The Age Old Question: Is Freemasonry A Religion?

http://freemasoninformation.com/2014/07/the-age-old-question-is-freemasonry-a-religion/

Frederic L. Milliken

In the broadest sense of the term, yes.

jamie.guinn said:

In the broadest sense of the term, yes.

Click to expand...

In no sense at all of the term is it a religion. None at all, unless you "broaden" the word "religion" to mean "anything you darn well want to call 'religion' no matter what".

Bryan, even a quick peek on Wikipedia of all places references good sources on to why freemasonry can be considered a religion. It may not fit your personal definition, but it does fit several interpretations of meeting the definition by several academics. Why is that so hard to accept?

dalinkou said:

At this point, I do not believe that anyone, no matter how thorough the answer, will provide you with anything that you will accept. If you want to define Masonry as religion, you will always be able to find someone to support your wishes. If you want to find inherent conflict with Christianity (or any other faith for that matter), you will always find that also.

Click to expand...

That's been exactly my point the entire time. He wants a fight between Freemasonry and Christianity. He wants Freemasonry to be incompatible with Christianity.

Bryan, again go back and read everything I stated. In no place have I ever said the two are incompatible. I am not looking for a fight. You have a victim complex in that you for some reason feel threatened by an honest inquiry. You made baseless assumptions about my intentions instead of addressing my questions directly, which others did on the thread quite well as well as in private messages. But for some reason you are so fragile that when anyone calls into question anything that is obviously sensative to you, you begin to passively aggressively attack them... Not just me but other folks in other threads. I wished I would have been aware of the ignore user function. Now I do, so you're going on the list... I don't have time for whiny bullies.

It has been my observation that the forum members do not all share the same concept of what constitutes religion. Additionally, they do not share a common definition of the nature of Freemasonry. Therefore I see little chance of constructive dialog. The only way I can see for people to understand each others position on this issue would be for posters to complete these three statements:

1. I believe religion is ...
2. I believe Freemasonry is ...
3. I believe these are compatible/not compatible because ...

Other than that I am left to guess what you are talking about.

1. Religion is a hard word to assign a strict definition to. Etymologists and philologists have gone back and forth on the issue. In the narrow sense only very few religions would make the cut, and in the broad sense many world views and philosophies are included, including those that lack an explicit theistic concept (such as those found in eastern religions).

2. Freemasonry is a fraternity rich with symbolism that teaches a "system of morality". It also requires a belief in deity. The two alone are enough to define freemasonry as a religion. Freemasonry includes feast days, emphasis on personal ethics, a list of "saints" that are collectively venerated. A hierarchy of leadership and reverence for a list of sacred books. Freemasonry offers an answer, whether literal or symbolic, of a hope for an afterlife, and a means to obtain it (recovering the lost word).

Freemasonry already has strong religious roots in many of the worlds religious traditions, especially those of the mystical and esoteric side.

3. Freemasonry is absolutely compatible with religion for all the reasons stated above.

Brother Ernest Borgnine said that freemasonry was enough religion for him, and I concur. I've greatly enjoyed my masonic experience, and appreciate writers such as Wilmshurst, Hall, and Porter, who have revealed the connection that masonry has with it's early mystical and esoteric roots. Whether literal or not, the symbology within masonry meets my own personal definition for religion and provides something for me to daily contemplate and an ideal to strive for.

Let me explain, Brother, because after reading it again, my post came out more jaded than I intended. What I am trying to point out is the basic building blocks of Freemasonry and of Religion. Both require dedication of your time in order to get much out of them. Church is usually attended on a specific day of the week, and in order to become involved in teaching/learning endeavors and various work on committees and volunteerism, one can easily dedicate a majority of you free time to the Church. I AM NOT saying this is bad thing. We likewise feel the need to contribute financially to the support of the Church as well as its various financial charities. This is also morally our responsibility to help others in as much as we can.

