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Freemasonry

reaching influence as well as subversive aims have got played a component division inward about of America Freemasonry
Freemasonry
Claims close the Freemasons’ far-reaching influence as well as subversive aims have got played a component division inward about of America’s most enduring conspiracy theories. The Order of Free as well as Accepted Masons, an all-male fraternal organization, has had chapters on the North American continent since the 1730s, as well as has featured prominently inward U.S. conspiracy thinking since the belatedly eighteenth century.

Conspiracy theory close the Freemasons points to the semisecretive nature of the scheme as well as the acknowledged political involvement of many of its members to back upward the allegation that the Freemasons are an extremely powerful as well as wealthy cabal of antireligious subversives who have got infiltrated trouble concern as well as authorities structures worldwide.

Historical Origins

The history of Freemasonry tin live hard to trace, inward component division because many of the sources available are markedly biased. Masonic historians claim that exclusively Freemasons, who have got been initiated into the secrets of the order, tin accurately write its history as well as accuse that non-Masonic scholars are ofttimes swayed past times anti-Masonic sentiment.

Conversely, those who oculus conspiracy theories on Masonry struggle that Freemasons have got participated inward massive cover-ups of their ain activities, which brand the trouble of the “truth-seeking” historian arduous, if non perilous.

reaching influence as well as subversive aims have got played a component division inward about of America Freemasonryreaching influence as well as subversive aims have got played a component division inward about of America Freemasonry

Both Masonic historians as well as many anti-Masonic conspiracy theorists assert that the roots of the monastic enjoin engagement dorsum to antiquity, though most third-party historians dispute this claim. The craftsmen’s guild on which the present-day fraternal society was based can, indeed, live traced dorsum to the medieval era.

Some of the fraternal society’s characteristic features, such every bit its ritual initiation as well as hugger-mugger signs of membership, tin also live accounted for past times the nature of masonry every bit a profession; members sought to protect their condition past times developing elaborate forms as well as rituals to ascertain eligibility as well as proclaim membership, as well as since masons tended to live itinerant laborers, they created signs, such every bit the muchtouted “secret handshake,” inward monastic enjoin to assure recognition of guild membership.

The mythology embraced past times Masonic tradition, however, reaches dorsum to a greater extent than than 5,000 years to encompass the architect of Solomon’s Temple, Hiram, who is said to have got been murdered because he would non let on the secrets of Masonry. Some historians also link the Freemasons to the Knights Templar, a crusading monastic monastic enjoin outlawed past times the papacy inward the fourteenth century.

While pro-Masonic historians tend to elaborate a long history of anti-Masonic persecution, conspiracy thinkers reckon inward the same narrative a history of hugger-mugger conspiratorial plots that occasionally come upward to light, but that have got never been fully exposed or interrupted.

reaching influence as well as subversive aims have got played a component division inward about of America Freemasonry
Freemasonry step

Notwithstanding these competitor accounts of Freemasonry’s past, most historians exterior the debate empathize the fraternal monastic enjoin of Freemasons to have got emerged inward United Kingdom of Great Britain as well as Northern Ireland inward the early on eighteenth century.

These historians distinguish “nonoperative” or “speculative” Freemasonry every bit a fraternal monastic enjoin whose component division is primarily social, from the much older craftsmen’s guild that served professional person functions as well as which they term “operative” Masonry. “Nonoperative” Masons were attracted to the guild past times its combination of rationalist/scientific query as well as deep abide by for tradition as well as fellowship.

Eventually, every bit the guild scheme died out as well as every bit “speculative” membership grew, the scheme came nether the leadership of the nonoperatives as well as was transformed into the modern order. Membership of the Freemasons grew speedily inward the eighteenth century; the scheme spread across Europe as well as into the North American colonies, alongside the offset American lodges forming shortly after 1730.

Conspiratorial Accusations inward the Eighteenth Century

The offset century of Freemasonry saw explosive growth inward the popularity of the monastic enjoin on both the European as well as North American continents, fueled past times widespread involvement inward the Enlightenment ideas upon which the monastic enjoin based its cardinal tenets and, especially on the American continent, past times the perceived social advantages of membership.

As membership grew, as well as then did world suspicion of the order. As early on every bit the 1720s, charges of immorality as well as lewdness were levied against the Freemasons. Since the proceedings of Masonic gatherings were secret, nonmembers could non uncovering out what the organization really did during their meetings as well as dinners.

Critics claimed that Masons habitually overindulged inward alcohol, as well as many also insisted that the all-male meetings were footling to a greater extent than than majority orgies, at which sodomy as well as ritual flagellation were practiced. These complaints did not, inward themselves, amount to charges of conspiracy, although afterward conspiracy theories adapted as well as reiterated them.

The earliest joint of Freemasonry every bit a conspiracy came from the Roman Catholic Church, which claimed that the monastic enjoin intended to undermine the Church as well as its teachings. The Church’s organized opposition to Freemasonry began inward 1738, inward the shape of a papal bull issued past times Clement XII, which condemned Freemasonry as well as excommunicated all Masons. Numerous other bulls issued inward the next decades denounced the secretive practices of the monastic enjoin as well as declared it an enemy of Christianity.

Masonic chapters were also intermittently defendant of political conspiracy inward Europe. During the 1730s as well as 1740s, Masonic meetings were interrupted as well as fifty-fifty banned, as well as members of lodges were interrogated past times law inward Holland, France, as well as elsewhere, every bit nation forces came to suspect the scheme of subversive political aims as well as antiroyalist beliefs.

The Enlightenment ideals of religious pluralism as well as private freedom embraced past times the scheme increased church building as well as nation suspicion of Freemasonry inward the eighteenth century; it was argued that the conspiratorial actions of the grouping were exactly the logical extension of its radical philosophies.

Conspiracy thinking close Freemasonry on the American continent drew upon all of these charges, though early on American Freemasons tended to live the target of mockery to a greater extent than than of sustained investigation. In the offset one-half of the eighteenth century, American Masonic lodges, to a greater extent than often than non less concerned alongside Enlightenment thought than many European lodges, functioned primarily every bit social clubs.

Following the pattern set past times British lodges, they often rejected membership applications from individuals who did non brand an “independent” living, excluding a sizeable part of the colonial middle classes. After 1750, many of those rejected began to ready their ain Masonic lodges, known every bit “Ancient” Freemasons.

Members of these lodges were strongly inclined to the colonial cause, spell members of the older lodges (dubbed “Moderns” past times the “Ancients”) often tended to loyalism, though neither grouping took an official stance. Nevertheless, the Masonic affiliation of many key players during the American Revolution led the monastic enjoin to seat itself, inward the post-Revolutionary period, alongside the substance values of the novel Republic.

At the 1793 dedication of the U.S. Capitol, for instance, President George Washington wore Masonic garb as well as performed a modified Masonic ritual during the ceremony, assisted past times other Masonic brethren; a silvery plate set over the cornerstone located the dedication inward the 13th twelvemonth of American independence as well as the 5,793rd twelvemonth of Masonic history.

Conspiracy thinkers also indicate to the incorporation of Masonic symbolism inward the pattern of the Great Seal of the U.S.A. every bit proof that Freemasonic influence on authorities was pervasive inward this period; however, Freemasons deny that the all-seeing oculus atop the pyramid is a specifically Masonic symbol, although it resembles about pattern elements used past times Masons.

Even every bit Earth profile of U.S. Freemasonry improved inward the 1790s, the offset major moving ridge of conspiracy thinking close Masonry was cresting inward Europe. John Robison’s exposé, Proofs of a Conspiracy against All Religions as well as Governments of Europe, published inward 1798, set the blame for the French Revolution on the Freemasons, who, he claimed, had been thoroughly infiltrated as well as corrupted past times a supposedly atheistic hugger-mugger society known every bit the Illuminati, which was founded past times Adam Weishaupt, a Jesuit priest, inward 1776.

Weishaupt became a Freemason inward 1777 as well as believed that Freemasonry could assist him to spread Illuminati beliefs, which were based on Enlightenment thought. Those who raised the alert over the Illuminati charged that the extent to which they had infiltrated as well as transformed Masonry was unknown. Robison’s piece of employment raised an alert inward the United States.

