光明會究竟是什麼？：英語精讀講義

Bill Gates, Beyoncé, Oprah, The Infographic Show.

比爾·蓋茲、碧昂絲、歐普拉，還有 The Infographic Show。

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

多年來，一直有傳言指出，某些權勢龐大的組織與名人

have all been part of a global movement to control humanity

都參與了一場企圖控制全人類的全球運動，

and shape the way it thinks.

並塑造人類的思考方式。

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

多數時候，這場運動都以惡名昭彰的光明會為化身，

a group allegedly dedicated to absolute control over all mankind.

據說這個組織一心想要徹底控制全人類。

But who actually are the Illuminati?

但光明會究竟是哪些人？

What do they really want?

他們真正想要什麼？

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

你又怎麼知道，這支影片本身不只是光明會的另一波宣傳，

meant to throw you off the scent from the truth. 慣用語

目的就是讓你循錯線索、偏離真相呢？

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

「Illuminati」這個名稱其實源自拉丁文 illuminatus 的複數形式，意思是「受啟蒙者」。

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

這個名稱的靈感來自透過知識啟迪自我的理念，

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

後來逐漸用來象徵人類掙脫無知的枷鎖，

through education and reason.

靠的就是教育與理性。

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

不過，這一切都始於一個非常、非常討厭自己上司的男人。

Adam Weishaupt was born in 1748,

亞當·魏斯豪普特生於1748年，

and in 1773, he gained employment

1773年，他找到一份工作，

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

在英戈爾施塔特大學擔任教會法教授。

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

簡單來說，就是規範戰場和船艦上各種大砲的法律。

Okay, fine.

好啦，行吧。

Actually, canon law is the guidelines and regulations

其實，教會法是一套準則與規章，

which are established by a religious authority

由宗教權威制定，

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

用來管理宗教組織的治理體系。

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

換句話說，魏斯豪普特是教會法專家，

but was himself not actually a member of the clergy.

但他本人其實並非神職人員。

This would be a bit of a problem

這就有點麻煩了，

in a university which was mostly run by clergy

因為那所大學主要由神職人員管理，

and not just any clergy, but Jesuits. 文法

而且還不是普通神職人員，而是耶穌會士。

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

耶穌會於16世紀經教宗保祿三世批准成立。

Their official mission was global evangelization

他們的正式使命是在全球傳教，

with a special focus in education

尤其重視教育，

and helping different sects of Christians to work together.

並協助不同教派的基督徒彼此合作。

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

耶穌會士有點像基督教界的海豹六隊，

and were told to expect to go anywhere in the world

他們被告知要隨時準備前往世界任何角落，

and suffer any adversity

忍受任何艱難困苦，

for the sake of helping the poor and uneducated.

只為幫助窮人與未受教育的人。

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

然而，耶穌會士很快就成了歐洲列強的眼中釘，

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

因為他們的工作做得有點太好了。

Jesuits established special settlements in many colonial territories

耶穌會士在許多殖民地建立特殊聚落，

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

並拒絕讓受他們照顧的居民遭到奴役，

as local governments and businessmen wished to,

儘管當地政府與商人都希望這麼做；

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

而奴隸勞工對遙遠殖民地的經濟又至關重要，

Jesuits very quickly got a bad rap 慣用語

因此，耶穌會士很快就背上惡名，

for standing in the way of economic progress. 慣用語

被指責阻礙經濟發展。

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

必須指出的是，耶穌會士並非完全反對奴隸制度。

You have to remember that this was a time

你得記住，在那個年代，

when slavery was a widespread and accepted practice.

奴隸制度是一種普遍存在且受到接受的做法。

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

而就在幾百年前，歐洲人自己也曾遭到奴役。

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

不過，耶穌會士確實反對奴隸遭受的殘酷待遇，

seeing no need for slaves to be treated like animals.

