So, I didn't bother to read through this thread, but i'm sure there is a lot of misconceptions and generalizations...I attribute this to the fact that there isn't much information about these groups so many people speculate upon what they have heard.
The Illuminati and free-masons as far as I know were founded by US patriots during before the revolutionary war as a secret society. One that every member was sworn never to reveal what was spoken during meetings. They did this so they could talk politics without having to worry about being ratted out to the British by loyalists.
They were largely a religious group of people, however, their religious viewpoints and backgrounds were different, so they united under the premise that there is a god...one that held all men accountable. everything else on the religious front was open for individual interpretation.
I don't know what the modern day Illuminati/Freemason believes, or even why they exist now, but I do know they exist, my cousin's step father is one.
