This seems so intriguing to me to know some details about secret societies, I would like to get the dirt! Anyone know of specific ones, or rumors of some? How do they get started and are they upper class, and millionaire's?  I AM NOT TALKING ABOUT CULTS!
135266
You don't find secret societies; they find you.
446369
well yeah, that is why there are no legitimate institutions for psychics, because it depends on the individuals beliefs and not cold facts. \n\nIf I told you you will be rich when you are fifty, and you strongly believe this, it might come true, but not because I told you so, but because you had a reason to believe. \n\nAs for satan being disguised as an angel of light, I find this demoralizing to the true angels of light.
653396
The explanation given by the "co-mason" NeoArt is accurate and informative.  I, as an Ancient Free and Accepted Mason (the "real" Masons if you will), can only add this.  "Co-masons" are generally not recognized by real Masonic Lodges and will most likely not be permitted to attend meetings.  Many Masons in this country still are not even aware that this group exists.  \n\nNeoArt mentioned that Co-masons require that their "brothers" must declare belief in a higher power, but are not pressed further on the issue and there are no religious requirements apart from not being an atheist.  This is the case with real Masons as well.  There is no futher requirement where religious belief in concerned.\n\nCo-Masons seem to mean well, and are most likely very good hearted individuals who are lookinig to improve themselves and their community, just as real Masons are and have.  They just seem to differ in a few areas that caused them to form their own fringe group.  Co-masons should still be respected as people who are trying to do good, but they will not be accepted by real Masons, as doing so would violate the oath that every Freemason takes.
263238
The Freemasons are a fraternal organization who's membership is not a secret (I am one), and who's purpose is to make good men better.  The tools of operative masonry are each assigned a symbolic meaning, and these are used as reminders of how to live a good life (this is not a religious belief, anymore that many self help books strive to teach you how to live your live better without the use of religion).  In the process of learning all of these symbols and words to pass along the meanings through oral traditions (as nothing is ever written down), the members become good friends, much as members of any other fraternal organization do.\n\nMany of the rituals that you may have heard about probably seem rather strange, and in fact, I felt the same way.  It is only when these rituals are explained through the telling of a story, do they make sense.  If you look at someone putting on a play (take Phantom of the Opera for example) and take it out of context, it would sound pretty weird that some girl pretends to ride in a boat on a lake, and some freaky guy wears half a mask over his face while some loud diva screams.  But if you see the show, it all makes sense.  In that sense, becoming a Freemason is like getting a ticket to see a play.  Of course, the similarities end there, but hopefully you get the idea. \n\nSo we are a group of people who are members of a fraternal organization rich with tradition, and in the process of carrying on this tradition much as the many of the founding fathers of the U.S. did, we enjoy each other's company and friendship.\n\nAny man who is over 18 and who is not an atheist is free to join.
462371
Never heard of a major movement of teens joining cults before. You might want to check out http://www.rickross.com/ . This guy is the Cult expert.
477049
Yeah, some frat house buddies and I went to the hospital once to visit a brother who was in there for observation. Someone caught him sitting in the middle of a pentagram he drew on the floor with lighter-fluid. He set it afire and was rocking himself to his bizarre chant hoping he'd cast a spell to bring peace to the mid-east. He didn't come back to school. I think he moved somewhere to a lower rent area downtown. And, that was just fine with me. Anyone with psychic abilities needs to stay clear away from me!
15004
There are many elitist groups many of which you have not named.  They have existed for hundreds of years and will continue to exist long after we are gone.  New world order is no mystery, global market systems (I fear the world bank more than elitist societies).  Big brother is watching and he tells you what to think everyday, believe it or not.  \n\nThe question is do you wish you were a part of one of these groups or do you fear their agenda and how it will impact your liberty?  \n\nFraternal orders are not innately bad such as Masons (my grand father was one) or Knights Templar etc… (a good friend of mine is one) they are secret but that’s why they are a defined as a fraternal order.  There are many of these across our country.  I have yet to hear of one running our country.  I’m sure a member or two has benefited from affiliation in certain cases (winning a job etc…).\n\nEither way these types of groups may effect world policy, American foreign policy etc…  But do they truly effect my life and lively hood, perhaps yes perhaps no…  but wasting time worrying about it, that’s no life at all.\n\nJust my .02 of course.
548441
Yes.  If you saw Kerry's interview with Tim Russert he asks, can you tell us anything about the secret society S&B?  Kerry says, no, because then it wouldn't be a secret.
443737
I don't know, they are so secret no one knows anything about them.  How do they grow their followers?
46894
I join to meet new people and make new friends. Before the fraternity I was involved with 3 major clubs on my college campus and one I help start from scratch, so my reason was that i didn't have any friends, I wanted more. Also the opprotunities of brotherhood and business connections. I would be lying if the socail scene didn't cross my mind as well. Academics were a big part alot of my borthers are economic majors like myself and I can ask them for help when ever. Finally I love the community service, I am my fraternities community service chair
347816
I am a 5th generation Freemason, and I have found it be a rewarding experience.  Please feel free to email me with any questions you have.  There is very little that is actually secret, and I will be glad to share as much information with you as possible.
