Publisher's Synopsis
*Includes pictures
*Describes the organization, its history, its rituals, and the theories surrounding it
*Includes online resources and a bibliography for further reading
"Not the greatest master can go even one step for his disciple; in himself he must experience each stage of developing consciousness. Therefore he will know nothing for which he is not ripe." - Ancient Egyptian Proverb found in Luxor Temple
"The very word 'secrecy' is repugnant in a free and open society; and we as a people inherently and historically opposed to secret societies, to secret oaths, and to secret proceedings..." - President John F. Kennedy
To many, the quest to obtain the secrets and truths of the universe is one nearly impossible to complete. More importantly, this broad topic comes with an unending assortment of answers. For some, the secret to life is success. To others, it is conquering one's innermost fears. While there are those who simply do not care enough to venture an answer, there are also those who believe they, and they alone, knew the real meaning behind life.
Early Europe saw a sudden burst of Gnostic and mystical religions and organizations, each with their own take on the true path to enlightenment. Conflicts that arose within the Catholic Church and other Christian communities only encouraged the growing wave of dissenters. In the 17th century, intrigued Parisians learned about one of these unconventional groups - perhaps the most prestigious of all these secret schools. This was the Fraternity of the Rose Cross, a brotherhood of Rosicrucians founded by Christian Rosenkreutz.
Like so many others fearing state persecution, the Rosicrucians were by necessity a secret group, and the emergence of secret societies has always been one of the most fascinating facets of civilization, a phenomenon that has been around for as long as civilization. Even centuries after some of these groups were founded, they remain well-known, such as the Knights Templar, a group of armored warriors who hailed from the Holy Land. The Skulls and Bones and the Freemasons are a few more names that immediately ring a bell, and of the countless secret societies that have risen and fallen since the dawn of time, few could come close to touching the notoriety of the Illuminati.
Like the Illuminati, the Rosicrucians are a legendary order that has been featured in thousands upon thousands of books, articles, documentaries, movies, music, internet memes, and other mediums of entertainment. They are one of the chief targets for conspiracy connoisseurs, and the supposed masters of symbolic subliminal messages hidden in the media. Regardless of the veracity behind any of the conspiracy theories, there can be no denying the profound impact of the group over the past few centuries. Even those who find nothing untoward in the history of the Rosicrucians understand the importance of the society's mystique. Without question, there have been an endless number of conspiracy theories surrounding the Rosicrucians that have long had the world buzzing, a trend that continues on to this very day.
The Rosicrucians: The History of One of the World's Most Notorious Secret Societies examines the true history of the influential order and the countless conspiracies that continue to hound the brotherhood today. Along with pictures depicting important people, places, and events, you will learn about the Rosicrucians like never before.
