Our Fellow Freeper wrote, 'The New Catholic Encyclopedia states, "Freemasonry displays all the elements of religion" '.
With this premise I must make not a little contestation.
I will state at the outset that the masonic lodge could be mistaken for pseudo-religious by some personages. This would only be due to ignorrance, more specifically failure to understand exactly what exactly constitutes a religion. The ignorrant man may find simitude in a great many things, protons and electrons, republicans and democrats, as well as other dissimilar examples. But alas these are all for nought.
Anti-masonry makes just such a mistake in its assessment of masonry. Both masonry and a great many churches meet in a building and both often have senior citizens among their memberships. In this way they are not dissimilar. But in other more important ways masonry differs greatly from a religion.
Freemasonry is not a religion because it has no clergy, no creed, no profession of faith, no definition of sin or salvation and no sacred text. The entire discussion upon which this argument, Anti-masonry, is based hinges upon important particulars such as these. And so the premise of Anti-masonry has been here refuted once for all.
My usage of the word 'informed' was paramount in my description of Dr. William's letter.
I am pleased to engage in the process of facilitating such information. That's part of what is so great about Free Republic.
Those who confer degrees.
...no creed,
1) Beliefs required for membership: G.A.U. and immortality of the soul.
2) Religious relativism is expressed in the Masonic motto: "Morality in which all men agree, that is, to be good men and true." Or, the best way to worship God is to serve others. Good works are essential for salvation, but they do not represent the best way to worship God.
A good man must love God with his entire heart, mind and soul and love his neighbor as himself. Love of neighbor is secondary. Moreover, Jesus commands Baptism and union with His Church.
From the Fellowcraft Degree:
By Speculative Masonry we learn to subdue the passions, act upon the square, keep a tongue of good report, maintain secrecy and practice charity. It is so far interwoven with religion as to lay us under obligation to pay that rational homage to Deity, which at once constitutes our duty, and our happiness. It leads the contemplative to view with reverence and admiration the glorious works of creation, and inspires him with the most exalted ideas of the perfection of his Divine Creator....no profession of faith,...
What are the degrees and oaths?
no definition of sin...
Implicit in the Masonic motto. If there is good in which all men agree, there must be evil in which all men agree.
And the degrees recommend particular practices and discourage others.