Freemasonry makes similar demands on its incumbents. We go to Lodge meetings, and if you show up on a regular basis, you will likely find yourself somewhere in “the line,” mandating even further involvement. We migrate to Masonry’s various appending and invitational bodies and end up in their lines. Freemasonry, as well as religion, through curiosity causes us to quest for more Light. Both oblige us to buy books/DVD’s/tapes/etc., travel and to attend various gathering where we find greater insight on this information.

Lastly, both do require a financial commitment. We support our Churches through tithing and with financial gift and donations outside the strict adherence to the standard 10%. We work those car washes, bake and rummage sales—usually donating whatever it is being sold. Freemasonry is no different. We pay dues, Grand Lodge Per Capita to multiple organizations and sometimes multiple jurisdictions as well as those damn fish frys. We also make periodic donations to assist a specific worthy Brother or aid worthy causes.

Nearly all of us have a limited and finite amount of disposable income to give. One thing I have tried to teach my children is that you only get to spend time or money once. If you give most of it to A, then B suffers the loss. This is (again, IMHO) where the incongruence arises. Once religion learns that men are giving this finite resource to Masonry, it becomes easy to deaminize it in order to help recoup the loss. Historically, we know this has often happened.

Most of us who wear the Square & Compasses to church have some kind of story to tell about some old lady who saw it and scolded them as “going to hell for being in that cult.” They have no factual basis for this belief other than “some guy” told her that it was so.

This is in no way intended to demean religion.

Rick Carver said:

Nearly all of us have a limited and finite amount of disposable income to give. One thing I have tried to teach my children is that you only get to spend time or money once. If you give most of it to A, then B suffers the loss. This is (again, IMHO) where the incongruence arises. Once religion learns that men are giving this finite resource to Masonry, it becomes easy to deaminize it in order to help recoup the loss.

Click to expand...

This asses that the time and money spent on Masonry would otherwise go to your church, that any extra minute or dollar you had would be dedicated to your church. I suppose this may be so for some, but most people, I imagine, pursue other interests as well. In my case, it does not take away anything at all from my synagogue. My planned giving to my synagogue and to any other philanthropies is unchanged. In fact, Freemasonry has increased the time I give to my temple. I was recently asked by the synagogue leadership to take on the task of maintaining the schedule of the daily evening prayers to ensure the presence of a quorum every night. My first impulse was to politely decline, but I remembered the lessons of my degrees, and agreed to take on that responsibility.

There are lots of things I do with my time and money which fulfill difference needs and desires. For me, my synagogue Andy lodge fulfill related but separate purposes. They don't take away from each other. In terms if time, Freemasonry has probably cut most into listening to music, and pursuing one of hobbies quite as much as I would like.





Sent From My Freemasonry Pro App

jamie.guinn said:

2. Freemasonry is a fraternity rich with symbolism that teaches a "system of morality". It also requires a belief in deity. The two alone are enough to define freemasonry as a religion. Freemasonry includes feast days, emphasis on personal ethics, a list of "saints" that are collectively venerated. A hierarchy of leadership and reverence for a list of sacred books. Freemasonry offers an answer, whether literal or symbolic, of a hope for an afterlife, and a means to obtain it (recovering the lost word).

Click to expand...

The issue is that Freemasonry lacks the most fundamental characteristic, there is no worship involved in the Fraternity. Holding a prayer at the opening of and closing of lodge is no different than a town hall or corporate board meeting. Freemasonry is neither a religion nor a substitute for it. When practiced fully and correctly though, it will enhance your practice of the Faith of your acceptance.

As for attaining an afterlife, I have seen nowhere in any of the bodies that I belong to, where it says that recovering the lost Word is a means to obtaining anything of the sort. Claims of such, just sound like the work of Dan Brown. While I enjoyed the story, the antagonists belief that discovering the Lost Word would gain him power, is simply laughable.

phulseapple said:

The issue is that Freemasonry lacks the most fundamental characteristic, there is no worship involved in the Fraternity. Holding a prayer at the opening of and closing of lodge is no different than a town hall or corporate board meeting. Freemasonry is neither a religion nor a substitute for it. When practiced fully and correctly though, it will enhance your practice of the Faith of your acceptance.

Click to expand...

