The Real Enlightenment versus Weishaupt's "Illuminati" and similar groups

The actual goals of the Enlightenment:

Individual Liberty

Religious Tolerance

Opposition to Absolute Monarchy

Opposition to the fixed dogmas of the church




Weishaupt's Illuminati, though firmly opposed to the church and monarchy, was a top-down organization tightly controlled (or it was supposed to be) by a small elite at the top, which curiously included many members of the aristocracy.


The spiritual and intellectual descendants of Weishaupt's organization seem to share its affiliation with the aristocracy and its love for strict top-down organization with a small elite at the top controlling and manipulating the ignorant masses (kept ignorant) below.