MetaConspiracy 1/2 A Brief History Of The Grand Conspiracy Myth
Welcome to Some Dare Call It Conspiracy! Shortly after emerging from the rabbit hole in 2018, our host Brent Lee had some big questions to answer. Why did this happen? Why did he believe any of it? And where did this idea even come from? Who started the rumour mill? How did it manifest through the years?This is a brief history of the grand conspiracy myth. In this two parter, Brent Lee explores: Abbe Barruel, John Robison, Illuminati, Freemasons, The Simonini letter, Protocols of the Learned Elders of Zion, Satanic Palladist Freemasons, Leo Taxil Hoax, Nesta Helen Webster, Illuminati Communists, British Fascism, John Birch Society, Robert Welch, Alex Jones, David Icke, William Cooper and Jordan Maxwell.Unveiling the Metaconspiracy: A Brief History of Grand Conspiracy MythsThe modern world is rife with conspiracy theories, ranging from the Illuminati and New World Order to the Deep State. But what if these very conspiracy theories were themselves part of a larger conspiracy? In the podcast "Some Dare Call It Conspiracy," host Brent Lee delves into the history of the Grand Conspiracy Myth in a compelling exploration of its origins, propagation, and the hidden agendas behind it. Join us as we unravel the metaconspiracy and uncover the surprising truths behind these enduring myths that continue to captivate and divide society.The Genesis of the Grand Conspiracy Myth: Lee takes us back to the tumultuous final years of the French Revolution, a time when rumors of a hidden hand orchestrating the revolution began to circulate. This confusion gave birth to the seminal work of Jesuit priest Augustine Baruel, who authored "Memoirs Illustrating the History of Jacobinism" in 1797. Baruel's book was the first to link the Freemasons and Adam Weishaupt's Illuminati to a wider conspiracy of sedition and domination, planting the seeds for the Grand Conspiracy Myth.Parallel to Baruel's work, physicist John Robeson in Scotland also espoused similar beliefs through his writings on the French Revolution and the Illuminati. It's noteworthy that Robeson's drug-addled ramblings were influenced by Alexander Horn, a Scottish Benedictine monk and secret agent for the British government, shedding light on the vested interests behind the propagation of the conspiracy theories.Exploring Antisemitic Conspiracy Theories: One of the most insidious offshoots of the Grand Conspiracy Myth is the propagation of antisemitic conspiracy theories. Lee highlights the letter from Captain Jean Baptiste Simonini, which alleged the involvement of the Jews in a conspiracy alongside the Illuminati and Freemasons. This unsubstantiated claim gained traction, ultimately leading to the publication of the "Protocols of the Learned Elders of Zion" in 1903, a proven hoax that fueled antisemitism. This serves as a cautionary tale of the destructive power of baseless conspiracies and the far-reaching consequences of their dissemination.The Leo Taxil Hoax: The podcast also delves into the infamous Leo Taxil hoax, a stunning revelation of the far-reaching impact of grand conspiracy myths. Taxil, a former Freemason, fabricated a secret satanic order within Freemasonry and then sensationalized it in a series of exposés. The revelation that it was all an elaborate prank aimed at undermining the Church and exposing gullibility is a testament to the potent allure of conspiracy theories and the repercussions of their manipulation.Implications for the Present Day: As Lee concludes the episode, he hints at the 20th-century conspiracists Nestor Helen Webster and Robert Welch Jr., whose work directly connects the historical grand conspiracy myth to contemporary times. This serves as a segue into understanding the enduring influence of these myths into the present day and their impact on society and discourse.