669176
Why would anyone want to share this information? Just because I ask "So, how can I be rich by getting on the internet without leaving my house?", you think people will jump at the chance to answer this for a lousy 10 points?\n\nI think some of those questions are ridiculous. If they share that info, then the competition for that business will increase and the more people know, the less money they make.\n\nWhy would anyone want to share that kind of information with strangers online?\n\nJust get your own idea if you want to make income online. Do your own research, start your own business, make a really popular website, and get some experience. Noone can tell you what you can do to make extra income since there are people out there who still work for a meager low paying salary. If that answer was so easy, then i wouldnt be at work right now working my butt off.
159423
I don't know how you feel about 12 step programs, but someone very close and dear to me did Gambler's Annonymous and it REALLY helped him. At first he was skeptical, especially because they talked about a "higher power" and he's not the religious type and didnt want to join some cult - but he found an idea of a higher power just as a better life that is meant for him that he can have if he gives himself over to it and there were all types of people there. I'm not sure exactly how it works, but I can tell you that he has not only stopped gambling but he has a better relationship with his family, is dating and working, is a more open and honest person and just generally happier.\n\nIf anything it wouldn't hurt - you are not forced to stay if you dont want and you are not forced to pay money for it, so worth a try. \n\nI wish you the best!
676964
Masons have traditionally held a moratorium on any information about what they do.  In the past few decades, however, they've been much more open about their lodge practices.  The specific rituals and teachings of higher-level Freemasonry are still secret.\n\nThe Freemasons are a fraternal secret society with no organized central leadership.  Each lodge is its own governing body, but different lodges tend to recognize one another.  The teachings of Freemasonry are moral and philosophical in nature, relying heavily on architecture and construction techniques as symbols for intellectual enlightenment.  There are only three requirements to become a Mason.  The applicant must be male, must believe in God (not necessarily the Judeo-Christian god; any god will do), and must openly and freely request membership from an existing member.  Freemasons stress the importance of free will in the application process and will not accept applicants that they believe are joining out of a desire for material gain.\n\nThe origins of Freemasonry are shrouded in mystery, but many historians believe that the organization was formed by surviving members of the Knights Templar.  The Templars were a group of crusading knights formed in 1118 and devoted to protecting Christians on pilgrimages to Jerusalem.  They developed some of the first modern banking systems and became a very wealthy organization.  In 1307, King Philip the IV of France accused the Templars of all sorts of heretical crimes, arrested as many of them as possible, tortured them until they "confessed", and had them burned at the stake.  At the time, France was engaged in a costly war with England and had taken large loans out from the Templar banks.  With the death and dissolution of the Templars, Philip eliminated a lot of debt and was able to seize large amounts of land that had been owned by the order.  According to some historians, the few members of the Order that survived began meeting in secrecy and formed a brotherhood that later evolved into modern Freemasonry.\n\nThe Order of the Eastern Star is the world's largest fraternal organization open to both men and women.  They are closely allied with the Masons.  Men must be master Masons in order to join.  Women must be either the daughter, widow, wife, sister, niece, sister-in-law or mother of a master Mason, or be an adult member of the International Order of the Rainbow for Girls.  The IORG is a youth service organization for girls, allied with the Masons.\n\nI think wittylildevil is right.  If you want to know more about the Masons, contact a local Masonic lodge.  Most of them will be happy to give you some information on who they are and what they do.
450624
ccluff7 is absolutely right.  A young relative of mine got involved with this strange cult when he was a bit low during his studies.  All they seemed to want,  was to get him to pay money to go through 'auditing' processes (galavanic skin responses which you can do yourself with a multimeter) and pay them large sums of money for the privilege.  By brainwashing him (or at least using dubious psychological persuasive techniques) he gave up his studies and went abroad as a builders labourer in order to get money to give to the cult.  It ruined his life in fact.  Died early, too.   So if Katie Holmes is prepared to believe humans are the result of spacemen (Thetans) visiting the earth, and that Ron Hubbard (whose book Dynetics is but a distorted version of many standard psychology tracts), was a sort of 'saviour', then she desrves all she gets.  On the other hand, she might just be a shrewd person who will divorce Cruise and  take him for all he's got!
101770
don't check out the scientology website....it is all lies meant to recruit people. Scientology is very secretive and only gives its secrets to people who "earn" their way up the power totem pole.\n\nIt's a cult and south park got it right.
668674
I am also addicted to it. I find myself constantly telling people about it. I was just wondering the same thing myself. I have looked, but I'm unable to find it. You should try ordering the book off of their website, I get the impression this book has old secrets in it.