Congregationalist government minister as well as Federalist supporter Jedidiah Morse was amidst those who publicly denounced the conspiracy, which he represented every bit a grave threat to the immature republic. Others, such every bit Timothy Dwight, president of Yale University, joined inward the growing alarm. Morse insisted he did non hateful to condemn all Freemasons; rather, he insisted, it was exclusively “Illuminized Masonry” that he meant to warn against.

Morse, a Federalist, claimed that the conspirators planned to brand inroads onto the American continent through the Jeffersonian party. Other Federalists took upward the charges, as well as fifty-fifty Masonic blood brother George Washington admitted to concern over the unsafe presence of “Illuminized Masonry” inward the United States.

Anti-Federalists denied links to hugger-mugger societies as well as responded alongside conspiracy charges of their own, such every bit Abraham Bishop, who, inward Proofs of a Conspiracy against Christianity, as well as the Government of the U.S.A. (1802), charged Robison alongside royalist sympathies as well as defendant his supporters of seeking to undermine U.S. democracy.

“Illuminized” Masonry remains a cardinal subject inward present-day conspiracy theory close the Freemasons, but the Federalist-era disceptation did non tarnish the icon of Freemasonry amidst most members of the post-Revolutionary middle as well as elite classes. On the contrary, the upper levels of U.S. society, as well as those who aspired to bring together them, were increasingly drawn to Freemasonry.

The rigid identification of the monastic enjoin alongside key American values enhanced Freemasonry’s popularity inward the post-Revolutionary United States; fifty-fifty to a greater extent than importantly, the monastic enjoin served increasingly useful networking functions inward a acre that was actively rebuilding its ain political as well as social infrastructure. Masonic membership was associated alongside condition as well as power; accordingly, those seeking condition as well as ability also sought to travel Masons.

Anti-Masonic Movement

The identification of the Masonic monastic enjoin alongside the nation’s most powerful as well as influential citizens drew increasing suspicion inward the offset component division of the nineteenth century, culminating inward the offset national anti-Masonic motion inward the belatedly 1820s as well as early on 1830s.

In contrast to the alert raised inward the wake of Robison’s book, which, for the most part, confined itself to members of the clergy as well as authorities officials, the anti-Masonic motion of this menstruation was a truly populist movement.

The motion was touched off past times the abduction as well as suspected murder of William Morgan, who was inward the procedure of publishing an exposé of Freemasonry, inward 1826. When his abductors received low-cal sentences, many charged that a cover-up was inward process.

The reformist motion that developed inward the wake of the Morgan thing claimed that Freemasons were anti-Christian as well as antidemocratic, that they deliberately sought ability as well as conspired to elevate the social seat of Masons, as well as that, if unchecked, their growth would have got disastrous consequences for the immature nation.

They supported this claim past times pointing out that hugger-mugger societies were on the rise; for instance, a Massachusetts congregationalist, the Reverend Peter Sanborn, argued inward 1829 that a hugger-mugger alliance existed betwixt Freemasons as well as Phi Beta Kappa. Noting that upward to a tertiary of college-educated men were yearly inducted into the hugger-mugger accolade society, Sanborn argued that a subversive plot supported past times educated youth as well as well-placed older Masons would destroy the nation. In response, inward 1831 Phi Beta Kappa abandoned its hugger-mugger practices.

The anti-Masonic motion also argued that Freemasonry undermined spousal human relationship past times forcing husbands to maintain secrets from wives, who were non allowed to have got component division inward Masonic proceedings. Women, alienated past times the all-male order, joined the anti-Masonic motion inward meaning numbers.

Suspicion of Masonic practices led to the formation of an Anti-Masonic Party, the offset major independent U.S. tertiary party, inward 1827. The political party held its offset national convention inward 1830 as well as inward 1832 ran a candidate for president against the Masonic incumbent, Andrew Jackson. After 1833, the political party withdrew every bit an active forcefulness inward national politics, focusing on nation as well as local-level campaigns. The motion continued to decline inward the belatedly 1830s as well as the political party had disbanded past times 1843.

During the years of the anti-Masonic crusade as well as its aftermath, national membership inward the Freemasons declined significantly, as well as the menstruation saw the formation of a number of competitor fraternal organizations such every bit the Odd Fellows. However, past times the 1850s, Masonic membership was over again on the rise. During this decade as well as especially after the Civil War, the Freemasons reformed their reputation as well as regained much of their old prestige.

Changes inward the organization’s self-presentation implicitly addressed about of the charges of conspiracy thinkers; the novel Masonry professed Christianity, refuting claims that they sought to undermine organized religion, as well as countered claims of self-interest as well as greed past times actively promoting charity. Masons also responded to the long-standing objections to the all-male nature of the society past times forming a woman somebody order, the Order of the Eastern Star, inward 1869.

In 1867, the National Christian Association revived conspiracy charges against the Masons; their crusade led to the presidential candidacy of General John Wolcott Phelps on an anti-Masonic platform inward 1880. Phelps performed real poorly inward the polls, receiving exclusively a few hundred votes. After this campaign, anti-Masonic groups avoided electoral politics. Conspiracy charges against the Freemasons, however, travel on until the introduce day.

Conspiracy theory close the Freemasons to a greater extent than often than non does non straight engage the legacy of the Prince Hall Freemasons, an African American Masonic scheme founded inward Boston inward 1775. The African American lodge received its charter from the British Grand Lodge during the American Revolution; after the Revolution, other U.S. lodges refused to recognize the group, ostensibly on the grounds that it was non “regular” because it had been chartered past times a unusual power.

Racist as well as segregationist catch amidst many members of the Freemasons, especially inward southern lodges, prevented their recognition of the Prince Hall order; this nonrecognition lasted inward many cases until the 1990s. Prince Hall Masonry is rarely charged alongside the form of far-reaching influence as well as subversive aims of Freemasonry inward general; many conspiracy theories produce non fifty-fifty bring upward its existence.

The Present

Christian conspiracy theorists inward detail travel on to struggle that the group’s agenda is both antiChristian as well as antidemocratic. Late twentieth- as well as early on twenty-first-century conspiracy theorists reckon Freemasons every bit the key to the New World Order conspiracy. Others allege that the grouping is satanic, that it worships a goat-headed Luciferian god known every bit Baphomet, as well as that it is actively involved inward plots to covert upward UFO discoveries.

Freemasonry has been tapped every bit component division of the conspiracy to assassinate John F. Kennedy, as well as also plays a key role inward conspiracy thinking close the Oklahoma City bombing and, to a greater extent than recently, the bombings of the World Trade Center as well as Pentagon on September 11.

In add-on to forming the oculus of many conspiracy theories, Freemasonry, every bit ane of the oldest U.S. conspiracy theories, also acts every bit an index of thinking close conspiracy. Anti-Masonic catch inward full general as well as the anti-Masonic political motion inward detail have got been cited past times mid-twentiethcentury political theorists every bit a key instance of the “paranoid style” inward U.S. politics.

These scholars struggle that such large-scale suspicion of the Freemasons, a harmless fraternal organization, reflected U.S. xenophobia as well as anxiety. More recently, about populist historians of the menstruation have got suggested that, inward fact, many Masons did possess a groovy bargain of influence as well as often used it nepotistically, if non conspiratorially.

Since the post-Revolutionary era saw a concentration of ability as well as wealth amidst the U.S. upper classes, they observe, antebellum anxiety close Masonry reflected non paranoid suspicion but a well-founded as well as legitimate concern over the unequal distribution of wealth as well as ability inward the republic.

Dollar Bill

 The unique as well as esoteric symbolism of the Great Seal on the dollar nib has long been the  Dollar Bill
Dollar Bill

The unique as well as esoteric symbolism of the Great Seal on the dollar nib has long been the plain of report of speculation as well as combat alongside conspiracy theorists. Many select linked the rootage of the familiar symbols to the Masons or other hush-hush or occult societies. The incorporation of these symbols into the Great Seal of the United States of America of America of America has been viewed every bit a sign that hush-hush societies are controlling the acre as well as are attempting to assert command over the world.

After signing the Declaration of Independence, the Second Continental Congress decided that a seal should hold out designed for the novel nation. After several years as well as the formation of several committees, the pattern was approved inwards June 1782.

Members of the commission that selected the Great Seal included Benjamin Franklin, John Adams, as well as Thomas Jefferson. Franklin as well as Adams were Masons, every bit were many of the nation’s founders (including George Washington). The exact seat out of Masons alongside the founders has been a thing of debate.

