order, but it was to serve, according to Adolf Freiherr Knigge’s (or Philo) account (joined in 1780), as a system of developing the lower classes of the order to a degree the bulk of the order became fit, perfected and virtuous.
In the context of Johann Adam Weishaupt’s time, in the 18th century, and period of Late Enlightenment Era, there was a general struggle for academic freedom from the theologians, as was the case in Germany at the University of Gottingen. Adam Weishaupt sought education reform in Bavaria to separate the education system from the Church. Various opinions about Weishaupt’s philosophy ranged from anarchist to secular utopian, republican, and philanthropist (see Buzz Feed Unsolved: The Secret Society of the Illuminati).
The fact however is — Adam Weishaupt is a Protestant thinker, and his beliefs or system can be studied within the context of Idealism, personally engaged in a blend of rational mysticism and morality with empiricism. He professes belief in God, the immortality of the soul (palingenetic) and the doctrine of Resurrection as natural to Man (The Collected Works of Adam Weishaupt: Volume One, pp xx-xxi). Weishaupt confronts these through secular reasoning, incorporating contemplation of these in the degrees of the Illuminati.
As a Professor of Law at the University of Ingolstadt he displayed in his youth a great intellect. Despite the flaws of his personality, which was an occasional furious temper and dictatorial character among his order members, he seemed to generally — from accounts — struggle with making his ideal become practical. To achieve this, he used the formula of a secret society, but within the boundaries he set for his mission. The Bavarian Illuminati Order swelled to a membership of 2,000, employing the method of “misleading secrecy” (or obscurantism), and kept tabs on members.
Baron Adolphe François Frederic Knigge recounted that Weishaupt admitted that the high philanthropic ideal of what the Illuminati was meant to do was only in Weishaupt’s head, and that Weishaupt was discouraged by the fact he could not find amiable persons that would really carry it out. Weishaupt, who lived till old age and died in 1830 actually fell out of favor with the use of secret societies as an effective method for social change.
The views of Johann Adam Weishaupt, characteristic of many other Enlightenment thinkers at the time in Europe were anti-clerical and anti-monarchical.
A theosophist expressed the predicament of such maligned characters in history, stating that
“…The great unthinking — rather, misinformed — mass still relies upon the knowledge and the good faith of its “authorities,” accepting as the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, whatever it finds in its books of instruction — histories, encyclopedias, biographies. Thus every pioneer, every heroic figure in certain departments of human affairs, is invariably misrepresented and distorted, where not positively calumniated; not only during his lifetime, but for long centuries after. Mankind suffers inconceivably from this lamentable fact; for who will pay attention to the testimony of a discredited career? (…)and one of the greatest of duties rests continuously upon all those who would serve the cause of Humanity; the duty to uphold the reputations of those calumniated philanthropists, that the World may not, through the heedlessness of the many, the calculated sophistries of the few, lose the priceless benefactions that should be the incorporeal hereditaments of succeeding generations. We purpose, then, from time to time, to write of some of those whom mankind has been led by subtle arts and specious half-truths to ignore, deride, despise, in order that justice may be done, ingratitude in some part diminished, and the whole armor of loyalty be put on by all who believe that there is no religion higher than Truth.”
Adam Weishaupt was a threat to the ruling classes and the Catholic Church. It was the Catholic Church that encouraged Bavarian ruler, Charles Theodore to outlaw the Bavarian Illuminati. Adolf Knigge, among others became discontented with the order, because many found that Adam Weishaupt’s ideals was one that desired an elysium (or heaven) on earth, whereas Knigge desired a system that led to a heavenly paradise.
Adam Weishaupt believed, that if the Illuminati were successful, the present century would become a heaven on earth compared to the present time.
It failed only partially, because although he did not find success, the Enlightenment ideals and revolutions would engulf Europe and the Americas, in which today, Church-State separation remains an important aspect of government. In addition to this, Weishaupt’s ideas on education is an intrinsic part of the model and ideal of liberalism in the 18th century and republicanism.
Secularism however is not being utilized to its fullest sense to exercise and continue that legacy. Many ambitious religious groups, both Christian and Islamic are devoted against it. The Illuminati myth, or conspiracy is a rather debilitating position for those who hold it, especially since the documented narrative and facts about this man and the Illuminati order are veritable. As to world leaders, they are often quite ignorant and manifest a superficial knowledge. Yet, people mythologize those who rule them and learn well to demonize those attempting to enlighten them, and at that time through structures of brotherhood, philosophy and association.
Duke Karl Theodor, Elector Palatinate of Bavaria issued edicts on June 22, 1784 and in 1785.
The American Minervan 
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