I fully understand that Freemasonry is not a religion, but it is a beautiful, or rather, "a peculiar system of. morality, veiled in allegory and illustrated by symbols" which may be said for many religions. I am merely using words which are the closest to the meaning I am needing in asking. Yes, I am a Mason, and in my work to cooperate, learn and contribute to my Lodge and the Brotherhood as a whole, I am seeking to determine what behavior and philosophy is Masonic and what what behavior and philosophy is unmasonic . . . I find some Masons to be universalist, welcoming of multi-faith paths and open definitions of God, open and accepting of all, looking at only the internal qualities of men, and others who are bigots, fundamentalists, homophobes, mysoginists, uneducated and promotive of tyranny and fanaticism . . . there seem to be difficult schisms to bridge and maintain harmony when there seems to be no guiding official determination. I have asked questions using the word liturgy and was reprimanded and told that it is a religious-only term and that the proper words were "The Work" . . . no offense has been taken at cannon and apocrypha, when I am trying to se one easy term all might know instead of writing out the first definition of the term in the dictionary;"a general law, rule, principle, or criterion by which something is judged", or the second "a collection or list of sacred books accepted as genuine." The third definition in the dictionary refers to religion, and the fourth to music. By apocrypha, I mean "a book of doubtful authenticity, or spurious, or not considered to be within a particular canon (a general law, rule, principle, or criterion by which something is judged.) Seeking a mentor is a good idea, and in my queries on Myfreemasonry.com, I am doing exactly that.
