光明会究竟是什么？：英语精读讲义

Bill Gates, Beyoncé, Oprah, The Infographic Show.

比尔·盖茨、碧昂丝、奥普拉，还有 The Infographic Show。

For years, rumors have swirled that powerful organizations and celebrities 短語搭配

多年来，一直有传言称，一些权势强大的组织和名人

have all been part of a global movement to control humanity

都参与了一场旨在控制全人类的全球运动，

and shape the way it thinks.

并试图塑造人类的思维方式。

In most cases, this movement takes the form of the infamous Illuminati, 短語搭配

大多数时候，这场运动都以臭名昭著的光明会为化身，

a group allegedly dedicated to absolute control over all mankind.

据说这个组织一心要彻底控制全人类。

But who actually are the Illuminati?

可光明会的成员究竟是谁？

What do they really want?

他们真正想要什么？

And how do you know this video itself is not just more Illuminati propaganda,

你又怎么知道，这段视频本身不是光明会的又一则宣传，

meant to throw you off the scent from the truth. 習語

目的就是让你循错线索、偏离真相呢？

The name Illuminati actually comes from the Latin plural illuminatus or enlightened.

“Illuminati”这个名称其实源自拉丁语 illuminatus 的复数形式，意为“受启蒙者”。

The name is inspired by the idea of enlightening oneself through knowledge

这个名称的灵感来自通过知识启迪自我的理念，

and would evolve to signify the breaking of a man's bonds of ignorance

后来又逐渐用来表示人类挣脱无知的枷锁，

through education and reason.

靠的是教育与理性。

But it all started with one man who really, really hated his bosses.

不过，这一切都始于一个非常、非常讨厌自己上司的男人。

Adam Weishaupt was born in 1748,

亚当·魏斯豪普特生于1748年，

and in 1773, he gained employment

1773年，他获得了一份工作，

at the University of Ingolstadt as a professor of canon law. 用詞

在因戈尔施塔特大学担任教会法教授。

Basically, the laws that governed cannons both on a battlefield and on ships.

简单来说，就是管理战场和舰船上各种大炮的法律。

Okay, fine.

好吧，行。

Actually, canon law is the guidelines and regulations

其实，教会法是一套准则和规章，

which are established by a religious authority

由宗教权威制定，

for the purpose of running a government of a religious organization.

用于管理宗教组织的治理体系。

In essence, Weishaupt was an expert on Church law, 表達脈絡

也就是说，魏斯豪普特是教会法专家，

but was himself not actually a member of the clergy.

但他本人其实并非神职人员。

This would be a bit of a problem

这就有点麻烦了，

in a university which was mostly run by clergy

因为那所大学大多由神职人员管理，

and not just any clergy, but Jesuits. 語法

而且还不是普通神职人员，而是耶稣会士。

Jesuits were themselves established in the 16th century with the approval of Pope Paul III.

耶稣会于16世纪经教皇保罗三世批准成立。

Their official mission was global evangelization

其官方使命是在全球传教，

with a special focus in education

尤其重视教育，

and helping different sects of Christians to work together.

并帮助不同教派的基督徒相互合作。

Jesuits were sort of the SEAL Team 6 of Christianity 文化背景

耶稣会士有点像基督教界的海豹六队，

and were told to expect to go anywhere in the world

他们被告知要做好前往世界任何地方的准备，

and suffer any adversity

忍受任何艰难困苦，

for the sake of helping the poor and uneducated.

只为帮助穷人和未受教育的人。

Jesuits, however, soon became a thorn in the side of the European powers 習語

然而，耶稣会士很快就成了欧洲列强的眼中钉，

as they were a little too good at their job. 語氣意圖

因为他们的工作做得有点太好了。

Jesuits established special settlements in many colonial territories

耶稣会士在许多殖民地建立了特殊聚居区，

and refused to allow the populations under their care to be enslaved

并拒绝让受其保护的民众沦为奴隶，

as local governments and businessmen wished to,

尽管当地政府和商人都希望这么做；

with slave labor being critical to the economies of far-flung colonies, 語法

而奴隶劳工对遥远殖民地的经济又至关重要，

Jesuits very quickly got a bad rap 習語

因此，耶稣会士很快落了个坏名声，

for standing in the way of economic progress. 習語

被指责阻碍经济发展。

It should be noted that Jesuits weren't completely opposed to slavery. 表達脈絡

需要指出的是，耶稣会士并非完全反对奴隶制。

You have to remember that this was a time

你得记住，在那个年代，

when slavery was a widespread and accepted practice.

奴隶制是一种普遍存在且被社会接受的做法。

While Europeans themselves had been enslaved just several hundred years earlier.

而就在几百年前，欧洲人自己也曾沦为奴隶。

Jesuits, were, however, opposed to the brutal conditions slaves endured,

不过，耶稣会士确实反对奴隶遭受的残酷待遇，

seeing no need for slaves to be treated like animals.

