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I know that. That doesn't address my question, though.Freemansonry is not a religion.
Freemansonry is not a religion.
The "new Naturalistic Religion" of freemasonry referred to by the Vatican and others (see Question 1). Not my words, the words of The Grand Officers of YOUR Grand Lodge of New York of Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, Moderns (UGLE) Constitution.1951
THE FREE and Accepted Masons of the State of New York, by their Grand Officers and Representatives in Grand Lodge assembled, at an Annual Communication thereof, in accordance with existing Constitutions and Laws, do establish and promulgate the following Preamble and Constitution:
PREAMBLE
"As an expression of the simplest form of the faith of Masonry, not exhaustive, but incontrovertible and suggestive, the following is
"THE MASONIC BELIEF
"There is one God, the Father of all men.
"The Holy Bible is the Great Light in Masonry, and the Rule and Guide for faith and practice.
"Man is immortal.
"Character determines destiny.
"Love of man is, next to love of God, man's first duty. Prayer, communion of man with God, is helpful.
"Recognizing the impossibility of confining the teaching of Masonry to any fixed forms of expression, yet acknowledging the value of authoritative statements of fundamental principles, the following is proclaimed as
"THE MASONIC TEACHING:
"Masonry teaches man to practice charity and benevolence, to protect chastity, to respect the ties of blood and friendship, to adopt the principles and revere the ordinances of religion, to assist the feeble, guide the blind, raise-up the downtrodden, shelter the orphan, guard the altar, support the Government, inculcate morality, promote learning, love man, fear God, implore His mercy and hope for happiness." etc.
…"According to the Old Charge, religion is, of course, the basis of Freemasonry, for, without it, there would be no Freemasonry as we have and value it. Religion, whatever its form is, makes for morality, right living, for the exemplification in daily practice of all that which its principles set forth in precept. In the natural religion, which is the foundation of our Craft, the Masonic belief and the Masonic teaching constitute an elementary system of morality and are thus a support of and an aid to all religions. If religion had no place whatever in the Craft we should and could not hold, as we now rightly do, that "there is one God; the Father of all men" and, equally and as a necessary corollary, that men living under the Fatherhood of the one God are brethren all. These two cardinal principles, it should be added, are fundamental to all civilized creeds and are thus essentially a part of the natural religion which is the basic ideal of our Craft.
I know that. That doesn't address my question, though.
My question is, if Freemasonry was the originator of Hinduism, Christianity, Islam, etc - then why are they different from one another? Why do they all exist, if they came out of Freemasonry?
Where Grandsecretary states that the lodge is opened with a bible sitting out, whatever your belief system is, is what would be sitting on the altar. If you are a follower of Islam the Quran is put on the altar.
Your Grand Lodge would not exist unless it was given a "Charter" by the Moderns United Grand Lodge of England, and your Book of Constitutions is their Anderson's Book of Constitutions. You work under their jurisdiction, The United Grand Lodge of England, as a subordinate Grand Lodge.Originally Posted by DeamonPainterYou call me a UGLE plant yet
1. I don't live in England.
2. I belong to an Australian Grand Lodge which has nothing to do with England.
Of course you do, and we all know that a million lemmings cannot possibly be wrong. Please be clear. I do not presume to speak FOR your Moderns form of freemasonry, I simply disagree when you say that it is not a religion. I am far from alone on this issue (see posting #149).Originally Posted by DeamonPainter: Freemasonry was not the originator of those groups and Freemasonry is NOT a religion!!! (You can continue to say that it is grandsecretary but I know of at least 29,000 Freemasons, which is my state only, that would disagree with you, not including the entire country or countries of Free and Accept Freemasons.)
Are you saying that the grand lodge members of the World do not meet and acknowledge one another when attending meeting of world organisations?
Peers over the edge of glasses and looks down nose whilst awaiting a reply...
"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God etc. (John 1:1)
Having witnessed several "services" of the masons, I can't say I'm too hot on their theology, free or otherwise.
Freemasonry is not the pratice of all religions nor is it the practice of one religion, it accepts man of all faiths and creeds. Freemasonry is not a replacement for any church nor is it a replacement for any religion one may follow.Definition of Religion = A substitute for God's way.:yes:
All religions cannot save anything at all and may only profit the flesh.Tis vanity for sure.
Freemasonry is not the pratice of all religions nor is it the practice of one religion, it accepts man of all faiths and creeds. Freemasonry is not a replacement for any church nor is it a replacement for any religion one may follow.
Ok, back to Grand Secretary,
The Roman Catholic church does not automatically ex-communicate its members. More then a few of my brothers in my lodge alone are Roman Catholic, we also have a priest in another lodge that I visit. I was told by this priest that in the 1970's the pope at the time declared that it was ok for Roman Catholics to belong to Freemasonry. It was never masons banning Catholic's but Catholic's banning masons.
Not all Islamic Nations ban Freemasonry. I recently met a brother who came from Saudia-Arabia and who practiced Freemasonry there. He said many years ago there was a true need for secrecy but now it wasn't as bad. They were still hassled by the Government but they were no longer put in prison.
I really can't speak for the many other faiths as there are too many of them and I truly don't know if they condemn it or not.
It is quite wrong, and highly dangerous to those who might wish to visit Saudi Arabia to suggest that Freemasonry takes place on its Sovereign territory.Timeline of principal doctrinal decisions, documents, 1981-2005
By Catholic News Service
Nov. 26, 1983: "Declaration on Masonic Associations," saying Masonic principles and rituals "embody a naturalistic" religion incompatible with Christianity. Those who knowingly embrace the principles or attend the rituals are involved in serious sin and may not receive Communion.
Them being masons is in direct contradiction of the Church's edicts... as I said in another thread, the Church deems all secret societies illicit...More then a few of my brothers in my lodge alone are Roman Catholic
So, all things aside, grandsecretary...
what is it about freemasonry that sparks your desire to participate in it?
What would be missing from your life if you no longer participated in it?
Just curious.
It is my religion (An Céile Dé), and it has been for many years. I have learned a great deal.
What is the general philosophy of your religion?
What kinds of things have you learned?
(that you can speak of...)
It is also, partly, my living. I am an employee of The Grand Lodge of All England. I enjoy being a Free Mason, very much indeed.
I have travelled to many parts of the world as a Free Mason, and I have met many people that I would never have had the opportunity to meet if it were not for my being a Free Mason.
Do many freemasons have this experience?
Do freemasons tend to be "well connected" (even across distances),
as a result of their brotherhood?
Or is this mostly due to your position in freemasonry.
My sons are both Free Masons and this provides us with a unique relationship and a special bond.
That's nice for your sons.
What of your daughters?
Why are they excluded from your religion?
From sharing in this uniqueness of relationship and special bonding with you?
I do have a VERY active and busy life without Free Masonrie, private and professional.
I hope that this answers your question to your satisfaction.