認為沒有必要把奴隸當成動物對待。

Nothing, not even religion

任何事物，哪怕是宗教，

can stand in the way of economic progress.

都不能阻擋經濟進步。

So in 1773, Pope Clement XIV

於是，1773年，教宗克勉十四世

ordered the dissolution of the Jesuit order.

下令解散耶穌會。

However, in many places the Jesuits remained in power,

然而，在許多地方，耶穌會士依然掌權，

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

例如亞當·魏斯豪普特任教的英戈爾施塔特大學。

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

面對四面八方的攻擊，掌控這所大學的耶穌會士

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

試圖打壓所有並非神職人員的教職員，

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. 片語動詞

魏斯豪普特對這些在他看來早已過時的觀念深感不滿，於是轉向共濟會。

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

但到了這時，共濟會已經成了富家子弟的日間俱樂部，

who wanted to play at philosophy, 用詞

供他們假裝鑽研哲學；

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

而如今，它則成了百無聊賴的中年

men who want to play at philosophy.

男性假裝鑽研哲學的日間俱樂部。

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

魏斯豪普特並不滿意，決定成立一個屬於自己、而且更酷的俱樂部，

and only his very best friends

只有他最要好的朋友，

or those he thought worthy could join. 文法

或是他認為夠資格的人，才能加入。

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

起初，魏斯豪普特最要好的六到九個麻吉加入了這個新的秘密俱樂部，

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

他成立這個俱樂部，是為了傳播啟蒙思想。

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

不管你那個愛裝叛逆的 Facebook 麻吉會在塗鴉牆上怎麼叫囂，

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

光明會並不想把人類從宗教中解放出來，

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

而是希望改革宗教的實踐方式，以及強加於人的方式。

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

魏斯豪普特認為，科學與宗教應該是合作夥伴，而不是競爭對手，

in defining the world

雙方共同詮釋世界，

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

而人們也應該能自由選擇相信哪一方。

The first Illuminati had three membership tiers:

最初的光明會設有三個會員等級：

Novice, Minerval, and Illuminated Minerval,

新手、密涅瓦級與啟蒙密涅瓦級，

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

其中「密涅瓦」指的是羅馬智慧女神 Minerva。

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

目標是建立自由與道德平等的狀態。

The only problem was that the powers that be 慣用語

唯一的問題是，當時的掌權者

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

對這種激進的主張毫無興趣。

If commoners were free, after all, well, then

畢竟，如果平民都自由了，那麼……

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

還要怎麼利用他們謀取私利？

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

直到今天，自由市場資本家仍為這個問題傷透腦筋。

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

魏斯豪普特深受共濟會影響——說穿了，其實就是明目張膽地照抄——

Weishaupt created a series of elaborate rituals

設計出一系列繁複的儀式，

to be practiced at Illuminati meetings.

在光明會集會時舉行。

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

會員會從自己最喜愛的古代歷史元素中挑選一個秘密代號。

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

例如，魏斯豪普特本人就取名為「斯巴達克斯」，

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

無疑是因為他把自己看成精神奴隸起義的領袖，

fighting for their freedom.

帶領他們為自由而戰。

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

不過，隨著會員名冊從9人擴大到2500人，

it was clear more ranks were needed,

顯然需要設置更多等級，

and Weishaupt created 13 degrees of initiation

於是魏斯豪普特設立了13個入會級別，

split up into three classes. 片語動詞

並將其分成三大階層。

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

最初幾個級別的新會員被稱為 Illuminatus Minor。

Then came the Illuminatus Dirigens, 文法

接著是 Illuminatus Dirigens，

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

最後，光明會的最高層就直接稱為「國王」。

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

我們不是說魏斯豪普特在半途迷失了方向，

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

但一個原本立志啟迪民眾，

and free them from oppressive government and ideology, both,

讓他們同時擺脫壓迫性政府與意識形態的人，

ended up making a secret society where he was king,

最後卻建立了一個由自己當國王的秘密社團，

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

這實在道盡了人類的徒勞。

So what did the Illuminati actually do?