Except in the broad definition of "religion" worship of a deity is not necessary. Buddhism is a religion, as is Taoism, but neither have a prescribed manner of worship for a specific deity (unless you count the mix of local folk religion with both).

As for attaining an afterlife, I have seen nowhere in any of the bodies that I belong to, where it says that recovering the lost Word is a means to obtaining anything of the sort. Claims of such, just sound like the work of Dan Brown. While I enjoyed the story, the antagonists belief that discovering the Lost Word would gain him power, is simply laughable.

Click to expand...

Whether either meant to be literal or not, both Wilmshurst in "The Meaning of Masonry" and Hall in "The Lost Keys of Freemasonry" both elucidate such. Same with Pike ("Morals and Dogma"), Mackey ("Encyclopedia of Freemasonry"), and others who have written on the subject. But whether or not they meant to go beyond allegory is theirs to decide, however, they did make the point as such. By no means are any of these authors the absolute authority on masonry, and all have stressed it was their opinion alone to hold, as do I.

On a very broad sense, I can get behind that line of thinking. However, applying the compasses, there must be a limit to keep within due bounds. Too broad a definition, and one can easily deduce that any activity could be considered a Religion.

The topic is a good one, but it is often one that divides, rather than unites.

As Rex Hutchens is so fond of throwing on the table, read James 1:27.

Since being initiated a few months ago now, I've done a fair amount of reading and learned that this is not really a cut and dry subject for everyone. It's definitely a deep one, and not one I'm ready to fully jump into being as new as I am. But for the sake of the conversation here, I just thought I'd post what the official booklet I received at the conclusion of my in-home interview says concerning this. For me personally, coming from a fairly strict upbringing and having my own steadfast beliefs, I appreciated and took comfort in what it said and knowing that the intention was not to take the place of my religion, especially since that was my primary hesitation before joining the fraternity.

From the booklet, "On The Threshold", (copyright 2011, The Most Worshipful Grand Lodge Of Ancient Free and Accepted Masons of the State of Illinois; developed by the Illinois Committee on Masonic Education):

Incidentally, the mobile app (iOS) appears to be cutting off the last paragraph of my quote from the booklet for some reason. You may want to hit the option for "web view" to see the rest of it if you're reading this from your phone app.


Sent From My Freemasonry Pro App

Religion deals with the immortal soul and it's ultimate destination. Usually there's a set of rules/guidelines which, depending on how well they're adhered to, will determine how go (or bad) of a time you'll have in the afterlife.

Freemasonry doesn't deal with the afterlife. We are taught that our faith is important and should not be neglected however in our memory work there is always a clear distinction between our duties to our faith and Freemasonry. It's clear that the creators of our modern ritual, at least that which is commonly practiced in the USA, saw an obvious distinction between the two and never intended Freemasonry to serve as, or be a replacement for, a man's religion.

jamie.guinn said:

Bryan, even a quick peek on Wikipedia of all places references good sources on to why freemasonry can be considered a religion. It may not fit your personal definition, but it does fit several interpretations of meeting the definition by several academics. Why is that so hard to accept?

Click to expand...

Sorry, but no, it does not qualify as a religion, the unimpeachable font of truth, Wikipedia, notwithstanding. Any conflation of what Freemasonry offers and religion is the result of a less-than-full understanding of our fraternity and it's purpose, or of the deliberate twisting of the meaning of the the word religion.
While Freemasonry frequently references principles and even scripture familiar to the believers of many religions, it does not make any claim to being involved in their revelation. Other than generic prayer, it offers no rites associated with any religion with which I familiar; no confession, no communion, no rosary, no testimony.
Let's be real. If you offer something that is, on it's face, something intended to be generic enough to accommodate believers of virtually any faith (more or less), you are offering something quite apart from the thing that defines any one of those faiths.
Even Buddhism or Taoism, lacking specific deities, claim to offer guidance for the searching soul. "Walk this path and find Nirvana." In years of thorough study, I have found no such authority claimed in any Masonic lesson or ritual.