认为根本没必要把奴隶当成牲畜对待。

Nothing, not even religion

任何事物，哪怕是宗教，

can stand in the way of economic progress.

都不能挡住经济进步的道路。

So in 1773, Pope Clement XIV

于是，1773年，教皇克莱孟十四世

ordered the dissolution of the Jesuit order.

下令解散耶稣会。

However, in many places the Jesuits remained in power,

然而，在许多地方，耶稣会士仍掌握着权力，

such as the University of Ingolstadt where Adam Weishaupt found himself teaching. 語法

比如亚当·魏斯豪普特任教的因戈尔施塔特大学。

Under attack from all sides, the Jesuits in control of the university

面对四面八方的攻击，掌控这所大学的耶稣会士

attempted to suppress any staff that wasn't part of the clergy,

试图打压所有并非神职人员的教职员工，

including Weishaupt himself.

其中也包括魏斯豪普特本人。

Frustrated by what he believed were outdated views, Weishaupt turned to Freemasonry. 短語動詞

魏斯豪普特对这些在他看来已经过时的观念深感不满，于是转向共济会。

But by this point, the Freemason order had become a day club for rich kids

但到了这时，共济会已经成了富家子弟的日间俱乐部，

who wanted to play at philosophy, 用詞

供他们假装钻研哲学；

as opposed to today where it's a day club for bored middle-aged 短語搭配

而如今，它则成了百无聊赖的中年

men who want to play at philosophy.

男人假装钻研哲学的日间俱乐部。

Unsatisfied, Weishaupt decided he'd make his own, even cooler, club,

魏斯豪普特并不满意，决定成立一个属于自己、而且更酷的俱乐部，

and only his very best friends

只有他最要好的朋友，

or those he thought worthy could join. 語法

或者他认为配得上的人，才能加入。

At first, six to nine of Weishaupt's best buds joined his secret new club,

起初，魏斯豪普特最铁的六到九个哥们儿加入了这个新秘密俱乐部，

which Weishaupt created in order to spread the ideas of enlightenment.

他成立这个俱乐部，是为了传播启蒙思想。

Despite what your edgelord Facebook bestie might rant about on his wall, 用詞

不管你那个爱装叛逆的 Facebook 死党会在自己的主页上怎么叫嚷，

the Illuminati wasn't interested in liberating man from religion, 語法

光明会并不想把人类从宗教中解放出来，

but rather wished to reform the way that religion was practiced and imposed.

而是希望改革宗教的实践方式，以及强加于人的方式。

Weishaupt believed that science and religion should be partners, not competitors,

魏斯豪普特认为，科学与宗教应该是合作伙伴，而不是竞争对手，

in defining the world

双方共同诠释这个世界，

and that people should have a free choice when it came to either.

而人们也应该能自由选择相信哪一方。

The first Illuminati had three membership tiers:

最初的光明会设有三个成员等级：

Novice, Minerval, and Illuminated Minerval,

新手、密涅瓦级和启蒙密涅瓦级，

with Minerval referring to the Roman goddess of wisdom, Minerva.

其中“密涅瓦”指的是罗马智慧女神 Minerva。

The goal was to create a state of liberty and moral equality.

目标是建立一种自由且道德平等的社会状态。

The only problem was that the powers that be 習語

唯一的问题是，当时的当权者

had little interest in such a radical agenda for the time.

对这样激进的主张毫无兴趣。

If commoners were free, after all, well, then

毕竟，如果平民都自由了，那么……

how could they possibly be exploited for personal gain? 語氣意圖

还怎么利用他们来谋取私利呢？

This is an idea free market capitalists struggle with to this day.

直到今天，自由市场资本家仍在为这个问题纠结。

Heavily influenced by Freemasonry, or really just blatantly ripping it off, 短語動詞

魏斯豪普特深受共济会影响——说白了，其实就是明目张胆地照抄——

Weishaupt created a series of elaborate rituals

设计出一系列复杂的仪式，

to be practiced at Illuminati meetings.

供光明会开会时举行。

Members were given secret names taken out of their favorite parts of antiquity.

成员们会从自己最喜欢的古代历史元素中挑选一个秘密代号。

Weishaupt himself, for example, took the name of Spartacus,

例如，魏斯豪普特本人就取名为“斯巴达克斯”，

no doubt because he saw himself as leading a rebellion of mental slaves 習語

无疑是因为他把自己看成一场精神奴隶起义的领袖，

fighting for their freedom.

带领他们为自由而战。

As the membership roster grew from nine individuals to 2,500, though, 語法

不过，随着成员名单从9人扩大到2500人，

it was clear more ranks were needed,

显然需要设置更多等级，

and Weishaupt created 13 degrees of initiation

于是魏斯豪普特设立了13个入会级别，

split up into three classes. 短語動詞

并将其分为三大阶层。

The first few orders of initiates were known as Illuminatus Minor.

