Tin foil.
I would love some free masonry.
They could wall up the front of the property, as the fence is getting old.
My opinion? If you’re a Mason, you’re not a Christian.
Ping Ugly Biker
Logic,
You can find out a lot of great information here that is a lot more accurate than the kook and conspiracy sites:
http://www.masonicinfo.com/primer.htm
Jesus says, "He is the only way to the Father and to eternal life." Freemasonry believes that all roads lead to heaven... even Islam. It's called universalism. That is the difference. Christianity is just another religion in their pantheon. Freemasonry is another man made ritual that incorporates many man made rituals leading many astray from true faith. It's another path on the broad road to destruction. There.
Society with secrets. You hear some messed up things about them but generally I figure if you look at the founding father’s involvement in this group it has gotta be pretty good. If you have ever read Asimov’s Foundation series I think that is what the Freemasons do. Protect knowledge and advance things for the good of society and try to mitigate the dark ages of humanity. Also George Washington in an apron LOL!
BTW, if you’re a good standing free man in society who believes in a higher power of some kind you should just hit up to local Masonic Temple they probably have a video or a pamphlet or something.
However, I think that the Catholic “ban” on Masonry is NOT monolithic, and it is, in the end, up to local Bishops. However, I think the Church does discourage participation in the higher degrees.
Frankly, though the Catholic Church has MUCH to be proud of, not the least of which is preservation of the Faith and the protection of many of the founding Christian documents over the centuries -—
I suspect that most of the Church resistance to Masonry is the fact that Masonry, itself, claims roots in the Knights Templars.
The Knights Templars might well have “lost their way” when they sacked Constantinople, and attacked the Eastern Church.
However, there is NO doubt that without the Knights Templars, Islam would have conquered much more of Europe, much earlier than they did.
The King of France, at the time, owed large sums of money to the Knights Templars.
Instead of paying up, the King of France made false charges against the Knights: heresy, idolatry, etc.
This was a shameful time in CHRISTIAN history, as nobody seemed willing to stand up for or protect the Knights from these false charges.
Sadly, even the Pope stood silent, and allowed this persecution.
Demolay was the leader of the Knights, at the time. The Mason's youth group is named after him. He was burned at the stake as a heretic.
To me, these are the real reasons the Catholic Church has historically resisted the Masons, whose basic tenant is that religion is a good thing, but that religious wars have caused more pain than any other human problem on Earth.
I do think that the Mason's insistence on making all religions “equal” is weird.
Some Masonic groups, today, do not even allow the name of “Jesus” to be used, sometimes not even in an EASTER service!
This has more to do with the radical Unitarians, Agnostics and other lefties taking control of Masonry, than anything else.
However, the goal of finding the “common denominators” in faith is, I think, a worthy goal.
I simply do not believe that anyone must suppress his or her own faith, in order to agree on common ideas with other faiths.
Well, you asked, hope I was not too windy!
I think it can be boiled down into two concepts:
Universalism
Secular Humanism
If you are a Christian who believes that Jesus Christ is the way, the truth and the life, and that there is no way to the Father except through Him, then membership in freemasonry is a direct contradiction to that belief.
Free Masonry requires that a member profess a belief in a creator.
Other than that there is no requirement to be of any religion.
There is one order of Mosonry that requires one to be a professed Christian.
The order of Knights Templar.
All Knights Templar are members of the world's oldest fraternal organization known as "The Ancient Free And Accepted Masons" or more commonly known as "masons". However, not all masons are Templars. Templary is but a part of the Masonic structure known as the "York Rite Of Freemasonry".
bump FLR
There is a link of some kind between shriners and turks(or the ottoman empire). I don’t know what exactly the link is, but shriners wear a turkish fez.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fez_(hat)
You’ve got to believe in a deity to be a Mason. It’s not limited to Christianity; some Masonic beliefs and rituals would not be considered particularly Christian, especially by devout fundamentalists.
Beyond that, I’ve understood that Mormonism incorporates many aspects of Freemasonry into their religious ceremonies and rites. Mormons themselves appear to have gone back and forth, as to whether they’re actually Christian themselves, or not.
You’ve got to show interest and make inquiries, in order to become better informed by the Masons themselves. They do not approach you, you approach them.
I’ll tell you this: I posted an article once pointing out the very public record that the Warren and Burger court liberals were free masons. I got hundreds of posts, not one disagreeing with anyone I had put on the list. I made no disparaging comments other than noting the sharply liberal orientation of the Supreme Court.
I had every kind of ad-hominem attack level against me you can imagine. So good luck getting a candid answer.
They are a secret society, probably founded 300 years ago, but with their own mythology which claims they built the Egyptian pyramids and/or the Temple of Solomon. They support charitable works, and oppose disputes among religious denominations. This latter leads to accusations that they oppose any denomination which asserts particular doctrines; there is a long history of mutual antagonism between free masons and Catholics, including accusations of conspiracy.