 The unique as well as esoteric symbolism of the Great Seal on the dollar nib has long been the  Dollar Bill The unique as well as esoteric symbolism of the Great Seal on the dollar nib has long been the  Dollar Bill

Some Masonic historians as well as conspiracy theorists sentiment the Freemasons every bit the driving forcefulness behind the American Revolution as well as believe that they overstep on secretly to influence the U.S. authorities to the present. It is alone natural, then, that the Great Seal would symbolize the Masonic brotherhood.

The forepart of the seal, which is on the right-hand side of the dorsum of the dollar bill, depicts an eagle asset an olive branch as well as arrows. The eagle has been the traditional symbol of American liberty for generations, but in that location has been speculation that the eagle was originally supposed to hold out a phoenix.

The phoenix, which represents rebirth, dates to the fourth dimension of the ancient Egyptians as well as has every bit good been an of import symbol inwards Masonic ceremonies as well as mythology. It represents existence initiated as well as reborn into the Masonic brotherhood every bit good every bit existence reborn into wisdom. The phoenix is the symbol of the thirty-third score of Masonry, the highest plane members of the Scottish Rite of Masonry tin obtain.

In occult circles, the phoenix is associated with the lost civilisation of Atlantis. Early depictions of the Great Seal demo a aeroplane with a long, narrow cervix as well as a tuft of feathers on the dorsum of the head. While this description is rattling dissimilar from that of a bald eagle, it fits the traditional description of a phoenix. Conspiracy proponents believe the aeroplane on the early on seal was a phoenix.

The presence of the phoenix is idea to select implied that the United States of America of America would larn a novel Atlantis guided yesteryear the Masons. The phoenix/eagle on the seal has thirty-two feathers on the correct fly as well as thirty-three on the left, symbolizing 1 time again the highest levels of Scottish Rite Masonry.

The bird’s nine tail feathers are idea to correspond the nine orders of the York Rite of Masonry. The scroll inwards the rima oris of the phoenix/eagle is inscribed with the familiar phrase “E Pluribus Unum,” which translates every bit “From Many to One.” Usually this phrase has been assumed to refer to the uniting of the 13 sometime colonies.

It has every bit good been said to reference the rising of monotheism. Conspiracy theorists run across a double pregnant inwards this phrase as well as believe it every bit good represents the unity of the brotherhood of Masons as well as their plans to convey the entire footing nether the command of 1 hush-hush organization. In after attempts to downplay the Masonic imagery inwards the eyes of the public, the eagle piece of cake replaced the phoenix, but the tuft of feathers is notwithstanding visible on the dorsum of the eagle’s head.

The other side of the Great Seal, which is on the left-hand side of the dorsum of the dollar bill, has been considered fifty-fifty to a greater extent than controversial. In the centre of the seal is a pyramid without a capstone. Above it, inwards a triangle, floats the “All Seeing Eye of God,” projecting rays of light.

The unfinished pyramid plays a major purpose inwards the symbolism of the Masons. The pyramid without a top represents the loss of ancient wisdom as well as the connective to God. When a somebody obtains the rank of Master Mason, they themselves larn the capstone as well as a link to the divine. The pyramid every bit good signifies the release of the Israelites from Arab Republic of Egypt as well as is viewed every bit a symbol of freedom.

Across the base of operations of the pyramid on the seal is the appointment 1776 inwards Roman numerals, the twelvemonth American independence was declared. Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 double pregnant has every bit good been attributed to this date, every bit 1776 was every bit good the twelvemonth the Illuminati, only about other hush-hush society, was formed inwards Bavaria.

Two sayings look on the dorsum of the seal. “Annuit Coeptis,” which translates every bit “ He Favors Our Undertakings,” appears inwards a higher house the pyramid as well as the “All Seeing Eye.” Across the bottom of the seal it reads “Novus Ordo Seclorum” or “New Order of the Ages.”

Among conspiracy theorists, this has been considered proof of the existence of the “New World Order,” which is idea to hold out a network of hush-hush societies as well as organizations with cross-membership that is working to exercise a footing authorities controlled yesteryear a handful of powerful elites.

The seat out 13 has a recurring purpose inwards the symbolism of the Great Seal. In the cloud inwards a higher house the eagle’s caput are 13 stars. There are 13 arrows inwards 1 of the eagle’s talons as well as an olive branch with 13 leaves inwards the other. The shield has 13 stripes.

The pyramid is made upward of 13 levels including the “All Seeing Eye.” Both “E Pluribus Unum” as well as “Annuit Caeptis” incorporate 13 letters. Despite the seat out thirteen’s obvious symbolic connective to the 13 master copy colonies, the recurring seat out has been viewed with suspicion. The seat out 13 has numerous occult meanings, both positive as well as negative.

On the forepart of the dollar bill, unconnected with the Great Seal, is only about other supposed symbol of Freemasonry. The seal of the United States of America of America Treasury Department contains the Scales of Justice, a key, as well as a square. All iii of these items are considered to hold out of import Masonic symbols used inwards initiation ceremonies.

Many conspiracy theorists concur that the Freemasons as well as the New World Order conspirators command the world’s leading fiscal institutions as well as utilisation them to exert their will, as well as the Masonic as well as occult symbolism on the dollar nib is viewed every bit proof of this. Conventional historians tend to brand a dissimilar interpretation.

While nigh concur that in that location are elements of Masonic influence on the Great Seal of the United States, they believe that these elements were used, intentionally or unintentionally, because of their familiarity to the creators.

Mind Control

Although paranoia has ordinarily been seen every bit the most of import aspect of conspiracy theory inwards damage of subjectivity as well as psychology, mind-control conspiracies contribute inwards important as well as complex ways to fears exactly about the command of the private at the hands of a hostile authorities or conspiracy group.

All conspiracy theories are based on a notion of hear command anyway, merely because they are based on a belief that a conspiracy is attempting to command people’s beliefs as well as actions. The term “sheeple,” used derogatorily past times conspiracy theorists to depict those who believe official authorities (dis)information, implies aspects of propaganda, brainwashing, as well as command of people’s thoughts.

Such a term is based on a binary opposition of “us” as well as “them” that dominates paranoid discourses of conspiracy where at that topographic point is, on the ane hand, an elite grouping that is on the within of mightiness as well as who have got truthful cognition of how reality functions while, on the other, at that topographic point is the “mass” who are on the exterior of mightiness as well as who only have got access to reality through the lies as well as disinformation disseminated past times the elite.

Mind command conspiracies have got this construction at their base, but problematize the notion of “inside” as well as “outside.” The paranoid private inwards conspiracy theory is relatively gratis from the command of the conspiracy (because she “recognizes” its existence as well as is hence able to detach him- or herself from it), creating an objective as well as meaningful individuality inwards opposition to the brainwashed “sheeple.”

 Although paranoia has ordinarily been seen every bit the most of import aspect of conspiracy theory Mind Control Although paranoia has ordinarily been seen every bit the most of import aspect of conspiracy theory Mind Control

Mind-control conspiracies have got a to a greater extent than complex set amongst regard to the notion of identity as well as the construction of the conspiracy that controls its victims, because the mind-control dependent area has an ambiguous status every bit to whether s/he is within or exterior the conspiracy.

On the ane hand, they are “inside” because they are doing the piece of job of the conspiracy grouping every bit a resultant of their conditioning, programming, or physical implant, but on the other hand, they are “outside” because they are doing so unwittingly every bit component of a conspiracy where they are a key element, but have got no command over their actions.

Hence, many of import conspiracy figures, such every bit Lee Harvey Oswald, Sirhan Sirhan, as well as Timothy McVeigh are presented inwards conspiracy theory inwards radically different ways, either every bit knowing participants within a larger conspiracy or every bit mind-controlled “patsies” who were used without their ain knowledge. Mind command is hence non easily understood every bit a conspiracy itself, because it does non have got a recognizable finish other than to ease the way for a larger conspiracy group.

As such, it is to a greater extent than a “sign” that a conspiracy is at piece of job inwards society, although inwards the works of Jim Keith, a seminal mind-control conspiracist, it has been imagined every bit the key shape of social command for groups such every bit the Nazis as well as the New World Order.

