Are Free Masons A Cult, Too>?

[girlfound]

As an Ex-Christian, still recovering from years of brainwashing, I get nervous about any organized group that does weird rituals, keeps secrets, and dresses formal to go to "church." Should I worry about my partner who recently got inducted into the Free Masons?

[ContraBardus]

No. They're not a cult really.

 

Masons have a long history in the US. They're more of a political organization/union than anything, and for the most part have a very deistic idea about God.

 

It's more like joining a club of sorts, and in an odd way, sort of like having a job.

 

There aren't many religious connotations involved. There is some religious language, but there's no real 'God philosophy' in the Masons. It's not a religious organization. A requirement is 'belief in a supreme being' for example. That is not defined, and while there are Christian Members, they do not acknowledge that the 'Supreme Being' is any particular denomination of God.

 

At least a few of the Founding Fathers were Masons. It's got a lot of ties with government in general, and as far as I know, has no real preferential leanings towards Democrats or Republicans.

 

It's not composed of saints and angels, but it's a private club and not really a cult.

 

There shouldn't be any problems. It's more social than anything else. It's about meeting people and getting good connections.

 

There are a few odd rules and secrecy involved, but they more related to a sort of 'code of conduct' than anything else. There's no need to fear anyone getting brainwashed or fleeced by them. A lot of the 'secrets' have to do with symbols, and recognizing other members as Masons through 'secret signs' which may also indicate rank or 'degree' as they call it. A literal 'secret handshake' or 'passwords' to let other members recognize each other without stating it to those who aren't a part of the club.

 

Wiki is your friend: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Freemasonry

 

You can relax, it's not Scientology.

[♦ Fuego ♦]

As a believer, I saw them as a secret satanic group. There are Christian pamphlets that say the ultimate god of the Masons is Baphomet, a demon. However, having known the head of a Masonic lodge, they see all the ritual as an allegory of how to behave. It is cloaked in secrecy because people really get off on being spooky, and it lent a sense of power and legitimacy to their gatherings in days of old.

 

Some lodges really honor the Bible, and some members are Christian.

 

It is up to your partner how much of it is believed versus just an allegory of being a moral person. The square and the compass are two widely see symbols, and they say that these mean being "square" in one's dealings (honest), and the compass to make a boundary of common morality to guide one's conduct. Meh.

[girlfound]

No. They're not a cult really.

 

Masons have a long history in the US. They're more of a political organization/union than anything, and for the most part have a very deistic idea about God.

 

It's more like joining a club of sorts, and in an odd way, sort of like having a job.

 

There aren't many religious connotations involved. There is some religious language, but there's no real 'God philosophy' in the Masons. It's not a religious organization. A requirement is 'belief in a supreme being' for example. That is not defined, and while there are Christian Members, they do not acknowledge that the 'Supreme Being' is any particular denomination of God.

 

At least a few of the Founding Fathers were Masons. It's got a lot of ties with government in general, and as far as I know, has no real preferential leanings towards Democrats or Republicans.

 

It's not composed of saints and angels, but it's a private club and not really a cult.

 

There shouldn't be any problems. It's more social than anything else. It's about meeting people and getting good connections.

 

There are a few odd rules and secrecy involved, but they more related to a sort of 'code of conduct' than anything else. There's no need to fear anyone getting brainwashed or fleeced by them. A lot of the 'secrets' have to do with symbols, and recognizing other members as Masons through 'secret signs' which may also indicate rank or 'degree' as they call it. A literal 'secret handshake' or 'passwords' to let other members recognize each other without stating it to those who aren't a part of the club.

 

Wiki is your friend: http://en.wikipedia....iki/Freemasonry

 

You can relax, it's not Scientology.

[girlfound]

No. They're not a cult really.

 

Masons have a long history in the US. They're more of a political organization/union than anything, and for the most part have a very deistic idea about God.

 

It's more like joining a club of sorts, and in an odd way, sort of like having a job.

 

There aren't many religious connotations involved. There is some religious language, but there's no real 'God philosophy' in the Masons. It's not a religious organization. A requirement is 'belief in a supreme being' for example. That is not defined, and while there are Christian Members, they do not acknowledge that the 'Supreme Being' is any particular denomination of God.

