> DieHard, you have to admit this does sound religious:
Yup, I do admit it sounds religious.
> Dark to Light, Worshipful Master, Temple, Altar.. If Masonry is misunderstood to be a religion, you surely can see how.
It may surprise you to know that Freemasonry was once — long, long ago, a very CATHOLIC oriented organization. It wasn’t until fairly recently (seventeenth-to-eighteenth century) that most of the religious aspects of The Craft were removed, to permit as wide a participation as possible.
The only remaining religious requirement is a belief in a superior Being — God, if you will. This is because a belief in Higher Power is essential to our grounding in the Freemasonic system of morality. So there are no Atheist Freemasons by definition.
Aside from that, Religion is never discussed in Lodge — it, along with Politics, is a topic that is off-limits.
I don’t know if that helps explain... hope so.
It does help. And I’m far from a conspiracy nut.
I have read quite a bit on it a lot from freemason sites, honestly. I’ve read a lot from anti- sites that even I see are pretty off-base.
What I’ve read is often confusing in that there are so many differences within Rites and much autonomy, no - that I can tell - official works or speakers for this issue..
So I can easily see some lodges being as religious as Red Green’s Possum Lodge.
However, I also see the Church’s point - I believe the Catholic studies are much more thought out than the other Church’s statements I’ve read.
My deceased father was a mason, and it was obvious to me that it was his “religion”. Not that that’s a proof or recommendation. But I did experience how it could be.
As you noted, there are still a fair amount of religious accouterments and rituals, a path of growth, etc. Now, I can understand you not thinking twice about these. I hope you can understand the Catholic Church, with is based on a Sacramental life and ritual, would view these in a much different light.
Perhaps if some dialogue were opened, things could be different.
The other aspect of Catholicism, one which Protestants harass us about no end, is the way we view Church Authority and teaching. So the bottom line for Catholics, practicing Catholics that are sincere in their faith, is that if the Church denies you valid communion for something, that something you must avoid.
I hope this helps explain my points too.
thanks for your reply.