Page 18 - Encyclopedia of the Unusual and Unexplained Vol. 3

xviii Introduction

religious expression. Sometimes such splinter any seemingly unorthodox religion as a cult,
groups are organized around the revelations for what is regarded as anti-social or blasphe-
and visions of a single individual, who is rec- mous expression by some may be hailed as sin-
ognized as a prophet by his or her followers. cere spiritual witness by others.
Because the new teachings may be judged as
heretical to the original body of worshippers,
those who follow the new revelations are
branded as cultists or heretics. Secret Societies
and Conspiracies
Even in ancient times, the dissenters were
forced to meet in secret because of oppression There will always be envious individuals
by the established group or because of their who believe that wealthy and powerful mem-
desire to hide their practices. Since only devo- bers of society have been able to acquire their
tees could know the truths of their faith, position only because of secret formulas, magi-
adherents were required to maintain the cal words, and supernatural rituals. Rumors
strictest silence regarding their rites and ritu- and legends of secret societies have fueled the
als. The term “mysteries” or “mystery religion” imaginations, fears, and envy of those on the
is applied to these beliefs. The word “mystery” outside for thousands of years. Many secret
comes from the Greek word myein, “to close,” societies, such as the Assassins, the Garduna,
referring to the need of the mystes, the initi- the Thuggee, and the Tongs, were made up of
ate, to close his or her eyes and the lips and to highly trained criminals who were extremely
keep secret the rites of the cult. dangerous to all outsiders. Others, such as the
Knights Templar, the Illuminati, and the Rosi-
In ancient Greece, postulants of the mys-
tery religions had to undergo a rigorous initia- crucians, were said to possess enough ancient
tion that disciplined both their mind and secrets of power and wealth to control the
body. In order to attain the self-mastery entire world.
demanded by the priests of the mysteries, the Conspiracy enthusiasts allege that there
neophytes understood that they must restruc- are clandestine organizations which for cen-
ture their physical, moral, and spiritual being turies have remained a threat to individual
to gain access to the hidden forces in the uni- freedoms, quietly operating in the shadows,
verse. Only through complete mastery of one- silently infiltrating political organizations, and
self could one see beyond death and perceive secretly manipulating every level of govern-
the pathways of the after-life. Many times ment and every facet of society. One of the
these mysteries were taught in the form of a favorites of conspiracy theorists, the Freema-
play and were celebrated in sacred groves or in sons, while once a powerful and influential
secret temples away from the cities. group throughout the Western world, is today
regarded by many as simply a philanthropic
In contemporary usage, the word “cult”
and fraternal organization. Another secret
generally carries with it negative connotations
society, the Illuminati, deemed by many con-
and associations. In modern times, a number
spiracy buffs to be the most insidious of all,
of apocalyptic cults, such as the Branch
faded into obscurity in the late eighteenth
Davidians and the People’s Temple, have
century. However, there is always a new secret
alarmed the general population by isolating
society that seeks to divine arcane and forbid-
themselves and preparing for Armageddon,
den avenues to wealth and power.
the last great battle between good and evil.
The mass suicides carried out by members of
Heaven’s Gate, People’s Temple, and Order of
the Solar Temple have also presented alarm- Sorcery, Alchemy
ing images of what many believe to be typical and Witchcraft
cultist practice. Recent statistics indicate that
there are 2,680 religions in the United States. Although Christianity affirms the exis-
Therefore, one must be cautious in labeling tence of a transcendent reality, it has always

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