I understand that. Just some of the stuff is so far out there that someone coming here for info might be scared or people looking to prove we are what the conspiracies say we are would be have evidence
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Rip, there are lots of theories out there about what Freemasonry is and is not, members make of it what they wish within the constraints of landmarks and logic (and sometimes faith). ... (Sometimes with little constraint and a need to make Freemasonry fit their own value or spiritual and even cosmogical system ).... There are lots of Brothers who buy into the sorts of ideas James talks of and Brother JC makes a good point. You might have brothers close to you who don't talk to you about this stuff because you're not into it, just like there might be a small group of bros in your lodge who talk golf or ballet- if you bag their hobby, they will not bring it up around you....
I think some of Bro James ideas are way out there - but I also think some of his weird ideas were in the minds of some of our brethren when they designed our lodges. It's evident. Why do we even bother to use the four cardinal points of the compass to designate sides of the room ? It's weird. But no more weird as an atheist would think me praying is: its all relative. Just as Coach might say it's all theatre and play acting. At the end of the day, it's ALL theory and applying a scientific method to them is good... ie look at the evidence and be critical but open minded, but recognize (and distinguish) fact from theory, distinguishing between the two often leads to "debate" or flame wars
Even if the world is round, understanding the historical significance of the once widely held belief it was flat helps us understand some of the decisions and other beliefs of those that held that view....
My worry with putting ideas like James's out there is not that it will be taken as fact rather than theory, but that an inquiring mind who joins will not find his like in the lodge he joins.... but if he looks around, he'll find others examining the same ideas....
Me, now our pavements are generally custom made carpets. Most pavements have squares as does our ritual, but my lodge and several others have triangles.. I must do some research on the logic or if it's something amusing like they were cheaper to buy
I hold hope for my Bro James; he said recently he's learning the Final in the Third... Ours has the line. " the connection of our whole system and the relative dependants of its several parts"... i'm hoping James moves on from his second degree fixation