Anxieties as well as Concerns of Mind Control

The problematic nature of hear control, non to the lowest degree inwards the interrogation of whether it genuinely exists every bit a existent practise or every bit a meaningful psychological condition, despite the documented prove of the CIA’s MK-ULTRA program, leads to many issues that non only focus exactly about identity but also exactly about the body, reality, as well as knowledge. Mind-control conspiracies tin hold out understood inwards damage of half dozen key anxieties or cultural concerns:
  • The decease of the self
  • The decease of reality
  • The “soulless” body
  • The decease of the human
  • Technophobia
  • The terminate of “knowledge”
The decease of the self revolves exactly about the interrogation of whether mind-control subjects (should such people exist) deed according to their ain wishing or whether they are tools inwards someone else’s hands. The opposition tin hold out seen inwards damage of a split upwardly betwixt the witting self-willed private as well as the unconsciously driven puppet.

However, because conspiracy does non command the dependent area from outside, but from within his or her consciousness (either through hypnosis, brainwashing as well as behavioral modification, drugs, or implants), such an opposition becomes problematic. The conspiracy is both within as well as exterior the self at the same time, amongst the resultant that mind-control victims are never sure as shooting whether their thoughts as well as desires are their ain or someone else’s.

Such a province of affairs maps a cultural concern over the stability of the self that tin hold out aligned amongst modern as well as postmodern concerns over consciousness as well as the interrogation of how far identity is constructed within consciousness as well as how far it is a production of external reality systems such every bit the circulation of information as well as images inwards guild or the operations of cultural ideology.

Related to this is the concern over the “death of reality.” If reality cannot hold out observed objectively every bit an empirical fact as well as so guaranteed past times the sense-perceptions of the private (because it is unclear whether it is a production of cognitive experience or created past times a program, an implant, or a conditioning procedure generated past times hear control) so it becomes an unknowable as well as uncertain phenomenon.

Such a concern plays out twentieth-century anxieties over the nature of reality, but also revisits older philosophical debates betwixt empiricism as well as metaphysics most what exists as well as how nosotros come upwardly to know it (ontology as well as epistemology, respectively), but from a paranoid perspective.

Where empiricism tends to believe inwards a reality that is knowable only through observation (arguably a paranoid perspective inwards itself), metaphysics assumes that cognition of reality is pre-given (usually inwards shape of the soul) where observation merely confirms what is already intuitively known.

Mind-control conspiracies reenact such a belief inwards a secular form, within which the soul is replaced past times a stuff (and often industrial) agent such every bit a programme or an implant, that has a malign, rather than a benign, influence, non only because it displaces gratis will, but also because it displaces God.

When considering such a position, it is unsurprising that many contemporary mind-control conspiracy theorists, such every bit Texe Marrs or Ron Patton, have got a fundamentalist Christian outlook. The quondam sees hear command inwards the functioning of “Project L.U.C.I.D.” which he claims is a far-reaching conspiracy to command all individuals through invasive technologies, piece the latter concocts an occult as well as satanic conspiracy behind the mythical Nazi/CIA mind-control programme “Project Monarch.”

What both articulate inwards their conspiracies is a fearfulness of the soulless body, a dominant characteristic of many mind-control narratives, which come across the self-willed torso replaced past times ane that merely follows a program. Many recent conspiracy theories have got made connections amongst hear command inwards monastic enjoin to envisage a guild where people are merely bodies or pieces of meat.

Conspiracy theories that focus on alien experimentation on humans or the usage of implants past times governments stand upwardly for an anxiety that the human torso is exactly a matter or a functional unit of measurement (for example, inwards remote viewing conspiracies, where a someone merely becomes a duad of eyes designed to discover as well as transmit data).

Related to such concerns are notions of the decease of the human, something that is most obvious inwards those UFO narratives that focus on the probing of the human torso as well as its change for usage past times aliens. In such conspiracies, the human torso is altered so that it no longer operates past times human desires, feelings, or thoughts, but every bit an alien torso past times proxy (controlled past times an alien mind), performing “inhuman” activities past times unknowingly conspiring against the human species.

An extension of such concerns tin also hold out establish inwards mind-control narratives that have got their footing inwards governmental conspiracies, every bit for illustration inwards the stories Cathy O’Brien tells of her experiences every bit a CIA gender activity slave, during which George Bush, Sr., is said to have got transformed into a lizard alien inwards front end of her, an imaginative trope that is designed to demo the inhumanity of hear control. The evolution of telemetric implants as well as fictionalizations of cyborg engineering on celluloid have got also led to a concern amongst the decease of the human, but this fourth dimension at the hands of technology.

In both alien as well as technological mind-control conspiracies, at that topographic point is an anxiety that humans are becoming less than human as well as to a greater extent than similar Descartes’s “animal-machine,” which is governed past times its instinct (or program) rather than past times rationality as well as thought. There is also a related concern that the hear as well as torso have got move separated because the torso is merely a soulless slice of meat whose “mind” exists externally inwards the hear of its human, cybernetic, or alien controller.

Telemetric implant as well as cyborg mind-control narratives stand upwardly for such a procedure past times reference to the transformation of the human into the machine as well as articulate a pervasive technophobia or fearfulness of scientific discipline that tin hold out seen inwards many other mind-control conspiracies, whether this command occurs through hypnotism (with its connections to mesmerism), Pavlovian conditioning, electroshock therapy, the usage of laboratory-created LSD, or through the introduction of literal implants, such every bit the “stimoceiver” (see below), into the human body.

Finally, mind-control conspiracies tin hold out seen to articulate a really postmodern concern amongst the terminate of knowledge. The fact that mind-control victims do non know whether their thoughts are their ain or those of another, transmitted to them through conditioning, programming, or the telemetric transmission of signals, highlights a concern that information is no longer knowable every bit an objectively verifiable truth.

Knowledge has move untrustworthy, partly because the private is unable to legitimate cognition whatever to a greater extent than but primarily because the information received is either strategic (where the mind-control puppet only has a version of truth that volition enable him or her to send out the task, every bit amongst Sirhan Sirhan, according to Alex Constantine) or is composed of disinformation, designed to mislead the mind-control victim into believing that reality is other than it genuinely is.

The Origins of Mind-Control Conspiracies

Although the inwards a higher house ideas advise that hear command is paradigmatic of postmodern conspiracy theory (because of the radical unknowability it creates amongst regard to every aspect of contemporary culture), hear command has its origins inwards industrial modernity.

As amongst many conspiracy theories, the genealogy of hear command takes inwards both fiction as well as history, albeit an invented choice history where scientific experimentation is rewritten every bit a hole-and-corner cabalistic programme that involves human torture as well as social applied scientific discipline on a large scale.

In some respects, such a portrayal tin hold out said to hold out accurate when applied, for example, to the Victorian practise of lobotomizing woman someone inmates of mental institutions, which entailed an obvious as well as destructive shape of hear control. However, most conspiracy discourses on hear command inwards the menstruation of modernity are characterized past times a paranoid anxiety over scientific inquiry, notably inwards the writings of Jim Keith.

In several texts, Keith has traced a history of hear command that incorporates early on experiments amongst hypnotism, eugenics, Freudian as well as Jungian psychiatry, behavioral psychology, as well as John Dewey’s educational theories, that when imaginatively linked, past times Keith, to governmental tidings agencies through key figures such every bit Cecil Rhodes, H. G. Wells, as well as Aldous Huxley generates early on signs of what was to move the New World Order.

Such a history is typical of mind-control conspiracies as well as many of the same figures or ideas constantly recur. The eighteenth-century Austrian physician Friedrich Anton Mesmer, for example, is given a key role inwards early on mind-control narratives because “mesmerism,” which was genuinely the application of magnetism to animate beingness or human bodies, has move synonymous amongst hypnotism inwards pop as well as conspiracy consciousness every bit a resultant of the belief that the usage of magnetic induction creates involuntary bodily movements that advise command of the mind.

Other of import figures inwards the genealogy of hear command are Sigmund Freud as well as the behaviorists B. F. Skinner as well as I. P. Pavlov. The latter is key to mind-control conspiracies because his experiments to get dogs to salivate at the sounding of a bell (which indicated that nutrient was on its way) have got move a prototype for anxieties over the possibility of a similar conditioning beingness applied to human beings.