 

At least a few of the Founding Fathers were Masons. It's got a lot of ties with government in general, and as far as I know, has no real preferential leanings towards Democrats or Republicans.

 

It's not composed of saints and angels, but it's a private club and not really a cult.

 

There shouldn't be any problems. It's more social than anything else. It's about meeting people and getting good connections.

 

There are a few odd rules and secrecy involved, but they more related to a sort of 'code of conduct' than anything else. There's no need to fear anyone getting brainwashed or fleeced by them. A lot of the 'secrets' have to do with symbols, and recognizing other members as Masons through 'secret signs' which may also indicate rank or 'degree' as they call it. A literal 'secret handshake' or 'passwords' to let other members recognize each other without stating it to those who aren't a part of the club.

 

Wiki is your friend: http://en.wikipedia....iki/Freemasonry

 

You can relax, it's not Scientology.

[girlfound]

Thanks, ContraBardus, but I did a little research and Wiki is definitely not my friend if I want to learn about the Freemasons.

http://ritualabuse.u...d-by-wikipedia/

[Dhampir]

According to a coworker, who claims to have many relatives that are/were high-ranking masons, they do indeed have a religious association to the Egyptian god Horus, despite whatever religion they practice outside the lodges.

[ContraBardus]

Thanks, ContraBardus, but I did a little research and Wiki is definitely not my friend if I want to learn about the Freemasons.

http://ritualabuse.u...d-by-wikipedia/

 

That's Christian propaganda. Christians don't like Masons because they are deistic and do not promote Jesus. It's a deliberate attempt to degrade, slander, and sensationalize the organization as an 'evil cult' by attaching weird rituals that they make up to it. It's utter crap.

 

I know Masons, and it's absolutely nothing like described on that page whatsoever. I have family who are Masons, I've been to their lodges before, seen what they do there, and have interacted with many members.

 

I'm not privy to every little secret handshake and facet of the organization, but I know enough about them, and people involved with them to recognize this for the pure unfiltered bullshit it is.

 

The Masons are a largely secularist organization that acknowledges a supreme being. It goes no further than that into religion, and there are no secret magic rituals or crazy spiritual connotations. There are no black magic masses, brain washings, hazings, ritual sexual or physical abuse, or cult abuses involved.

 

It's a political and social group for the most part. It's got far more to do with business and politics than anything spiritual.

 

Wiki banned these idiots because they consider libel unethical, and that's exactly what it is.

 

The wiki is accurate, this page is not. I know this from personal experience.

[ContraBardus]

According to a coworker, who claims to have many relatives that are/were high-ranking masons, they do indeed have a religious association to the Egyptian god Horus, despite whatever religion they practice outside the lodges.

 

Not really.

 

There's a difference between using symbolism and having a religious association.

 

The Masons do use a lot of Egyptian imagery. It is not based on any religious or magical beliefs though.

 

Masons do not pray to, believe in, or otherwise consider Horus a real figure. It's just something they use as symbolism for their organization.

 

I don't recall what Horus is supposed to represent to them, but it's not a religious connotation. It's just some of the attributes the God has are supposed to be symbolic in some way to some part of the Masons philosophy or code of conduct.

 

It's not a magic cult. They aren't trying to cast spells or otherwise use magic powers to get their ends. Most Masons don't believe in that sort of thing outside of regular normal religious beliefs, and that usually has nothing to do with the Masons, but rather the particular religion they already belong to.

[Dhampir]

According to a coworker, who claims to have many relatives that are/were high-ranking masons, they do indeed have a religious association to the Egyptian god Horus, despite whatever religion they practice outside the lodges.

 

Not really.

 

There's a difference between using symbolism and having a religious association.

 

The Masons do use a lot of Egyptian imagery. It is not based on any religious or magical beliefs though.

 

Masons do not pray to, believe in, or otherwise consider Horus a real figure. It's just something they use as symbolism for their organization.

