My Freemasonry | Freemason Information and Discussion Forum

Register a free account today to become a member! Once signed in, you'll be able to participate on this site by adding your own topics and posts, as well as connect with other members through your own private inbox!

Which faiths are represented?

freemasonpha

Registered User
Just curious - which faiths are represented on the forum?

If Christian which denomination? Buddhist, Mahayana or Theravada? Muslim, Sunni or Shia?...you get the picture.

Have you had any difficulties within your faith group over Masonry?

Thank you
 

CLewey44

Registered User
I have a theory on this and it may be ridiculous. But I believe we are all agnostics to a degree whether we admit it or know it or not. That doesn't mean we don't subscribe to a certain religion or set of principles. However, as defined by Webster, :a person who holds the view that any ultimate reality (such as God) is unknown and probably unknowable; broadly :one who is not committed to believing in either the existence or the nonexistence of God or a god*. To me, you can be a Bill Maher atheist or the Pope and there is at the very least a degree of doubt in either direction because most people realize 'it' has to be bigger than our understanding. Most people won't admit that, but at some point a person that adamantly disagrees with all faiths will occasionally ponder the idea that there is something out there and on the other hand I've heard most pastors admit they've doubted as well.

This isn't me answering this question but just a thought on the question since we typically end up at some point bringing up 'Can atheists and agnostics be Masons' etc.

*"agnostic." Merriam-Webster.com. 2017. https://www.merriam-webster.com (13 Oct 2017)
 

Keith C

Registered User
I am a Ruling Elder in the Presbyterian Church (USA). I see no conflict between my faith, my religion and Freemasonry. In fact the person who I asked and who was one of my recommends is a fellow Ruing Elder.

I have had no conflicts at all within my "faith group". There are some denominations who think that Freemasonry is a religion and that we deny the sovereignty of (the Christian interpretation of) God, by referring to God as the GAOTU and acknowledging non-Christians as Brothers on the level. I believe that is their issue and not ours and follow what I was charged by not attempting to argue with them.
 

HoldenMonty

Registered User
I would technically call myself a Southern Baptist but really it's only a label. I believe in God and I believe in Jesus so I would just say more of a general overall Christian. One of the tough things that I had to work through before filling out the petition is the command to spread the Gospel but through some bible reading and prayer I feel like I came to a place where I can accept masonic brothers from other faiths and still be ok where I stand in my faith. As the flawed human that I am I think the biggest challenge will be if and when I meet a brother of the Muslim faith/middle eastern descent since I was deployed to Afghanistan for a period of time when I was in the military and had/still struggle with my flawed opinion of people of middle eastern descent.
 

freemasonpha

Registered User
I have a theory on this and it may be ridiculous. But I believe we are all agnostics to a degree whether we admit it or know it or not. That doesn't mean we don't subscribe to a certain religion or set of principles. However, as defined by Webster, :a person who holds the view that any ultimate reality (such as God) is unknown and probably unknowable; broadly :one who is not committed to believing in either the existence or the nonexistence of God or a god*. To me, you can be a Bill Maher atheist or the Pope and there is at the very least a degree of doubt in either direction because most people realize 'it' has to be bigger than our understanding. Most people won't admit that, but at some point a person that adamantly disagrees with all faiths will occasionally ponder the idea that there is something out there and on the other hand I've heard most pastors admit they've doubted as well.

This isn't me answering this question but just a thought on the question since we typically end up at some point bringing up 'Can atheists and agnostics be Masons' etc.

*"agnostic." Merriam-Webster.com. 2017. https://www.merriam-webster.com (13 Oct 2017)

Interesting stuff!

Like using a sidelining scale of certainty? One may believe something and feel fairly sure about it, but can't be absolutely certain?
 

freemasonpha

Registered User
No. Freemasonry is about what unites men, not what can divide them. The only "difficulty" we've ever had around is food; a fill-in caterer once tried to garnish all the meals with bacon.....

I meant difficulties from your church or synagogue, Mosque or fireside. The brothers in Lodge with me are really cool fellas and have experienced what you mentioned about Masonry uniting us.
 

freemasonpha

Registered User
I am a Ruling Elder in the Presbyterian Church (USA). I see no conflict between my faith, my religion and Freemasonry. In fact the person who I asked and who was one of my recommends is a fellow Ruing Elder.

I have had no conflicts at all within my "faith group". There are some denominations who think that Freemasonry is a religion and that we deny the sovereignty of (the Christian interpretation of) God, by referring to God as the GAOTU and acknowledging non-Christians as Brothers on the level. I believe that is their issue and not ours and follow what I was charged by not attempting to argue with them.

I thought Masonry was big in Presbyterianism as well as Anglicanism.
 

Ripcord22A

Site Benefactor
As the flawed human that I am I think the biggest challenge will be if and when I meet a brother of the Muslim faith/middle eastern descent since I was deployed to Afghanistan for a period of time when I was in the military and had/still struggle with my flawed opinion of people of middle eastern descent.
As a fellow vet (Iraq) I get ur point but also point out that the vast majority of them just want to live their lives. It more of a cultural thing then Religious.....I've never heard a Muslim in the states say "Em Shallah"(god willing) in the context that they did over seas.
 

HoldenMonty

Registered User
As a fellow vet (Iraq) I get ur point but also point out that the vast majority of them just want to live their lives. It more of a cultural thing then Religious.....I've never heard a Muslim in the states say "Em Shallah"(god willing) in the context that they did over seas.
That is what I usually remind myself that most of them just want to live their lives.
 

David612

Registered User
I don’t subscribe to a particular religion as nothing within my research fit my feelings on it.
I associate with principals of Buddhism and Shinto mostly however.
 

SCStrong

Registered User
As a fellow vet (Iraq) I get ur point but also point out that the vast majority of them just want to live their lives. It more of a cultural thing then Religious.....I've never heard a Muslim in the states say "Em Shallah"(god willing) in the context that they did over seas.
Same
 

Elexir

Registered User
Just curious - which faiths are represented on the forum?

If Christian which denomination? Buddhist, Mahayana or Theravada? Muslim, Sunni or Shia?...you get the picture.

Have you had any difficulties within your faith group over Masonry?

Thank you

Christian protestant belonging to Swedish church.

I do not have any problems with the church regarding freemasonry, my problem comes more from my involvment in the temprance moment.
 

SCStrong

Registered User
Christian protestant belonging to Swedish church.

I do not have any problems with the church regarding freemasonry, my problem comes more from my involvment in the temprance moment.

Forgive my ignorance but what is the temperance movement?
 
Top