Although the origins of hear command tin hold out establish inwards a reinvented history of psychological as well as medical science, at that topographic point are also elements that are based exclusively on fiction. George du Maurier’s new of 1894, Trilby, amongst its representation of the figure of Svengali, introduces ane of the initiatory of all images of a puppet-master controlling his protegé, Trilby, past times agency of hypnotism as well as mesmeric induction.

The omnipotent master copy controlling a slave inwards this way has move ane of the dominant images of contemporary mind-control narratives as well as finds form, for example, inwards conspiracies surrounding Project Monarch as well as CIA sex slave stories.

Another fictional influence of mind-control conspiracies tin hold out establish inwards cinematic representations where the concern over the robotic or zombielike nature of mind-control victims indicates how far mind-control conspiracies are a production of scientific discipline fiction as well as horror film.

The unthinking robot, controlled past times its program, or the zombie of 1930s Hollywood cinema, who is given an monastic enjoin that it slavishly obeys, are dominant figurations of the mind-controlled puppet who similarly has no hear of his or her own. Specifically, Fritz Lang’s Metropolis (1926) has a important house inwards forming the discourses of hear control.

It has an omnipotent controller inwards the Svengali mould, inwards the figure of Rottwang, whose representation every bit a “mad scientist” has been applied inwards conspiracy theory to historical figures such every bit Sidney Gottlieb as well as Ewen Cameron of the MK-ULTRA programme as well as to John B. Watson, who attempted to apply Pavlov’s experiments to humans.

The most of import facet of hear command inwards the film, however, is Rottwang’s creation of a robot that tin hold out controlled as well as its subsequent usage every bit a replacement for the rebel heroine, Maria, a exchange of the human past times the machine that acts every bit a displaced figuration of the mind-controlled victim.

Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 farther aspect of the celluloid that is of banking company notation for hear command is the depiction of the worker-slaves, who are presented every bit no different from the robot Rottwang creates because they are already programmed to deed as well as piece of job inwards a regimented fashion.

These influences advise that mind-control conspiracy theories have got their rootage inwards anxieties over the evolution of industrialization as well as its concomitant technologization of guild inwards the menstruation of modernity. The 2 primary cultural forces that mind-control conspiracies response to are the rationalization of industrial production as well as social organization, as well as the evolution of a volume culture.

These are concerns that are articulated past times Metropolis, for example, as well as that are extended inwards the contemporary societies of advanced economies (and most particularly, inwards the United States) inwards the hyper-rationalization as well as bureaucratization of everyday life (by governments and, increasingly, corporations) as well as inwards the extension of volume production to volume consumption.

Fear of rationalization is non confined to mind-control conspiracies and, indeed, tin hold out seen to hold out a staple of whatever conspiracy theory’s fearfulness of a hidden scheme controlling everyday life, but ane characteristic that is specific to hear command is the identification of the Nazis every bit key players inwards the creation of postwar projects such every bit Project Monarch (as Patton claims) or the influential role their eugenic experiments as well as propaganda techniques have got plainly had on areas every bit various every bit MK-ULTRA’s claimed interest inwards social applied scientific discipline or on the evolution of subliminal advertising.

The Nazis, every bit proponents of a totalitarian shape of rationalized social command as well as every bit architects of a volume civilization based on propaganda, move the nightmare of modernity that generates much mind-control conspiracy theory. They are also ane of the reasons why eugenics is ofttimes mentioned inwards relation to hear control, although this is also component of a to a greater extent than full general distrust of scientific discipline that characterizes mind-control theories.

The location of the origins of hear command inwards modernity tin thus hold out seen inwards the fears of rationalization generated past times the creation of many national as well as global institutions inwards this period, every bit good every bit past times a fearfulness of the “mass” that accompanies processes of industrial production, especially every bit these are applied to guild inwards Nazi ideology.

Such concerns tin hold out identified inwards mind-control conspiracies’ anxieties over the volume programming of individuals inwards contemporary guild every bit component of a wider endeavor to command guild past times a conspiracy group.

Mind command thus represents non a conspiracy inwards itself but constitutes, for conspiracy theorists, a symptom of larger conspiratorial projects based on anxieties over social as well as cultural structures that developed at the start of the twentieth century as well as that have got been extended into contemporary culture.

The Mass Media as well as Subliminal Advertising

One of the initiatory of all mind-control conspiracy theories of the postwar menstruation is related to this full general sense of a hole-and-corner manipulation of consciousness every bit a sign of some unknown conspiracy at piece of job inwards society.

Fears over the volume media as well as its apparent brain-washing of the U.S. world were a pervasive anxiety inwards the 1950s when the evolution of television set inwards conjunction amongst a civilization of consumerism as well as visual advertising led to an unease over the application of volume as well as rationalized structures to the social scene.

Such anxieties had already been raised past times Theodor Adorno as well as Max Horkheimer inwards their Marxist analysis of media institutions such every bit the Hollywood studio scheme as well as national radio inwards the the States of the 1940s, which, piece predominantly a give-and-take of the operations of ideology inwards society, tin hold out seen every bit a paranoid response to volume civilization inwards their concerns amongst the way citizens’ active interest inwards social relations is replaced past times a to a greater extent than passive reception of social as well as cultural values as well as beliefs.

The concern over the influence of television set as well as the volume media that developed inwards the 1950s, every bit detailed past times Marling, follows such a structure, but stems from a liberal intellectual concern over the “dumbing down” of society.

Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 to a greater extent than especial illustration of mass-media hear command tin hold out establish inwards ane of the founding mind-control texts, Vance Packard’s The Hidden Persuaders, published inwards 1957. Here, Packard drew attending to the practices used past times the advertising manufacture to influence consumers inwards their selection of products, implying a shape of hear command inwards the process, but he also mentioned experiments amongst subliminal advertising.

During the 1950s an advertising executive, James Vicary, allegedly developed subliminal advertising when he flashed the words “Eat Popcorn” as well as “Drink Coke” onto a pic house hide over the course of written report of a six-week experiment.

He claimed that at that topographic point had been a large rising inwards sales of these products every bit a resultant of his campaign, claims that led to pop fears most subliminal advertising, their investigation past times the Federal Communications Commission, as well as their banning inwards U.K. as well as Australia.

Subliminal advertising has had a important comport upon on conspiracy theory’s distrust of official media institutions every bit a resultant of such claims, despite the fact that Vicary afterwards admitted that he had fabricated his findings.

As a consequence, fears most subliminal messages on television set have got continued to have got currency inwards a multifariousness of ways, every bit Dan Kelly notes, inwards his give-and-take of Wilson Bryan Key’s allegations that the volume media is corrupting guild past times inserting images of gender activity as well as decease into its televisual programming.

Similarly, Texe Marrs’s claims most the evolution of a cyber-conspiracy involving the tracking of individuals through their purchases aligns itself amongst a fearfulness of the practices of the volume media, inwards its corporate forms, as well as grows out of this early on subliminal-advertising conspiracy theory.

More specifically, the credence of subliminal transmissions has also led to the conspiracy belief that media institutions are an extension of governmental forces or a manifestation of larger conspiracies because of the implication of brainwashing that this alleged practise entails.

Such a belief is argued past times Alex Constantine, who claims that a hole-and-corner governmental projection called Operation Mockingbird was created inwards monastic enjoin to usage television set every bit a propaganda medium. He goes farther than this, however, as well as also alleges that at that topographic point was some other program, called Operation Octopus, begun inwards 1948, that was a surveillance projection designed to plough televisions into transmitters that would, inwards Big Brother fashion, send images or messages to as well as from people’s living rooms.

CIA Mind Control: MK-ULTRA, as well as Manchurian Candidates

At the same fourth dimension that subliminal advertising was allegedly brainwashing the consumers of the United States, an actual mind-control programme was inwards operation, run past times the CIA as well as military machine tidings nether a multifariousness of code names (Projects Chatter, Bluebird, as well as Artichoke) but which inwards 1953 developed into an umbrella projection called MK-ULTRA.

Documented prove of these mind-control experiments became to a greater extent than widely known next governmental investigations inwards the 1970s, which revealed that MK-ULTRA, nether the command of Sidney Gottlieb, had engaged inwards 149 projects as well as sub-projects betwixt 1953 as well as 1963 as well as had investigated a broad hit of areas including the usage of electroshock, sensory deprivation, hypnotism, radiation, as well as drugs such every bit LSD inwards monastic enjoin to effect behavioral modifications inwards the tested subjects.