最初几个级别的新成员被称为 Illuminatus Minor。

Then came the Illuminatus Dirigens, 語法

接下来是 Illuminatus Dirigens，

and lastly, the top tier of Illuminati were simply known as the Kings.

最后，光明会的最高层就直接叫作“国王”。

We're not saying Weishaupt lost the plot somewhere along the way, 習語

我们不是说魏斯豪普特中途迷失了方向，

but a man who set out to enlighten people 表達脈絡

但一个原本立志启迪民众，

and free them from oppressive government and ideology, both,

让他们同时摆脱压迫性政府与意识形态的人，

ended up making a secret society where he was king,

最后却建了一个由自己当国王的秘密社团，

and that really speaks to the futility of man. 短語搭配

这实在道尽了人类的徒劳。

So what did the Illuminati actually do?

那么，光明会到底做了些什么？

Well, they attempted to spread the ideas of enlightenment and reform

他们试图传播启蒙与改革思想，

through the upper crust of European society, 習語

将其带入欧洲社会的上流阶层，

but were never, in fact,

但事实上，他们从未

any way close to political power of their own.

真正接近过属于自己的政治权力。

The high point of this secret society would come in 1777

这个秘密社团的巅峰出现在1777年，

when Charles Theodore took the throne of Bavaria

当时卡尔·特奥多尔登上巴伐利亚王位，

and used the opportunity to spread the same liberal values

并借此机会传播同样的自由主义价值观，

the Illuminati themselves were espousing.

也就是光明会自身所倡导的那些观念。

However, Charles Theodore would prove to be a weak monarch, 語法

然而，事实证明卡尔·特奥多尔是个软弱的君主，

and soon the ruling elites pressured him

很快，统治精英便向他施压，

to back off the liberalization of Bavaria. 短語動詞

要他停止巴伐利亚的自由化改革。

This would eventually lead to a direct crackdown on the Illuminati itself,

这最终导致光明会本身遭到直接镇压，

with their liberal agenda deemed 語法

他们的自由主义主张被视为

a danger to the security and safety of the state.

对国家安全与稳定的威胁。

The Illuminati basically killed itself

光明会基本上是自己把自己作死的，

as its members boasted publicly of the power they wielded,

因为成员们公开吹嘘自己手握大权，

though they wielded little said power, 用詞

尽管他们其实没多少这样的权力，

and openly criticized the monarchy,

还公然批评君主制；

something that only America could afford to 用詞

这种事只有美国才做得起，

do because it was exactly thousands of miles away

因为它恰好隔着数千英里，

from the nearest monarch.

远离最近的君主。

Membership lists of Illuminati members began to be leaked to the public,

光明会成员名单开始被泄露给公众，

and the discovery of many Illuminati in positions of moderate power

而许多光明会成员被发现担任着颇有权力的职位，

led to a general panic over secret societies

引发了对秘密社团的普遍恐慌，

among the ruling elite.

这种恐慌席卷了统治精英。

Charles Theodore banned any and all secret societies, 短語搭配

卡尔·特奥多尔取缔了所有秘密社团，

causing Weishaupt to flee for his life. 短語搭配

迫使魏斯豪普特为保命而逃亡。

Today, the Illuminati are blamed for everything 表達脈絡

如今，人们把一切问题都怪到光明会头上，

from war to poverty in third-world nations

从战争、第三世界国家的贫困，

to Harambe. 文化背景

一直到 Harambe。

And yet the historical fact is the Illuminati

然而，历史事实是，光明会

was never more than a moderately successful boys club 語法

从来不过是一个还算成功的男性俱乐部，

that managed to wield a small amount of power

只成功掌握过一点点权力，

in Bavaria before it was disbanded.

而且仅限于它解散前在巴伐利亚的时候。

Conspiracy theories, nevertheless, abound 用詞

尽管如此，各种阴谋论仍层出不穷，

concerning a modern Illuminati,

全都围绕着所谓的现代光明会。

probably because it's more comfortable for people to believe 語法

这大概是因为，人们更愿意相信，

that even when insane, really stupid stuff

即使那些疯狂又愚蠢透顶的事情

is being done by our governments,

是我们的政府干出来的，

it's because someone is secretly pulling the strings 習語

也是因为有人在暗中操纵一切，

to a master plan

推动某个庞大的总体计划，

instead of the simple truth

而不愿接受一个简单的事实：

that sometimes we put idiots in charge. 短語搭配

有时候，是我们让白痴掌了权。

But then again, that's exactly what we'd say 講解

不过话说回来，我们也恰恰会这么说，

if we were secretly part of the Illuminati.

如果我们暗地里就是光明会成员的话。

Now, go watch Super Secret Societies

现在，去看看《超级秘密社团：

That Pull Strings Without You Knowing

它们如何在你毫不知情时幕后操纵》

or watch this other video instead.

或者改看旁边这部视频。

Obey.

服从。