OT: Looking for opinions.

[tommyIRISH23]

Maybe I should have posted this in the Lep. Lounge, but I am trying get some opinions on Freemasonry. I am schedule to be initiated next week, and have researched enough to where I believe have enough information to make a sound decision. I am just looking for others point of view, and opinions. I was born and raised catholic, and do believe in Jesus Christ/God, but I also believe that the church itself has been corrupted by the agendas of man over the centuries. I am not trying to get into a theological debate, again, just looking for some opinions/advice.

I appreciate all your feedback.

 

[RyCo1983]

Go through with it. I have family members who are Masons and they absolutely love it. The problem with information is that there isn't a whole bunch of it out there. I've considered joining, as I have a number of sponsors if I need them.

I say it'd be a good way to open up your life to a bevy of opportunity.

 

[tommyIRISH23]

Go through with it. I have family members who are Masons and they absolutely love it. The problem with information is that there isn't a whole bunch of it out there. I've considered joining, as I have a number of sponsors if I need them.

I say it'd be a good way to open up your life to a bevy of opportunity.

Thank you buddy I appreciate it. Yeah, I've heard the doors that open are remarkable, especially now with the way the economy is. They also do ridiculous amounts of charity, something that I really respect.

 

[RyCo1983]

Yeah, they do TONS of charity stuff. They really do give to alot of great causes. They can't help it that Dan Brown is a douchebag.

My Sons of the American Legion do alot of fundraising...but it's hard to compete with the sheer amount of money the Masons have to throw around as an organization.

 

[tommyIRISH23]

Yeah, they do TONS of charity stuff. They really do give to alot of great causes. They can't help it that Dan Brown is a douchebag.

My Sons of the American Legion do alot of fundraising...but it's hard to compete with the sheer amount of money the Masons have to throw around as an organization.

Yeah, I've heard the wealth of the organization is beyond comprehension. Supposedly, the grand master has a direct number to the president. It's ridiculous. I am trying to get into law enforcement, and have pretty much hit a brick wall. I was approached by a mason a few months ago, apparently law enforcement is heavy with masons.

 

[RyCo1983]

Yep! Bet your *** buddy.
That'll help you out for sure.

 

[Old Man Mike]

Well, I'm no scholar of free-masonry, but this is what I know: The origins of masonry are obscure and alleged to stretch back several hundred years in the British Isles. Some persons claim its lineage back to the Knights Templars and beyond.

Free-masonry is not a Christian organization despite a great deal of Christian trappings, and there has been a great deal of "trouble" between it and the Catholic Church. Any meaningful relationship between a Catholic and it is still liable to solicit excommunication today. [It may easily be true that a "quiet" relationship involving basically "fun" and social service is simply overlooked by the Church].

The higher "degrees" of free-masonry are allegedly rife with the attainment of "secrets" and the traditional rites performed there have more the trappings of ancient religions and non-christian belief systems [particularly colored by Egyptian concepts and similar ideas]. If one stays at the lower level "club-like" levels one may rarely see any hint of this.

Masonry used to be extremely racist, but today has dumped that as far as I know, and exists in most countries of the world. Washington, Jefferson, Hanc-ck, Franklin, and Revere were stated to have been masons.

At the "advanced" levels of free-masonry, the description of the ritual nature of its practice and its [in my opinion] over-the-top regalia, could be easily seen as cultish. But as mentioned earlier, one does not, as far as I know have to indulge in organizational ladder-climbing if one chooses not to.

There are fragments of masonry that do not even believe in a monolithic God, but they are the minority. However, at the higher "secret levels", the concept of God is not the one of Christianity. Thus the troubles with the Church.

The deepest student of Free-masonry was the turn-of-the-century occult scholar, Arthur Edward Waite, and he can give you as deep a look as you are likely to honestly get about the thoughts motivating the organization at its ontological levels. He is, however, a difficult, serious read. That's my two-cents.

 

[tommyIRISH23]

Well, I'm no scholar of free-masonry, but this is what I know: The origins of masonry are obscure and alleged to stretch back several hundred years in the British Isles. Some persons claim its lineage back to the Knights Templars and beyond.

Free-masonry is not a Christian organization despite a great deal of Christian trappings, and there has been a great deal of "trouble" between it and the Catholic Church. Any meaningful relationship between a Catholic and it is still liable to solicit excommunication today. [It may easily be true that a "quiet" relationship involving basically "fun" and social service is simply overlooked by the Church].

The higher "degrees" of free-masonry are allegedly rife with the attainment of "secrets" and the traditional rites performed there have more the trappings of ancient religions and non-christian belief systems [particularly colored by Egyptian concepts and similar ideas]. If one stays at the lower level "club-like" levels one may rarely see any hint of this.

Masonry used to be extremely racist, but today has dumped that as far as I know, and exists in most countries of the world. Washington, Jefferson, Hanc-ck, Franklin, and Revere were stated to have been masons.

At the "advanced" levels of free-masonry, the description of the ritual nature of its practice and its [in my opinion] over-the-top regalia, could be easily seen as cultish. But as mentioned earlier, one does not, as far as I know have to indulge in organizational ladder-climbing if one chooses not to.

There are fragments of masonry that do not even believe in a monolithic God, but they are the minority. However, at the higher "secret levels", the concept of God is not the one of Christianity. Thus the troubles with the Church.

The deepest student of Free-masonry was the turn-of-the-century occult scholar, Arthur Edward Waite, and he can give you as deep a look as you are likely to honestly get about the thoughts motivating the organization at its ontological levels. He is, however, a difficult, serious read. That's my two-cents.

I appreciate your time, sir. But, what is your opinion? Would you join?

 

[Old Man Mike]

No. I would not at least with any idea of ascending in the organization. If you yourself are not serious about trying to attain "secrets" and "position" and just want to be in an organization that does charity work, then there's probably no harm. But I'm me, and you're you---we have to find our own paths. My advice would only be, stay alert to things which might go against your own best heart values, and stay open-minded. There are many good paths to a well-lived life, and it is our own decisions, not any organizations, which determine our favor in God's eyes. Blessings on the path.

 

[NankerPhelge]

I know several Masons, two of the 33rd degree, who I consider good friends and professional collegues. I have been asked to join more than once. I recognize the good works that they do (although Catholic Charities is, by far, the largest charitable organization in the world) and the probable professional advantages that may exist by joining the organization. What stops me is that I am a Catholic, take my Catholicism seriously, and have no choice but to obey the Pope's decree that a Catholic, to be in communion with the Church, is prohibited from becoming a Freemason. Period. So, end of story for me.

 

[NDinL.A.]

Moved. You were right, this does belong in the Lep Lounge. Good luck with your choice.