Secret Societies: Inside the World's Most Notorious OrganizationsArcade Publishing, 2006 - 320 pages Canadian mystery writer Reynolds's irreverent guide lacks an overarching thesis or philosophical dimension yet is packed with playfully presented information. The author begins by describing the 11th-century Iranian-based cult known as the Assassins, noting its obvious parallels with al-Qaeda. Next, he traces the history of the Freemasons and the Illuminati, observing that 'any review of U.S. history encounters Freemasons lurking behind every treaty, battle and statute.' He then proceeds to sketch the complex history of the French cabal the Priory of Sion; details the belief systems of the Druids and Gnostics and their differing attitudes to secrecy; and explores how followers of the Kabbalah, 'neither a religion nor an organization, ' came to be considered 'secretive and sinister' (Reynolds comments lightheartedly on how 'the Kabbalah was transformed into a supermarket of pious accoutrements' by the Kabbalah Center in L.A.). Chapters on Triads, the Mafia and Yakuza are adept in their focus on immigration and minority cultural traditions in American society. Reynolds is most provocative when drawing links between Skull and Bones and the CIA. He closes with a brief history of conspiracy theory, anti-Semitism and the risks of paranoid allegations. |
Table des matières
INTRODUCTION | 11 |
ONE THE ASSASSINS | 19 |
TWO TEMPLARS ILLUMINATI AND FREEMASONS | 43 |
THREE PRIORY OF SION | 77 |
FOUR DRUIDS AND GNOSTICS | 101 |
FIVE KABBALAH | 119 |
SIX ROSICRUCIANS | 139 |
SEVEN TRIADS | 157 |
EIGHT THE MAFIA AND COSA NOSTRA | 173 |
NINE YAKUZA | 199 |
TEN WICCA | 209 |
ELEVEN SKULL BONES | 229 |
TWELVE SECRET SOCIETIES IN POPULAR CULTURE | 253 |
THIRTEEN CRITICS ALARMISTS AND CONSPIRACY THEORISTS | 271 |
AFTERWORD | 295 |
Autres éditions - Tout afficher
Secret Societies: Inside the World's Most Notorious Organizations John Lawrence Reynolds Aucun aperçu disponible - 2011 |
Expressions et termes fréquents
Abode of Learning achieve activities ancient appeared Assassins associated authority became began believed Bilderberg Bilderberg Group Bones members Bonesmen boss Bush Camorra Catholic century ceremonies Chinese Christ Christian Church claim conspiracy Cosa Nostra created criminal culture Dagobert death dedicated Druidism Druids Europe evil existence fiction followers France Freemasonry Freemasons French Giselle global Gnostics goals grew Hasan Holy Blood identified Illuminati influence initiation inspired Italian Jouret Kabbalah Kabbalah Center knights later launched leaders lives Mafia Masons means medieval membership Molay murder Muslims mystery mystical Nazi Ndrangheta occult Opus Dei organization original perhaps Pierre Plantard Plantard political practice Priory of Sion Protocols religion remains represents revealed rituals role Roman Rosenkreuz Rosicrucian samurai Saunière Saunière's secrecy secret societies Sephiroth Shiites Sicilian Sicily Skull & Bones spiritual story suggests symbol tale Templars Thyssen tion Wicca wisdom witches women Yakuza young
Fréquemment cités
Page 9 - Now the story about the initiation of young novices is as much to be detested as it is well known. An infant covered over with meal, that it may deceive the unwary, is placed before him who is to be stained with their rites: this infant is slain by the young pupil, who has been urged on as if to harmless blows on the surface of the meal, with dark and secret wounds.