Many of these experiments were carried out on CIA as well as other governmental employees, but at that topographic point were also LSD projects that involved tests on unwitting subjects either within the military machine (such every bit Frank Olsen, who committed suicide after a psychotic trauma, maybe every bit a resultant of having been given LSD without his knowledge), inwards hospitals or, inwards ane case, a prison house for people convicted of drugs offenses.

Although MK-ULTRA dealt amongst many areas of hear control, it is the evolution as well as testing of LSD that has attracted the most attending because, inwards the shape of Operation Midnight Climax, it was taken out of governmental institutions as well as applied to the full general American public. In this phase, members of Earth were tested inwards apartments inwards New York as well as San Francisco, piece their responses were filmed or recorded through two-way mirrors.

MK-ULTRA has likely had the most comport upon on mind-control conspiracy theory because it provides substantiated prove for authorities interest inwards attempts to command people’s behavior. What began every bit a response to military machine concerns that the Soviet Union as well as PRC had developed truth drugs as well as brainwashing techniques has become, inwards conspiracy theory, component of a large-scale endeavor past times the authorities or other groups, such every bit the New World Order, to exercise domination through social engineering.

For conspiracy theorists, the authorities declaration that MK-ULTRA was a response to Soviet brainwashing during the Korean War is a encompass to conceal the reality of the program: the usage of hear command against U.S. citizens.

Alex Constantine, for example, dates the start of Project Mockingbird, the government/media conspiracy to command people’s minds through propaganda, to 1963 inwards monastic enjoin to signal that the terminate of the internal MK-ULTRA experiments was only the start of their existent purpose, which was their external application to the people of the United States. MK-ULTRA has also spawned “Manchurian Candidate” conspiracies, which have got their rootage inwards John Marks’s The Search for the Manchurian Candidate.

Marks’s volume is predominantly an line organisation human relationship of the LSD experiments of MK-ULTRA, but includes many oft-quoted chapters toward the terminate on the piece of job of Dr. Ewen Cameron inwards Montreal as well as on CIA hypnosis programs that plainly dealt amongst the interrogation of whether it would hold out possible to programme a human beingness inwards the initiatory of all instance as well as so whether an private could hold out programmed to hold out a mind-controlled assassin. This hypothesis has gained much popularity inwards conspiracy theory, especially inwards relation to the assassinations or attempted assassinations of political figures or celebrities since the 1960s.

It has variously been claimed that Lee Harvey Oswald, Sirhan Sirhan, Mark Chapman, as well as John Hinckley were all inwards some way programmed to perform deeds that they would otherwise hold out incapable of every bit witting human beings, but which they could perform if they were hypnotized past times governmental or conspiracy groups (Oswald as well as Sirhan) or brainwashed past times a conspiracy-controlled media (Chapman as well as Hinckley).

The latter set has move increasingly evident recently, amongst claims that the Columbine killers, Eric Harris as well as Dylan Klebold, were indoctrinated to deed every bit “Manchurian Candidates” past times a media civilization that volition create to a greater extent than of the same, a conspiracy theory that, similar Constantine’s Operation Mockingbird, sees the successful extension of CIA hear command into a programme of social applied scientific discipline on a national scale.

Project Monarch as well as CIA Sex Slaves

Project Mockingbird is only ane of several mind-control programs that has been imagined every bit a resultant of revelations most MK-ULTRA. One of the most important of these other mind-control conspiracies is Project Monarch, which originates amongst Cathy O’Brien’s volume most her experiences every bit a CIA mind-controlled sex slave, Trance Formation of America.

O’Brien relates how she was programmed nether Project Monarch, past times usage of the creation of a multiple personality disorder, hypnosis, as well as the usage of visual as well as auditory stimuli (such every bit Disney films) every bit good every bit occult training, to generate an choice personality that is able to perform degrading acts at the volition of a controller.

Such a conspiracy theory highlights the notion of the decease of the human that inheres within mind-control conspiracies, inwards that O’Brien develops a personality that tin hold out triggered so that it volition perform “inhuman” acts that her existent human self could non contemplate. Similar stories have got been offered past times Candy Jones, who, similar O’Brien, makes much of the her sensational revelations most gender activity amongst political figures as well as amongst celebrities.

Although fifty-fifty many conspiracy theorists (such every bit Keith) are skeptical of the sensational aspects of O’Brien’s story, many of her “revelations” most hear command inwards Project Monarch have got entered conspiracy culture.

As a resultant of her book, belief inwards satanic as well as occult practices every bit good every bit allegations of child abuse often accompany contemporary stories most Project Monarch, associations that, similar the before linking of eugenics amongst hear control, are designed to demonstrate how unnatural as well as inhuman a procedure it is to divorce someone from his or her existent identity past times creating a substitute personality that tin hold out triggered at will.

It is the Project Monarch conspiracy theory that has done much to spawn the notion of the mind-controlled puppet, as well as its usage of programs as well as “trigger” devices has move widely accepted every bit existent processes inwards the practise of hear control. Project Monarch conspiracy theories also listing inwards especial the code-names as well as levels of mind-controlled subjects that the CIA has operating for it:
  • Alpha, which is full general programming
  • Beta, sex-slave programming
  • Gamma, programming to permit the dependent area to deceive as well as misdirect
  • Theta, psychic programming designed to create assassins
  • Omega, a self-destruct programming
Although these are alleged CIA designations, the types of programming they create have got also been applied beyond Project Monarch inwards areas such every bit cult brainwashing, although figures such every bit Keith as well as Patton both advise connections betwixt Project Monarch as well as religious cults; inwards the instance of the quondam past times tracing Jim Jones’s apparent links to the CIA, as well as inwards the instance of the latter past times a to a greater extent than full general association of cult as well as occult. In these forms, Project Monarch has move an all-purpose “umbrella” conspiracy that tin hold out applied to whatever grouping that is suspected of using mind-control techniques.

What such a sentiment also indicates is that, different other mind-control conspiracy theories, Project Monarch is no longer merely a functional way of getting people to do a conspiracy’s bidding or fifty-fifty a sign of a conspiracy at work, but has move a conspiracy inwards itself amongst its ain objectives, operations, as well as connections amongst other conspiracy groups, such every bit the Illuminati, Skull as well as Bones, or the New World Order.

Mk-Ultra

Much dearest yesteryear conspiracy theorists because it provides documented testify to back upwards claims that the U.S. authorities is involved inward clandestine in addition to hostile operations against its ain citizens, MK-ULTRA was a covert CIA mind-control query projection that lasted from 1953 to 1963.

The computer programme developed out of unopen to other CIA project, Bluebird (begun inward 1950 in addition to renamed Artichoke inward 1951), which was principally concerned with psychological manipulation in addition to had concerns like to the navy’s Project Chatter, which was begun inward 1947 (lasting until 1953) in addition to which dealt with the regain in addition to application of truth drugs like to those that the Soviet Union was alleged to receive got developed. Both MK-ULTRA in addition to Chatter expanded substantially during the Korean War because of the belief that Soviet forces had successfully used truth drugs in addition to brainwashing techniques on prisoners of war.

MK-ULTRA was authorized yesteryear CIA Director Allen Dulles inward 1953 in addition to was position into outcome yesteryear the manager of operations, Richard Helms, equally an “umbrella project” that combined the interests of Bluebird, Artichoke, in addition to Chatter. Under the command of Dr. Sidney Gottlieb the computer programme engaged inward query on a gain of projects relating to drugs, toxins, hypnotism, in addition to other forms of behavioral modification.

This full general focus on the transformation in addition to command of personality has led to a widespread belief alongside conspiracy theorists that its armed forces applications were genuinely a embrace for attempts to pacify in addition to command civilian populations, most notably the citizens of the United States.

 Much dearest yesteryear conspiracy theorists because it provides documented testify to back upwards c MK-ULTRA Much dearest yesteryear conspiracy theorists because it provides documented testify to back upwards c MK-ULTRA

Under Gottlieb, MK-ULTRA combined the psychological concerns of Bluebird/Artichoke with the involvement inward drugs works life inward the navy’s Project Chatter. The full general aim of the projection was to honor ways of conditioning personnel to resist interrogation yesteryear hostile powers or to accomplish the reverse through the evolution of command of individuals through interrogation, hypnosis, sensory deprivation, in addition to utilisation of drugs.

