The works they cited weren't chosen at random but were from writers suck as Ward, Mackey, and Haywood. Who provides as well-known and readily-available counter-interpretations? I don't mean defenses against accusations, but interpretations of Freemasonic symbology that actually are easily in accord with more orthodox Christian beliefs. Even on this board there are masons who put a very Hermetic/Gnostic spin upon everything, as if that was the "true" meaning of Freemasonry.
That's a real problem with these kinds of reports. You can find all kinds of interpretations of Masonic symbolism in published works and cite them as "authoritative" and wind up with skewed results. The only true "authoritative" sources for Masonic teachings are the Monitor for the Grand Lodge, and the rituals performed within the tyled confines of a Lodge. Any other source is just one brothers opinion/thoughts/reflection about what those symbols and rituals mean.
Indeed. Kinda like reading a book where someone talks *about* Christianity and the Bible and taking that as biblical doctrine rather than taking it from the Bible itself.
A Pilgrim's Path by John Robinson pretty much refutes every conclusion that they have jumped to; it's just not well known.The works they cited weren't chosen at random but were from writers suck as Ward, Mackey, and Haywood. Who provides as well-known and readily-available counter-interpretations? I don't mean defenses against accusations, but interpretations of Freemasonic symbology that actually are easily in accord with more orthodox Christian beliefs. Even on this board there are masons who put a very Hermetic/Gnostic spin upon everything, as if that was the "true" meaning of Freemasonry.
A Pilgrim's Path by John Robinson pretty much refutes every conclusion that they have jumped to; it's just not well known.
Anything left over that Brother Robinson doesn't address could have been taken care of if the authors of that paper hadn't cherry-picked all their information. For every Masonic author they cited, there are just as many that have a differing point of view.
And when it is widely known and accepted that no one person or body can speak for the whole of Masonry, how could one ever pin it down or label it?
That's a real problem with these kinds of reports. You can find all kinds of interpretations of Masonic symbolism in published works and cite them as "authoritative" and wind up with skewed results. The only true "authoritative" sources for Masonic teachings are the Monitor for the Grand Lodge, and the rituals performed within the tyled confines of a Lodge. Any other source is just one brothers opinion/thoughts/reflection about what those symbols and rituals mean.
jwhoff;92734 And said:Hermetic and Gnostic views. One an ancient pagan religion and the other the losing slant on Christianity before the Romans shaped the faith into their military hierarchical format.
Remember, those who espouse Christian beliefs have no more claim to masonry than do the other two Sons of Abraham. Or Hinduism nor Budism, for that matter.
Might be a good time to also remember Jesus didn't fair well with the established faith either. Seems to me he favored tax collectors and smelly fishermen over their likes. Ask yourself, just how would Jesus fair with the current Christian hierarchy? Now that, my brother, is a topic worth your efforts. [/COLOR]
IMO I'd like to think the roots of the modern freemasonry we enjoy today and back to 1717 were made to enhance the Christian mans experience. when It comes to the hermeticism aspect I think that is there for mason to enjoy who encompasses all faiths. The symbols are rooted back in time with multiple layers of meaning.
I don't think it should be dismissed right away,
I must say...in 1942, I would have been focusing on real issues in the world...like in... ...I don't know... ... ...New Zealand, or something. Wasn't there something big going on there in 1942?
What is a lamp?
A symbol of light.
We can pretty much all agree on that.
What is the "actual" light symbolized?
This is where the disagreements can lie, and I prefer to think that Freemasonry leaves that up to each one of us. But the problem arises when someone takes that freedom and uses it as license to impose his own personal tastes as a "Masonic Mystery" or "Esoteric Masonic Lesson", etc, instead of saying "That's something for outside the Fraternity, here we remind each other to look to the light." Thus, instead of speaking man-to-man on the issue, some Masons write enormous volumes that purport to "instruct" on "Masonic meanings" but actually only instruct on the author's personal beliefs.
What I "dismiss" is the disparity in the Masonic literature. The Hermeticists and Gnostics have very loud voices that are sold in deluxe editions by obviously Masonic-related businesses (like Macoy's really great web site). The rest of us, the boring old Trinitarian Christians, Conservative and Orthodox Jews, Muslims, Hindus, etc., not so much. However, the responsibility is upon the shoulders of us members of the drab, pedestrian faiths to do the Work, gain the Degrees, get the respect, and write the books.