The word "illuminati" is Latin for "enlightened," and in this instance refers to the Bavarian Illuminati, which was a secret society founded in 1776. It was begun with five members and modeled after the Freemasons. The members swore an oath of secrecy and obedience to their superiors. Within ten years, the membership had swelled to more than 2,000 men.
Recommended Resources
Contains many of the original writings of the Bavarian Illuminati, as well as interviews with people about the primary source material involved with the site. Also lays out the influence of the Illuminati as well as Freemasonry on German student orders, as well as the other way around.
http://www.bavarian-illuminati.info/
Most Evil Organizations: The Illuminati
Contains all manner of information about the organization, including the founding, the current leader, and the goals of those involved.
http://one-evil.org/entities_organizations/evil_org_illuminati.htm
Skeptic's Dictionary: Illuminati
Discusses the idea that the Illuminati is nothing more than a conspiracy theory perpetrated by paranoid people, as is the new world order. Profiles briefly such petiole as David Icke, Ken Adachi, Myron Fagan, and Bill Cooper.
http://www.skepdic.com/illuminati.html
Delves into the history of the Illuminati, going all the way back to the very beginning and explains how the Celtics were enslaved by the Babylonians.
http://www.rense.com/general77/histor.htm
The Shadowy World of the Illuminati
Shares some background about the Illuminati in light of the new popularity of the idea due to the Dan Brown book "The Da Vinci Code." Contains an interview with Massimo Introvigne, from the Center for Studies on New Religions.
http://www.catholiceducation.org/articles/facts/fm0123.htm