JJones said:

Religion deals with the immortal soul and it's ultimate destination. Usually there's a set of rules/guidelines which, depending on how well they're adhered to, will determine how go (or bad) of a time you'll have in the afterlife.

Click to expand...

That's not necessarily true. In my religion, while immortality of the soul in some shape or form is part of the theology, it is a small part. While we speak of 'the world to come' at some future time, we do not primarily concern ourselves with the disposition of the soul in the afterlife, but with the way one lives one's life in this one, and not for fear of future punishment or reward, but solely because we have been commanded to live that way. Fulfilling certain commandments (not referring to just the 10), both small and large, are sometimes said to merit a person "a portion in the world to come" but that is generally understood to signify the importance of the particular commandment. I attended religious day school through high school with extensive study of Bible, Hebrew, and Talmud. Reward, punishment, and the disposition of the soul after death was not really discussed. We focused on the commandments, what can be learned from them, and how the mundane actions of every day (what you eat, what you wear, what you do and don't do at different times and in different places) can sanctify each moment.



I think that it is quite difficult to come to a single definition for religion. Whoever is defining it is necessarily bringing their own perspective and culture to the definition.



Sent From My Freemasonry Pro App

Albert Pike declares in Morals and Dogma, "Every Masonic lodge is a temple of religion, and its teaching are instructions in religion…this is true religion revealed to the ancient patriarchs; which Masonry has taught for many centuries, and which it will continue to teach as long as time endures."

Albert Mackey says in the Encyclopaedia of Freemasonry, "The religion of Masonry is non-sectarian. It admits men of every creed within its hospitable bosom. It is not Judaism, though there is nothing to offend the Jew. It is not Christianity, but there is nothing in it repugnant to the faith of a Christian.

Mackey further argues, "Look at its ancient landmarks, its sublime ceremonies, its profound symbols and allegories - all inculcating religious doctrine, commanding religious observances, and teaching religious truth, and who can deny that it is eminently a religious institution...? Masonry then, is indeed a religious institution; and on this ground mainly, if not alone, should then religious Mason defend it."

J.S.M. Ward says in Freemasonry: its aims and ideals, "I consider Freemasonry is a significantly organized school of mysticism to be entitled to be called a religion…Freemasonry …taught that each man can by himself, work out his own conception of god and thereby achieve salvation…that thought these paths appear to branch off in various directions, yet they all reach the same ultimate goal, and that to some men, one path is better and to other, another."

Frank C.Higgins maintains: “It is true that Freemasonry is the parent of all religions” (Ancient Freemasonry p. 10)

33rd Degree Freemason Norman Vincent Peale, says: “I consider Masonry to be the purest form of religion on earth” (Masonic Monitor, May 1992 pg.17).

Sir John Cockburn addresses the matter in Freemasonry: What, Whence, Why, Whither where he writes, "The question whether Masonry is a religion has been keenly debated. But the contest appears to be merely a war of words. Perhaps the best way of arriving at a conclusion would be first of all to enumerate the points which are common to most religions, and then to enquire in what respect Masonry differs from them. Religion deals with the relationship between man as his Maker, and instils a reverence for the Creator as the First Cause. Religions abound in observances of worship by prayer and praise. They inculcate rules of conduct by holding up a god or hero as a pattern for imitation. All true religions denounce selfishness, extol mutual; service if necessary self-sacrifice. It would be difficult to say in which of these characteristics that Freemasonry is lacking. Surely it abounds in all. Its ceremonies are elaborate, and are unsurpassed in beauty and depth of meaning. They are interspersed with prayer and thanksgiving. In no religion is the reverential attitude of the creature to the Creator more clearly displayed. A bright example of devotion to duty and of self-sacrifice in the path of fidelity. Is ever held before the eyes of the brethren. In what religion are the principles to be found nobler than those on which Masonry rests? Love to the brethren, relief to the distressed, and reverence to the God of Truth. If the title religion be denied to Freemasonry, it may well claim the higher ground of being a federation of religions. It is a form of worship in which all religions can unite without sacrificing a lot of their respective creeds."