 

I don't recall what Horus is supposed to represent to them, but it's not a religious connotation. It's just some of the attributes the God has are supposed to be symbolic in some way to some part of the Masons philosophy or code of conduct.

 

It's not a magic cult. They aren't trying to cast spells or otherwise use magic powers to get their ends. Most Masons don't believe in that sort of thing outside of regular normal religious beliefs, and that usually has nothing to do with the Masons, but rather the particular religion they already belong to.

I'm inclined to believe that, however, my coworker claims numerous relatives that were either Shriners, or as high as 33rd degree masons (the highest degree achievable before becoming a shriner). He himself was to be inducted, but chose to forgo it. He is a worshipper of Horus personally, having been a muslim and a christian previously. Of all the claims he makes about the masons and their ambitions, goals, and connections to men/women of power, as well as certain major events in history, that Horus is a more prominent figure than many are aware of is the claim I'm least skeptical of.

[lunaticheathen]

Heh, well, worshiping Horus isn't any crazier than worshiping Jesus. And as far as symbolism, Horus would seem to be illumination, I'd think - Masons being very popular in the Enlightenment. Just my theory, but I'd be surprised if I'm wrong.

Masons are pretty tame, in my experience. They tend to like people to believe in a deity of some kind, who they call the "Grand Architect." Some lodges are more christian-oriented than others, but generally are not fundy-fied. I wouldn't fret. They have historical ties to esoteric/alchemical philosophy, which has ALWAYS made nutty christards nervous.

"Ritual abuse" allegations are generally bunk, and have been leveled at every group christards hate. Including every Wiccan coven EVER. Don't believe them.

[ContraBardus]

I'm inclined to believe that, however, my coworker claims numerous relatives that were either Shriners, or as high as 33rd degree masons (the highest degree achievable before becoming a shriner). He himself was to be inducted, but chose to forgo it. He is a worshipper of Horus personally, having been a muslim and a christian previously. Of all the claims he makes about the masons and their ambitions, goals, and connections to men/women of power, as well as certain major events in history, that Horus is a more prominent figure than many are aware of is the claim I'm least skeptical of.

 

I see no reason to discount that. Again, 'prominent' doesn't mean 'worshiped'.

 

I'm not sure how important Horus is, and I can't say that no Masons worship him. It's likely that some do.

 

In my experience, the vast majority don't, and most Masons are moderate Christians/Deists. They don't take to fundies well.

 

I do know enough to say that Horus does have some prominence in the organization, but it's more symbolic and having to do with their philosophy than anything else. Not really a form of worship or religion.

 

It's definitely not a cult.

[Neon Genesis]

You mean Dan Brown was wrong?!

[lunaticheathen]

Neon : Right, the great Dan Brown knows all.

Gods, I can't read Brown at all, I know I'd throw the books across the room, screaming about how WRONG the whole thing is. It's enough to see the crap on History Channel, which makes me yell at the tv. As if they didn't ALREADY get enough crap wrong.

(Such as one show on Revelations, where they had Tim LaHaye on for an interview, as a "Biblical End Times expert." I almost PUKED!)

[florduh]

I can't read Brown at all, I know I'd throw the books across the room, screaming about how WRONG the whole thing is.

He writes novels. As in fiction. Nothing like the pseudo documentaries on TV.

 

I enjoy Brown's writing. I accept his premises so the tales he weaves just entertain the shit out of me.

[Neon Genesis]

Didn't he claim in the introduction to the Da Vinci Code that the Priory of Sion were real?

[lunaticheathen]

That group did exist....starting in the 1950's, with a fake history backing it.

Yes, Brown writes fiction. But it still irritates me that many people read it, and think they know religious history better than me...who studied it - and I have a degree to prove it. At best, it's fluffy art history porn. At worst, it's a way for housewives to go zeitgeist on me.

[Neon Genesis]

But it's not that hard to find some of this info. I'm not even an author and all I had to do was go to Booksamillion, buy a book on Gnosticism and find out for myself that the Gnostics were not some proto-liberal sex-crazed feminist group.

[lunaticheathen]

Yes neon....which makes it even that much MORE irritating.