那麼，光明會到底做了些什麼？

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

他們試圖傳播啟蒙與改革思想，

through the upper crust of European society, 慣用語

將其帶進歐洲社會的上流階層，

but were never, in fact,

但事實上，他們從未

any way close to political power of their own.

真正接近過屬於自己的政治權力。

The high point of this secret society would come in 1777

這個秘密社團的巔峰出現在1777年，

when Charles Theodore took the throne of Bavaria

當時卡爾·特奧多爾登上巴伐利亞王位，

and used the opportunity to spread the same liberal values

並藉此機會傳播同樣的自由主義價值觀，

the Illuminati themselves were espousing.

也就是光明會本身所提倡的那些觀念。

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

然而，事實證明卡爾·特奧多爾是位軟弱的君主，

and soon the ruling elites pressured him

統治菁英很快就向他施壓，

to back off the liberalization of Bavaria. 片語動詞

要他停止巴伐利亞的自由化改革。

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

這最終導致光明會本身遭到直接鎮壓，

with their liberal agenda deemed 文法

他們的自由主義主張被視為

a danger to the security and safety of the state.

對國家安全與安定的威脅。

The Illuminati basically killed itself

光明會基本上是自己把自己搞垮的，

as its members boasted publicly of the power they wielded,

因為會員公開吹噓自己手握大權，

though they wielded little said power, 用詞

儘管他們其實沒有多少這種權力，

and openly criticized the monarchy,

還公然批評君主制度；

something that only America could afford to 用詞

這種事只有美國才做得起，

do because it was exactly thousands of miles away

因為它恰好隔著數千英里，

from the nearest monarch.

遠離最近的君主。

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

光明會會員名冊開始被洩露給大眾，

and the discovery of many Illuminati in positions of moderate power

而許多光明會會員被發現擔任頗有權力的職位，

led to a general panic over secret societies

引發了對秘密社團的普遍恐慌，

among the ruling elite.

這種恐慌席捲了統治菁英。

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

卡爾·特奧多爾取締了所有秘密社團，

causing Weishaupt to flee for his life. 片語搭配

迫使魏斯豪普特為了保命而逃亡。

Today, the Illuminati are blamed for everything 表達脈絡

如今，人們把一切問題都怪到光明會頭上，

from war to poverty in third-world nations

從戰爭、第三世界國家的貧窮，

to Harambe. 文化背景

一直到 Harambe。

And yet the historical fact is the Illuminati

然而，歷史事實是，光明會

was never more than a moderately successful boys club 文法

從來不過是一個還算成功的男性俱樂部，

that managed to wield a small amount of power

只成功掌握過一丁點權力，

in Bavaria before it was disbanded.

而且僅限於解散前在巴伐利亞的時候。

Conspiracy theories, nevertheless, abound 用詞

儘管如此，各種陰謀論依然層出不窮，

concerning a modern Illuminati,

都圍繞著所謂的現代光明會。

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

這大概是因為，人們更願意相信，

that even when insane, really stupid stuff

即使那些瘋狂又愚蠢透頂的事情

is being done by our governments,

是我們的政府做出來的，

it's because someone is secretly pulling the strings 慣用語

也是因為有人在暗中操縱一切，

to a master plan

推動某個龐大的全盤計畫，

instead of the simple truth

而不願接受一個簡單的事實：

that sometimes we put idiots in charge. 片語搭配

有時候，是我們讓白痴掌了權。

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

不過話說回來，我們也正好會這麼說，

if we were secretly part of the Illuminati.

如果我們暗地裡就是光明會會員的話。

Now, go watch Super Secret Societies

現在，去看看《超級秘密社團：

That Pull Strings Without You Knowing

它們如何在你毫不知情時幕後操縱》

or watch this other video instead.

或是改看旁邊這支影片。

Obey.

服從。