The JFK Assassination

Overview

The assassination of President John F. Kennedy on November 22, 1963, remains one of the most analyzed events in American history. The Pax Judaica framework interprets it not as a political assassination but as a Masonic ritual sacrifice, referencing the book "King Kill 33" by James Shelby Downard and Michael A. Hoffman II. This article examines the official account, the conspiracy theories, and critical analysis.

Major Conspiracy Theories

Before the Framework

The JFK assassination has generated numerous theories:4

Common Evidence Cited

The Framework's Interpretation

Professor Jiang's Reference

"This conspiracy also helps us explain the JFK assassination... This is the book King Kill. You can read it online for yourself. It's by Downard and Hoffman and it goes into what the Freemasons would want to kill JFK, the sort of ritual sacrifice ideas behind it."

The "King Kill 33" Thesis

James Shelby Downard and Michael Hoffman's theory claims:10

Masonic ritual: The assassination was a ceremonial "killing of the king"

Geographical symbolism: Dealey Plaza has Masonic significance

Numerology: "33" (highest Scottish Rite degree) appears throughout

Names: Participants' names contain coded meanings

Location names: Trinity River, Elm Street, etc. have occult meaning

Date: Chosen for astrological/ritualistic significance

Downard's Interpretive Method

Central to Downard's analysis is what he calls "the science of names" - the idea that hidden meanings are encoded in the names of people, places, and events. He quotes the Encyclopedia of Freemasonry:

"It is certain that onomatology, or the science of names, forms a very interesting part of the investigations of the higher Masonry, and it is only in this way that any connection can be created between the two sciences".19

Downard frames the assassination through the ancient concept of ritual sacrifice. He quotes psychiatrist Thomas Szasz:

"When the ancients saw a scapegoat, they could at least recognize him for what he was: a pharma-kos, a human sacrifice. When modern man sees one, he does not, or refuses to, recognize him for what he is; instead he looks for 'scientific' explanations — to explain away the obvious."19

Applying this framework, Downard writes:

"The JFK assassination encounters this science in a decisive way and contains a veritable nightmare of symbol-complexes having to do with violence, perversion, conspiracy, death and degradation. These elements are important not only as cause and effect in the murder of a president but in the ensuing reaction of the people of America and the world."19

For Downard, the symbolism is not incidental but purposeful - evidence of what he terms "Masonic Sorcery" and a hidden "Cryptocracy" operating behind visible government. He argues that examination of this symbolism "must necessarily link it to 'Freemasonry' and its mysticism as well as to the political influence it exerts."

The full text of Downard's essays, including "King Kill/33," is available in the archived collection Mr. Downard: The Collected Essays of James Shelby Downard.19

Specific Claims from "King Kill 33"

Critical Analysis

What's Documented

What's Speculative

Problems with the "King Kill" Thesis

Numerology issues:12

• Numbers can be found anywhere if you look
• "33" appears in many contexts without significance
• Post-hoc pattern matching proves nothing

Geographic claims:

• Dealey Plaza was named for publisher George Dealey (was he a 33rd-degree Mason? Unclear)13
• "Elm Street" is a common street name
• Any location can be given symbolic meaning after the fact

The "ritual" claim:

• What evidence would distinguish ritual from political assassination?
• No documents, testimony, or admissions
• Pure speculation based on symbolism

The Problem of Over-Determination

JFK's assassination has been attributed to:

• CIA, Mafia, Cubans, Soviets, LBJ, military-industrial complex, Federal Reserve, AND Freemasons

If all these groups wanted Kennedy dead:14

• Which one did it?
• Did they cooperate?
• Why blame Oswald?

The multiplication of conspirators weakens, not strengthens, conspiracy claims.

Legitimate Questions vs. Conspiracy

Legitimate Unresolved Questions

• Did Oswald act alone?15
• Why was Oswald killed before trial?8
• What did intelligence agencies know?7
• Why were files kept classified for decades?16
• Did the autopsy follow proper procedures?9

These questions don't require Masonic ritual explanations.

The Gap Between "Conspiracy" and "This Conspiracy"

One can believe:

• The Warren Commission was inadequate
• Oswald may have had accomplices
• Intelligence agencies may have covered up something

Without believing:

• It was Masonic ritual
• Secret societies directed it
• Numerology reveals the truth

Why JFK Conspiracy Theories Persist

Psychological Factors

Proportionality bias: Major events should have major causes17

Pattern seeking: Humans find meaning in randomness12

Distrust of authority: Reinforced by actual government lies

Unresolved grief: Desire for meaning in tragedy

Complexity reduction: Single explanation for chaos

Institutional Factors

Classified documents: Secrecy breeds suspicion16

Changing stories: Official account inconsistencies

Documented conspiracies: COINTELPRO, Watergate create precedent

Media coverage: Endless examination keeps questions alive

The JFK File Releases

Documents have been released in batches (most recently 2017-2022):16

• Some show intelligence interest in Oswald
• No "smoking gun" proving conspiracy
• Some still classified for "national security"

The "Ritual Sacrifice" Concept

What Would This Require?

For JFK's death to be Masonic ritual:

Freemasons planned it as ceremony

Location, date, method chosen symbolically

Participants were Masons or directed by them

Purpose was occult, not political

Evidence Required

• Documentation of planning
• Testimony from participants
• Explanation of purpose
• Connection to Masonic leadership

Evidence Provided

• Symbolic interpretation after the fact
• Numerological patterns
• Speculation about names and places

This is not evidence; it's interpretation imposed on events.

The Hoffman/Downard Authors

Who Were They?

James Shelby Downard (1913-1998):10

• Conspiracy theorist and occult researcher
• Known for "Masonic" interpretations of events
• Collaborated with Hoffman

Michael A. Hoffman II (b. 1957):18

• Author and conspiracy theorist
• Known for "Secret Societies and Psychological Warfare"
• Holocaust revisionist (concerning credibility)

Credibility Concerns

• No academic credentials in relevant fields
• Pattern of finding Masonic symbolism everywhere
• Association with fringe and extremist ideas
• No corroboration from other researchers

Discussion Questions

How do we distinguish legitimate questions about JFK from unfounded conspiracy?

What evidence would prove (or disprove) ritual significance?

Why does the JFK assassination generate so many competing theories?

Can symbolic interpretation ever constitute evidence?

Further Reading

• Secret Societies & The Grand Plan
• Isaac Newton's Prophetic Studies
• 9/11 & The War on Terror
• The Science Critique

This article examines the JFK assassination within the Pax Judaica framework's Masonic interpretation. While legitimate questions about the official account remain, claims of ritual sacrifice are based on post-hoc symbolic interpretation, not evidence.