Founded in 1776, the original Illuminati was a secret society based in Bavaria. To use a trendy term, their declared objectives were to do away with superstition, the influence of religion on public life, and the misuse of power by the rich and the state.
Image: Adam Weishaupt The Founder of the Illuminati.
They were, of course, outlawed almost instantly, and the Catholic Church detested them. Naturally, they also drew in a large number of thinkers and artists, such as Goethe. They would have thrown anyone who believed in magic out the door, and you may have noticed that their declared purposes are the exact opposite of what is claimed for them presently.
The modern “Illuminati” aren’t a collective; rather, they’re made up of lone con artists, charlatans, scammers, and imposters who promise to grant you magical abilities that will increase your wealth, notoriety, and power. In reality, all they do is steal every last bit from you, disappearing as soon as they have nothing left to take.