There were many non-drug-related programs inward the 149 subprojects that came inside MK-ULTRA’s portfolio, unopen to of which involved hypnosis, investigations of magic, studies of slumber patterns, query on encephalon concussion, query into stimulus in addition to reply inward biological systems, radiation, ESP, electroshock therapy, in addition to projects that precisely involved funding actual operations or their extension abroad nether the MK-NAOMI designation, for event those taking house at the Allan Memorial Institute inward Montreal.

The drug programs receive got gained the most attention, however, inward utilisation because these were a evolution of overseas experiments that had already taken house regarding the utilisation of sodium pentothal, but also because MK-ULTRA expanded the utilisation of narcotic agents over the class of the computer programme in addition to then that the CIA’s experimentation with drugs, inward detail LSD, has travel the bestknown expanse of the projection inward pop consciousness.

The evolution of LSD in addition to its experimentation on members of the CIA, armed forces personnel, in addition to mental patients formed the early on stage of MK-ULTRA’s investigation of drugs inward the 1950s. Many of those involved inward investigating its effects, such equally Gottlieb himself, were habitual users of the drug, in addition to stories of LSD-spiked drinks at parties shape unopen to of the most sensational aspects of this opening phase.

The master copy torso of research, however, was performed on volunteer subjects who were tested inward sensory deprivation chambers, nether hypnosis, or who had aural stimuli played to them patch dosed with LSD or other drugs such equally mescaline. Some of the subjects, however, were tested without their consent, such equally Frank Olsen, whose suicide equally a outcome of a psychotic episode has been attributed to the fact that he was given LSD without his knowledge.

Another major utilisation of the early on stage was the testing of narcotics inward government, medical, in addition to educational institutions, with 1 of the outset studies taking house at the National Institute of Mental Health’s Addiction Research Center inward Lexington, where prison theater inmates serving sentences for drug violations were dosed with LSD inward telephone substitution for heroin.

The most notorious characteristic of MK-ULTRA, in addition to the characteristic that is most commonly associated with it, is the testing of LSD inward CIA-rented apartments inward New York in addition to San Francisco equally utilisation of Operation Midnight Climax, which formed the in conclusion stage of the program.

During this stage LSD was tested on unwitting subjects inward everyday lodge yesteryear undercover agents (with the assent of the Federal Bureau of Narcotics) who used prostitutes to convey men dorsum to apartments with two-way mirrors where they were given LSD in addition to their reactions were recorded.

This led to farther tests in addition to a to a greater extent than full general distribution of LSD that has led to the full general perception, equally Lee in addition to Shlain argue, that the CIA helped to exercise the 1960s counterculture or, alternatively, equally Jim Keith asserts, that the counterculture was utilisation of a CIA plot to channel youthful dissent into passive in addition to nonviolent areas, with unopen to of its primal figures, such equally Jerry Garcia in addition to Timothy Leary, acting equally CIA agents or stooges to accomplish this plan.

The MK-ULTRA computer programme was brought to an destination inward 1963 in addition to most of the papers relating to it were destroyed inward 1973 on the orders of CIA manager Richard Helms. The computer programme was dependent champaign to several hearings inward the 1970s, when cognition of CIA involvement inward postulate heed command in addition to inward the evolution in addition to distribution of LSD entered the world domain. The computer programme was the dependent champaign of investigations yesteryear the Rockefeller Commission inward 1975, the Church Committee inward 1976, in addition to hearings yesteryear Senator Edward Kennedy inward 1975 in addition to 1977.

The papers in addition to reports from these investigations shape the mass of the cloth used yesteryear conspiracy theorists, although they unremarkably quote from Marks’s The Search for the Manchurian Candidate or Bowart’s Operation Mind Control, rather than straight from their original source.

The revelations nearly MK-ULTRA receive got led to a gain of conspiracy theories, mainly involving the attempts yesteryear diverse agencies or conspiracy groups to pacify in addition to command the population of the U.S. of America through postulate heed command in addition to the loose of drugs into the environment. Keith, for example, claims that MK-ULTRA is utilisation of a larger New World Order plot in addition to that at that spot receive got already been attempts to utilisation LSD to pacify large numbers of people inward the New York subway system.

The factual footing of MK-ULTRA has been used to spin other elaborate plots, specially when inward conjunction with the mythical mind-control performance called “Project Monarch,” which, according to Ron Patton, is orchestrated yesteryear Nazis, occult groups, in addition to the Illuminati, all of whom travel inward the service of the Antichrist rather than for whatever mere earthly power.

Microsoft


Microsoft has repeatedly surfaced inward conspiracy lore, particularly amongst the increment of the Internet. Since its 1975 founding yesteryear Harvard dropout Bill Gates as well as his high-school friend Paul Allen, Microsoft has steadily occupied a larger as well as larger spell of the software market.

The company’s initial coup came amongst winning a contract for what eventually became MS-DOS, as well as hence arranging amongst IBM to operate out on the rights to the operating arrangement software. The introduction of Microsoft Office as well as Windows inward the early on 1990s cemented the company’s dominant manufacture position.

Soon subsequently September 11, an e-mail circulated alleging that Microsoft had built a undercover code into its Microsoft Word Wingdings font, predicting the attacks on the World Trade Center.

 Microsoft has repeatedly surfaced inward conspiracy lore Microsoft Microsoft has repeatedly surfaced inward conspiracy lore Microsoft

When the characters Q33NY—incorrectly alleged to live on the flying number of i of the planes—are converted to Wingdings inward Microsoft Word, the effect is a plane, 2 symbols supposed to resemble buildings, a skull-and-crossbones, as well as a Star of David.

Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 similar rumor had surfaced before nearly the characters NYC, which allegedly had an antisemitic important when converted to Wingdings: a skull-and-crossbones, Star of David, as well as raised thumb.

In both cases, Microsoft had to number official statements denying the coincidence.

Microsoft has likewise been the discipline of government-spying fears (akin to those surrounding Inslaw’s alleged spy software, PROMIS) inward connectedness amongst a safety substitution built into its software. In September 1999, Andrew Fernandez, the primary scientist at a Canadian software work solid called Cryptonym, announced the beingness of an unaccounted-for safety substitution inward Windows NT 4.0 Service Pack 5, mysteriously labeled “NSAKey.”

Rumors abounded on the Internet every bit to whether this was something Microsoft had built into Windows safety inward social club to let the National Security Agency (NSA) to spy on Windows users. The same rumor resurfaced inward 2002, amongst the unloose of the company’s Palladium safety initiative.

Microsoft has likewise been the discipline of much conspiracy parody, including articles claiming to link it to the Illuminati as well as numerogical analyses of Gates’s name. In 2002, Los Angeles filmmaker Brian Flemming released Nothing So Strange, a “mockumentary” that investigates a JFK-style conspiracy closed to the assassination of Bill Gates.

The celluloid alludes to names familiar from the Kennedy assassination, including Alex Hidell (one of Oswald’s aliases) as well as Debra Meagher (a reference to Sylvia Meagher, an early on researcher).

So what makes Microsoft a target for conspiracy theories? First, Gates’s monolithic presence, legendary competitiveness, as well as paranoia bring made him a nationally known figure on the scale of Nelson Rockefeller.

As the Justice Department investigation of Microsoft indicates, it is a large, successful enterprise that has non hesitated to utilization its success to expand its dominance. Within the technology industry, Microsoft has a reputation every bit a companionship that steals other companies’ ideas as well as turns them into mediocre simply wildly selling products.

Software companies similar Netscape, Norell, WordPerfect, as well as Lotus bring all felt the fiscal sting of competing amongst the behemoth based inward Redmond, Washington, as well as novel companies know that they bring alone a modest window inward which to succeed before Microsoft releases a competing product.

On the flip side, Microsoft itself has made accusations that its Justice Department prosecution results from collaboration betwixt Microsoft’s competitors, including Netscape (now purpose of AOL/Time Warner), Lord's Day Microsystems, as well as Oracle Corporation.