Among their members were many founding Fathers, but their numbers and influenced declined greatly in the 1800s. But by the early 20th century, they became much more popular than ever. Like all fraternal organizations, they declined in the 1960s and 1970s. Their influence today is most felt through the Hellenic fraternities and sororities, many of which have nothing to do with masonry, but many others of which are patterned on masonic rituals and values, as is Mormonism.
OK, let the flaming commence.
Freemasons, have always stood for the good guys - the human condition of knowing right vs wrong.
Many may say there are not Christian masons - they are wrong. There are Freemasons that support only the christian church and Jesus Christ.
True at the lower levels of Master masons it is a more universal view allowing anyone the believes in a supreme being to work, live and eat together.
I have seen Jews and Muslims share the same food, drink and fellowship.
Freemasonry is like a university, there are many colleges in them and each man is unique to his choice where he wants to go.
It is best to understand that freedom, the human condition, right vs wrong, helpful vs not - support vs conquer - the good things in life are what Freemasons believe in.
I have become very curious about Kraft Macaroni and Cheese and pasta meals made with cheese in general. How does it “fit in” with the group of Christian religions...how about islam? What are the views and opinions of those at this site?
Those of us who are Freemasons are very clear in our understanding that Masonry is NOT an alternative religion. Discussing issues of politics and religion is discouraged in Lodge where the rituals performed are intended to teach men how to act with tolerance, grace, dignity, and a profound respect for God.
There are Christians who take the position that any institution interested in promoting morality, but which is not explicitly Christian, including Freemasonry, is anathema. That is so close-minded as to be deserving of scorn and ridicule.
Freemasonry requires ONLY that members believe in a Creator; there is NO requirement that members belong to any specific religion. The Masonic philosophical system, and the lessons of morality inherent in it, is intended to make “good men better.” How people can find something anti-Christian in that continues to puzzle me.
Luke 8:17
For nothing is hidden that will not be made manifest, nor is anything secret that will not be known and come to light.
Col2:8
See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ.
Heb4:13
And no creature is hidden from his sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give account.
Great site, Ex-Mason’s for Jesus
Take a look at your local Masonic lodge sometime. No windows, or all windows are covered over.
Freemasonry is full of rituals, oaths, symbolism.....these things the scriptures warn against.
The official stance of the Catholic church is repent or excommunication for delving into Freemasonry.
Freemasonry is know as, “The Craft”
Freemasons will say, “We are NOT a religion.” yet call the lodge a temple. They have a Worshipful Master, Masonic bible, pray to GAOTU. Yes, GAOTU = Great Architect Of The Universe.
GAOTU is whatever deity you choose to worship.
Do a little research and you will find many people left Freemasonry because it was in conflict to their Christan beliefs.
Research the writings of Albert Pike (Morals and Dogma)and Manly P. Hall.
http://www.saintsalive.com/newsletters/apr-may-00-nl/finney_masonry.htm
My former parish was full of Masons. They used to tell our priest and former priest.....we were here before you came, we will be here after you leave, this is our church.
Huh? Our church? I told my priest...is this not the Lord's church?
He told me not to pay attention to them, they have always been trouble makers in the church.
If some decision didn't go their way, they collectively began holding back funds, attempting to use church cannons to sanction or cause grief for the pastor.
My family and I fled this church...just couldn't stand it any longer. These guys were arrogant, certainly not humble, prideful, boastful......you name it.
This is what led to my study of Freemasonry. I attempted to research on a secular basis as well as on a Christian basis.
I for one am convinced that most lower level masons have no idea the true agenda of Freemasonry. To them, it is an innocent fraternity.
Read testimonies of higher level Ex-Masons...this is where you will receive the real agenda.
There was a reason he won all his cases.
Freemasonry teaches a fundamentally syncretistic view of the Divinity, misidentifying the gods of various and sundry pagan cults with the One Existing God. As such it is fundamentally incompatible with Christianity. It is also militantly humanistic.
In its Continental European manifestations it is virulently anti-Christian (hence both the Latin and Orthodox Churches’ strong condemnations of it). The English and Scottish variants retain this character to a lesser extent (the Church of England finally got up the backbone to condemn Freemasonry not that many years ago). The American social-club variant seems to have lost its actively anti-Christian character so that all sorts of ‘nice’ protestants are also Freemasons while still quite active in their respective churches.
Taken seriously, Masonic oaths are destructive of both piety and good social order, as they require the Freemason to put his fellow-Mason and the Order ahead of Christian (or other) faith, civil law, and fair-dealing with non-Masons. (cf. the incidents that lead to the formation of the American Anti-Masonic Party in the 19th century.)
Needless to say, Masonic syncretism is also incompatible with Islam’s conception of absolute monotheism.