ABOUT JOHANN ADAM WEISHAUPT

“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.” The term “Illuminati” is equivalent to the Indian rishis or Persian and Greek mage, i.e., a circle of ‘initiated adepts.’ The Illuminati apparently employed this language.

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, signifying learning. It is surrounded by a laurel wreath, symbolizing graduation. This may be understood through the function of ancient initiatic systems. The use of the acronym in fact describes the philosophy and objectives underlying the Mysteries.

The recurrent theme in the polemics against esoteric organizations is the method by which teachings are transmitted to their members by means of secrecy and oaths. The polemics against secret societies, when it became merged with anti-Jew paranoia, took a direction that remains incapable of a remedy. This is true, especially after the publication of the fabricated yet highly influential text, The Protocols of Zion, which alleged a Jewish-Masonic conspiracy to take control of the world.

The real historical Illuminati Order was not an outgrowth of Freemasons, Rosicrucian, or the Alumbrados. The German Rosicrucians were actually not too fond of Adam Weishaupt and his order. This involves actual historical power struggles of ideals and approaches even within the order itself, and the methods adopted by Weishaupt for this struggle. 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 development of 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. Some scholars say he was anarchist, and others say he was a secular utopian, a republican, or a philanthropist (see Buzz Feed Unsolved: The Secret Society of the Illuminati).

As a Professor of Law at the University of Ingolstadt, he displayed even in his youth a great intellect, and could be characterized as an Enlightenment thinker and philanthropist. 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, but utilized “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 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 was anti-clerical and anti-monarchical. Perhaps, translations of his books from German will effectively put an end to the charade of libel against him.

As even one Theosophist generally expressed about such maligned charaters in history:

“…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, i.e., a theosophic vision.

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 liberal republicanism, and rhetoric of the liberals in the 18th century.

Secularism however is not being utilized to its fullest sense to exercise and continue that legacy, and those on the extreme of our times who want to weaken this wall, believe reviving Christendom, or Christian culture in Eastern Europe, or conquering the Western countries with Shari’a and Islam are the best and only solutions for Europe and the West in general.

Duke Karl Theodor, Elector Palatinate of Bavaria issued edicts on June 22, 1784 and in 1785.