From the Compass to the Cross

Today there are many people who believe that secret societies are operating across the world in the areas of politics, finance and education. This is not a new phenomenon; it can be found in the history of many countries and nations. Linked to these thoughts is a belief that unpleasant events can be attributed to such organisations. It is the author's contention that there are people who seek an explanation for changes or events in society by claiming that they are the result of the workings of a secret society or societies. He asserts that this is largely a consequence of the fact that historians and other commentators, from the 20th century onwards, have tended to ignore explanations regarding secret societies and influence as paranoid-driven explanations, unworthy of serious analysis. Such an approach has led to the unintended consequence of an open season for conspiracy theorists.