George H. Steinmetz (contemporary of Manly P. Hall) writes in his book Freemasonry: Its Hidden Meaning, "The order has at all times been careful to explain that Masonry is not a religion. It has denied the fact over and over again, and insisted that it was a lodge or brotherhood, and in no way did, nor was it intended to, take the place of the church in a man’s life. It is claimed that Masonry is universal, its tenets such that they can be subscribed to by Christian, Jew, Mohammedan and Buddhist alike, and all may meet in brotherhood at its altars. Has Masonry been too careful in its explanation? Too vehement in its denials? Has it so loudly proclaimed it is not a religion that its followers have been misled into thinking it is not religious? Has it been fearful of inadvertently stepping on the figurative toes of some creed, mistaking a creed for religion?"

He continues, "What is religion? The dictionary defines it as: 'The recognition of man’s relation to a divine superhuman power to whom obedience and reverence are due; the outward acts and practices of life by which men indicate their recognition of such relationship; conformity to the teaching of the Bible, effort of man to attain goodness of God'. … In Morals and Dogma Pike offers the following definition: 'FREEMASONRY is the subjugation of the human that is in man by the Divine; the Conquest of the Appetites and Passions by the Moral Sense and the Reason; a continual effort, struggle, and warfare of the Spiritual against the Material and Sensual. That victory, when it has been achieved and secured, and the conqueror may rest upon his shield and wear the well-earned laurels, is the true holy empire'."

He exhorts Masons, "The time has arrived for Masonry to make its position clear, to not only admit, but rather to declare, that it is religious, even though it may well explain it is not a religion in the commonly accepted misuse of the word 'religion'. An attitude to the contrary may have been excusable in the past, as the vast majority of Masons, ignorant of the esoteric teachings, were equally ignorant of the fact that those teachings constitute religion. This has never been true of the Great Masonic Scholars of the past, all of whose writings show their recognition of the religion of Masonry. What is religion? 'Religion is the recognition of man’s relation to a divine superhuman power to whom obedience and reverence are due'. The Masonic Manuel states, 'Freemasonry’s religion, if religion it may be called, is an unfeigned belief in the one living and true God'. The definition of religion continues, 'The outward acts and practices of life by which men indicate their recognition of such relationship'. Paralleling this the Masonic Manuel continues, '[Freemasonry’s] tenets are brotherly love, relief and truth'. How more can one’s 'outward acts and practices' indicate recognition of the Supreme Architect of the Universe and the relationship to Him, than by brotherly love, relief and truth? Recognition of Him of all necessitates the recognition of every fellow man as a brother, demanding brotherly love, which encompasses relief when needed, and above all else, truth."

Dr. Mayer, stated in 1873, "this great art [Freemasonry] may rightly be called a religion. It defines the relation of the individual man to his Creator, to his fellow men, to himself; it develops man into perfection. Freemasonry is a faithful guide through life, with proper instructions to square our actions, and straight measures to keep us in due bounds with mankind. It teaches truth, recommends peace, and directs our attention to the very perishableness of all things. Is it not a religion? Religion! No, my brethren, we may rather call it THE religion! It is entitled to this sublime distinction, through its aim to make man's life happy and godly and his death enviable and peaceful. It is certainly the true religion of mankind, its truth being obvious by its suitableness for all men, its applicableness to all ages, its unchangeableness under all circumstances, its harmonious working in all zones, and the privilege it grants to every man to entertain his own view of his Creator." He continued, "Who is so blind and fanatical as to anathematise Freemasonry on so-called religious grounds? The religion of Freemasonry is within the reach of the Jew and Gentile, the Mohometan and the Hindu, the white and the black, the master and servant, the free and the captive, the rich and the poor - it is the religion of mankind, it is universal. A good Mason loves religion as a pleasant and useful companion in every proper place and every temperate occupation of life; but he hates religions as edifices constructed on prejudicial and superstitious traditions, fanatical propensities and clerical overbearing."

----------

PS- My mention of Wikipedia as a source was meant tongue-in-cheek. This was not meant to be taken seriously, which I thought was obvious in the phrasing.