Cool People Who Did Cool Stuff Part Two: Secret Societies and Leftism: The Odd Origins of Revolution
Oct 15, 2025
Sarah Marshall, a journalist and host of the upcoming miniseries The Devil You Know, dives into the fascinating world of secret societies. She reveals that much of what we think about the Illuminati is skewed, tracing its origins back to Freemasonry and Enlightenment ideals. The duo explores Masonic rituals, the exclusionary nature of its teachings, and how government suppression created modern conspiracy theories. They also discuss the connections between Masonic symbols and revolutionary movements, and how today's organizing differs from these secretive structures.
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Freemasonry As Elite Ritual Club
- Freemasonry's true origins are unclear but likely shifted from guild roots to an elite social ritual club.
- The group reinvented itself as educated men practicing esoteric rituals rather than actual stonemasons.
Masonic Utopianism And Pantheism
- Early Masonic worldview mixed classical liberalism, Spinoza, pantheism and utopian social leveling.
- Their rituals framed social reform as cosmic regeneration expressed through sacred architecture.
Founding Of The Bavarian Illuminati
- Adam Weishaupt founded the Bavarian Illuminati on May 1, 1776, inspired by Enlightenment and occult traditions.
- He recruited from Masonic lodges to form a secret society advocating reason and radical ideas.
