After reading Bro. Stewart's response above, he gets my point perfectly. Thank you Brother!
So do I, well said!
You are both welcome!
After reading Bro. Stewart's response above, he gets my point perfectly. Thank you Brother!
So do I, well said!
Freemasonry allows any mason to pursue any theology or philosophy that his heart desires, as long as the supreme being is present, ...
I don't believe any of that Bryan, i would never expect any christian mason to have to choose.
Back to the original point of conversation, though:
Why would a church be wary of Freemasonry? The books available at the time of writing the original church document included Mackey, Pike, Hall, etc. Without the internet, I assume they were limited to what was able to found in libraries and library systems in their local area (with limited reach to a wider area). Some mystical, some very textbook, but several decreeing the fraternity to be a religion.
Contrast that with today, when there is a growing segment of the organization that is promulgating a hermetic/gnostic ideology as being THE ideology of Freemasonry, I could see a church eyeing us with suspicion. How many new books have been published (without a good editor, I might add :1: ) in the last few years on hermetic ideas within the craft?
Disappointing conclusion.
Years ago.....
I remember learning my proficiencies and talking with my coach on this matter.
He told me regarding masonry and (some) organized religion.
"Church is like a Jealous Woman"
Whether you like or not, its just the way it is.
It made sense to me.
Christ or the Lodge?
Believe I'll have a little of both.
Since your beliefs in God are between you and him
and your beliefs in Masonry are between you and them.
You're better off to make up your own mind,
than to let others, who you don't know, tell you what you're allowed to believe.
JMHO