SECRET SOCIETIES PA (REV)

by REYNOLDS,JOHN LAWRENCE

• ISBN13: 9781611450422
• ISBN10: 161145042X
• Edition: 00
• Format: Trade Paper
• Copyright: 2011-09-17
• Publisher: FRWHEEL

Summary

They generate fear, suspicion, and'¬ ;above all'¬ ;fascination. Secret societies thrive among us, yet they remain shrouded in mystery. Their secrecy suggests, to many, sacrilege or crime, and their loyalties are often accused of undermining governments and tipping the scales of justice. The Freemasons, for example, hold more seats of power in the U.S. government than any other organization. No fewer than sixteen presidents have declared their Masonic affiliation, and there may have been more. Secret societies have infiltrated pop culture as well. Celebrity members of Kabbalah include Madonna, Demi Moore, and Elizabeth Taylor, among others. From the Mafia and the Yakuza to the Priory of Sion, Skull and Bones and the Templars, Reynolds offers an illuminating and entertaining exploration of the stories'¬ ;confirmed and fabricated'¬ ;that surround these societies, as well as provides detailed information on their origins, initiations, rituals, and secret signs. Dispelling myths and providing gripping revelations'¬ ;such as a direct historical link between the Assassins of the Middle Ages and today'¬"s Al Qaeda'¬ ;Secret Societies gives us a smart, surprising look at the best known and often least understood covert organizations.

Author Biography

John Lawrence Reynolds has authored sixteen books of fiction and nonfiction, winning numerous awards in both categories, including the Arthur Ellis awards for Best Novel and Best True Crime. He lives with his wife, Judy, in a small North American town, the location of which is secret.

Table of Contents

Introduction: Fools, Fears and Fanatics	p. 11
The Assassins: Nothing Is True, Everything Is Permitted	p. 19
Templars, Illuminati And Freemasons: The Secret Seat of Power	p. 43
Priory Of Sion: Keepers of the Holy Grail	p. 77
Druids And Gnostics: Knowledge and the Eternal Soul	p. 101
Kabbalah: Origins of the Apocalypse	p. 119
Rosicrucians: The Pursuit of Esoteric Wisdom	p. 139
Traids: Cultural Criminals	p. 157
The Mafia And Cosa Nostra: Wise Guys and Businessmen	p. 173
Yakuza: Traditions and Amputations	p. 199
Wicca: The Great Godess and the Horned God	p. 209
Skull & Bones: America's Secret Establishment	p. 229
Secret Societies In Popular Culture: An Endless Fascination	p. 253
Afterword: Of Demons and Baloney	p. 295
Notes	p. 299
Picture Credits	p. 313
Acknowledgments	p. 314
Index	p. 315
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