A '''secret society''' is a social [[organization]] that requires its members to conceal certain activities—such as rites of initiation or [[club]] ceremonies—from outsiders. Members may be required to conceal or deny their membership, and are often sworn to hold the society's [[secrecy|secrets]] by an oath. The term "secret society" is often used to describe [[fraternal organization|fraternal organizations]] (e.g. [[Freemasonry]]) that may have secret ceremonies, but is also commonly applied to organizations ranging from the common and innocuous ([[college fraternity|collegiate fraternities]]) to mythical organizations described in [[conspiracy theories]] as immensely powerful, with self-serving financial or [[New World Order (conspiracy)|political agendas]], global reach, and often [[Satanism|satanic]] beliefs.