Jedidiah Morse

 serving equally pastor of the First Congregational Church of Charlestown Jedidiah Morse
Jedidiah Morse

Rev. Jedidiah Morse (1761–1826) was 1 of the early on American Republic’s best-known authors in addition to clergymen, serving equally pastor of the First Congregational Church of Charlestown, Massachusetts (now business office of Boston) for 30 years. Perhaps counterbalancing his other accomplishments, Morse was also 1 of the forerunners inward the champaign of U.S. conspiracy theory.

Besides his pastoral duties in addition to frequent service equally an orator on civic in addition to political occasions, Morse was a pioneer inward American geography, producing 1 of the get-go pop books on the subject, Geography Made Easy (1784), precisely a twelvemonth after his graduation from Yale College.

This was followed past times a serial of other works, most notably the two-volume American Universal Geography (1793), which altogether went through hundreds of editions. In an historic menses when go was yet difficult, expensive, in addition to infrequent, it is non besides much to tell that Jedidiah Morse taught most Americans of his twenty-four lx minutes menses most of what they knew of the province beyond their ain immediate horizons.

 serving equally pastor of the First Congregational Church of Charlestown Jedidiah Morse serving equally pastor of the First Congregational Church of Charlestown Jedidiah Morse

Morse also made a require himself equally a prominent purveyor of anti-Illuminati conspiracy theories. In the hysterical era of the XYZ Affair in addition to the Alien in addition to Sedition Acts inward the 1790s, Morse lent his considerable liberate energy in addition to prestige to the projection of turning the Bavarian Illuminati into a mainstream political issue. Joined past times many other prominent New England divines, including Yale College president Timothy Dwight, Morse almost succeeded.

Like many other old-fashioned New England Calvinists, Morse was deeply alarmed at the seeming rising of “infidelity” inward the 1790s, a category into which he lay non precisely the outright rejection of Christian belief, but also its liberalization into less supernatural, to a greater extent than rational forms such equally Unitarianism in addition to deism. Besides mankind’s innate wickedness, Morse in addition to his colleagues blamed radical politics, peculiarly the French Revolution in addition to its American sympathizers, for the decline of faith, in addition to vice versa.

The twelvemonth 1794 was a turning point. Robespierre’s reign of terror raged inward France, patch the Democratic Republican Societies in addition to the Whiskey Rebellion disturbed the political peace at home. That same year, deist speaker in addition to organizer Elihu Palmer toured the United States, in addition to Thomas Paine’s assault on revealed religion, The Age of Reason, get-go arrived on U.S. shores.

Under the infidels’ influence, Morse believed, “uncleanness, Sabbath breaking & all the overflowing of iniquity which springs from these” ran riot alongside the people. To pillars of New England’s Federalist/Congregationalist “Standing Order,” nether which the churches were supported past times taxes in addition to ministers used their pulpits to back upward the ruling political elite, it seemed that a “mental epidemic” was sweeping the country.

It exclusively got worse equally the 1790s wore on. Criticism of the government, in addition to political activism against it, grew to a greater extent than intense during the battles over the Jay Treaty with England inward 1796 in addition to the presidency inward the 1796 election. The pious Federalist John Adams trounce the free-thinking Jefferson inward that election, but with state of war against the French looming, Federalist hysteria came to a fever pitch.

It was inward this atmosphere, inward 1797, that Jedidiah Morse, Timothy Dwight, in addition to their colleagues discovered John Robison’s Proofs of a Conspiracy, finding inward its delineate of piece of occupation concern human relationship of the Illuminati effort to destroy all religions in addition to governments a create explanation for many political in addition to cultural trends that disturbed them.

Morse launched his personal effort against the Illuminati past times giving 2 sermons on the national fast twenty-four lx minutes menses proclaimed past times President Adams for nine May 1798, 1 at his ain church building in addition to 1 at North Church, Boston. Following New England tradition, where sermons were pop reading affair in addition to frequently served equally political tracts, Morse’s endeavor was published shortly afterwards.

In his Sermon on the National Fast Day, Morse attacked the “deep-laid plan” of the French Republic “to destroy the confidence of the [American] people” inward the men in addition to institutions that governed them, a conception beingness implemented non precisely past times the French themselves, but also past times their local minions, the Democratic Republicans.

What was worse, they had criticized the clergy, too, suggesting that roughly secret, fifty-fifty deeper blueprint was “in operation, hostile to truthful freedom in addition to religion,” preparing the agency “for the spread” hither of “that atheistical philosophy” that was “deluging the Old World inward misery in addition to blood.” Morse recommended Robison’s mass equally a judicious explanation of everything that was happening, attributing it all to “the night conspiracies of the Illuminati”.

Initially the reply was less sensational than Morse must convey hoped, but the arguing kept him in addition to the Illuminati inward the world oculus for most of the side past times side 2 years. Democratic Republican newspapers questioned Robison’s veracity, printing negative reviews of the mass from the British press, in addition to demanded proof of the charges.

Not much proof was to live had, but Morse gamely struck dorsum with paper articles in addition to clippings defending Robison in addition to attacking their critics. At the same, Salem government minister William Bentley, a rare Jeffersonian alongside the Massachusetts clergy, supplied equal amounts of cloth damning Morse’s seat in addition to his sources.

The arguing was renewed in addition to expanded with a circular of published Thanksgiving sermons from Morse in addition to many other New England ministers over the wintertime of 1798–1799. Morse’s included an appendix that tried to document a sentiment of American events closely next the pattern of Robison’s in addition to the Abbé Barruel’s accounts of the French Revolution.

The Democratic Republican Societies of 1793–1794 were non mere debating clubs, he tried to show, but extensions of the Illuminati. They had been founded past times a French agent, “Citizen” Edmond Genet, in addition to precisely went tube in addition to reappeared nether other names after President Washington had publicly blamed them for the Whiskey Rebellion.

Morse hold upward seemed to teach his Illuminati witch-hunt on delineate of piece of occupation solid the world with a 3rd published sermon, originally given on roughly other national fast day, 25 Apr 1799. This fourth dimension a triumphant Morse claimed hold upward to convey “complete in addition to indubitable proof that such societies produce exist, in addition to convey for many years existed, inward the United States”.

The smoking gun was a missive of the alphabet detailing the membership in addition to organization (all the agency dorsum inward 1786) of a somewhat irregular Masonic organisation called Wisdom Lodge inward Portsmouth, Virginia, made upward chiefly of immigrants from St. Domingue in addition to France.

There were suggestions of other U.S. lodges beingness inward contact with Wisdom Lodge, in addition to a woman bring upward lodge inward France, but the connectedness to the Bavarian Illuminati was tenuous at best in addition to the bear witness of whatever existent influence nonexistent.

Nevertheless, Morse felt the illustration was sealed, in addition to the Illuminati theory gained roughly ground, until it was derailed past times a novel arguing over Morse’s ain integrity. It happened that both Morse in addition to his antagonist William Bentley were inward correspondence with the High German geographer Christoph Ebeling.

To both men, Ebeling had written letters castigating Robison’s book, contradicting many of the alleged facts it cited, in addition to dismissing the thought that the Bavarian Illuminati yet existed inward whatever form. Rumors of the letters began to circulate inward the summer of 1799.

The next autumn, Bentley saw to it that the text of his Ebeling missive of the alphabet appeared inward several newspapers, anonymously but describing the author in addition to recipient inward such a agency that readers mightiness assume the Massachusetts human who received the missive of the alphabet was Morse himself.

The Illuminati theory’s primary U.S. backer was forced on the defensive, unable to come upward create clean without admitting that he had covered upward incriminating information fifty-fifty though it was provided past times a respected colleague.

By the terminate of 1799, Republican newspapers were openly ridiculing Morse in addition to his ideas, in addition to edifice a sort of satirical conspiracy theory virtually the “New England Illuminati,” an oligarchy of “political priests” of which Morse was said to live a ringleader.

Morse shortly had to drib the Illuminati theory from his repertoire, although he continued to grapple for the old-time Puritan organized religious belief inward other ways over the balance of his life.

His skills equally a controversialist in addition to publishing entrepreneur were lay to proficient role resisting the instruction of liberal theology at Harvard, promoting missions to the Indians in addition to western migrants, in addition to helping flora Andover Theological Seminary, the New England Tract Society, the American Bible Society, in addition to the American Tract Society.

The theatre unit of measurement tradition of scientific in addition to artistic achievement mixed with conspiracy was carried on past times Jedidiah’s son, Samuel F. B. Morse.