[mnehring]

You both hit the nail on the head, the conspiracies are simply literary archetypes. Just like with King Arthur legends for example, the little reality in most people’s minds have been replaced by literary fiction. Those stories build other stories, which build other stories. Pretty soon, when one thinks of said subject, they automatically assume the fiction, not the fact.

People drive by a lodge, in their minds they think of secret religious rituals with naked virgins dancing around a fire while we order politicians around... in reality, we are having a pig roast bbq out back while we raise money for Shriner’s hospitals.

[NavyCanDo]

To be quite honest, I found some of the rituals and formalities at my VFW Lodge meeting to be a little bizarre, but that does not make it a cult. The dollar a beer night on Tuesdays though was a ritual I am happy to perform.

[max americana]

> People drive by a lodge, in their minds they think of secret religious rituals with naked virgins dancing around a fire while we order politicians around..

Sounds like my old frathouse. I would’ve joined up if it were.(j/k)

[Chode]

our Lodge still says Masonic TEMPLE on the front and that surly has thrown quite a few misconceptions into the mix here as i'm sure elsewhere.

[egannacht]

People drive by a lodge, in their minds they think of secret religious rituals with naked virgins dancing around a fire while we order politicians around... in reality, we are having a pig roast bbq out back while we raise money for Shriner’s hospitals...

(no offense) hanging out with old farts makes one yearn for more auspicious happenings.

And the only fires I've seen come from the kitchen. No virgin ritually dances around a kitchen fire let alone a married one.