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Glen Cook

G A Cook
Site Benefactor
CLewey44, in fact, you are wrong about me. I don’t believe Masonry practices child abuse anywhere, so I said I was upset at Bill when he made that accusation to Masonry even though I am not a Mason.
I am not a baptized Christian that might be considered incompatible with Freemasonry. While I was searching for information to dismiss certain allegations against Masonry, I found that Caidaism religion was founded based on Masonic teachings just like other religions. The founders of Caodaism were Freemasons from the Grand Lodge of the Philippine. They were recruited from French during the late 1800s. The interesting part is that the founders were Roman Catholic before Caodaism was formed. Most Vietnamese are R.C. Anyhow, Caodai has more than 2M members and is growing. I consider myself a Taoism but not traditional Taoism. A devoted Taoism would suggest that I have not practiced Taoism correctly, and I would agree.
If you think Freemasonry is not right for me then you entitled to your opinion. We differ on that.
1. Where do you get your information that Caodism was based on Masonic teachings or that the founders were Freemasons in the Philippines?
2. Where do you get your information that most other religions were founded on Masonic teachings?
3. Where do you get your information that Vietnam is predominantly RC rather than Buddhist?
4. About five minutes of research would show that English speaking Freemasonry does not require one to be Christian. Where did you get that idea?
 
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Glen Cook

G A Cook
Site Benefactor
Thanks judge Cook,
Since obtaining 32 degrees can be done as a few days to 4 months, is it possible that Bill S. was able to achieve what he claimed? I am confused. He even said that “low degrees are there to be spiritual drained and Masonry took a lot of money out of them” or something like that. I am not yet a Mason, so I would not know how high or low status of degree works.
I said one can become a 32 within four months of becoming a Mason. As no state GL has 90 degrees, that would either be a lie or he was a member of a clandestine group.

I don’t know what low degrees are. I don’t know what that sentence even means it is so poorly constructed. That said, I find Freemasonry to be quite inexpensive. For many Lodges, annual dues are the cost of a pair good running shoes, and less than a Starbucks coffee per day. I do not view Freemasory as a spiritual path.
 

Howard Giang

Registered User
You can be a Taoist and be a Mason for sure. It's certainly not limited, in my view, to Christianity, Islam and Judaism.
Thanks CLewey44, religiously, I don’t have any issue. In my heart I knew I can be a good Mason because I believe in a God and worship God.
 

Howard Giang

Registered User
1. Where do you get your information that Caodism was based on Masonic teachings or that the founders were Freemasons in the Philippines?
2. Where do you get your information that most other religions were founded on Masonic teachings?
3. Where do you get your information that Vietnam is predominantly RC rather than Buddhist?
4. About five minutes of research would show that English speaking Freemasonry does not require one to be Christian. Where did you get that idea?
1) I googled caodaist and freemasonry.
http://www.themasons.org.nz/ruahine/march13/dao.pdf
2) Caodaist, Mormonism, Scientology, and other Orders and Lodges of Fraternities including college fraternities.
3) Actually, I was comparing Catholic versus Non-Catholic Christian denomination. If we to evaluate basesd on “religious institutions” exclusively, Catholic is predominant based on the system of identifiable. Yet, it is true that when asking what religion a person with given only limited choices of major religions like Buddhist, Catholic, or Islam, most Vietnameses would identify as Buddhist. I would too. The majority population of Vietnameses observe or practice 3 main influence called “Tam Giao”; Taoism, Confucianism, and Buddhism. However, if you were to evaluate among these 3 categories in term of religious institution with hierarchy positions, Caodaist and Catholic are predominant in and outside of Vietnam. It is hard to explain with typing on an iPhone, but both Caidaist and Catholic are a threat to Vietnamese government. If not they will. I googled all my information.
4) I don’t think I have ever said a person must be a Christian to be a Mason. I don’t know that. I went on Amazon to buy a used KJV Masonic Bible (light blue color). It is very much part of Christian Bible. Anyhow, you should be telling that. You know more about Freemasonry than I am. John S. 32 degrees ex-Mason claimed that Catholic cannot be a Mason. I was just referred information from certain sources. I don’t make up information. If it is my opinion on anything, I would notify as in my opinion and not fact.

Judge Cook, I have a really good question. Do you want me to be a Freemason?
 

Howard Giang

Registered User
I said one can become a 32 within four months of becoming a Mason. As no state GL has 90 degrees, that would either be a lie or he was a member of a clandestine group.

I don’t know what low degrees are. I don’t know what that sentence even means it is so poorly constructed. That said, I find Freemasonry to be quite inexpensive. For many Lodges, annual dues are the cost of a pair good running shoes, and less than a Starbucks coffee per day. I do not view Freemasory as a spiritual path.
Goomba provided a link that explains that Bill accomplishments don’t make sense. I think 90 degrees was a mockery of from crawling to walking upright. I don’t view Freemasonry as a religious institution but rather a religious fraternity that can be an alternative to all religions exclusively. We might basically saying the same thing.
 

Glen Cook

G A Cook
Site Benefactor
The link disputes the majority of your statements, other than that a number of the founders were members of differing branches of Freemasonry. It was interesting.

You assert without foundation that most other religions were founded on Masonic teachings. However, you then name only three modern era faiths, and err as to each.

You appear to agree that most Vietnamese are not Catholic.

You started: “I am not a baptized Christian that might be considered incompatible with Freemasonry.”

The Masonic version of the KJV just adds some non-scriptural pages about the fraternity and for signatures. I think we are in agreement that the KJV is Christian.

The Catholic Church as an institution does prohibit Freemasonry for its members. I think you can search for discussions in this forum. Local Catholic clerics may not have a problem with the fraternity. The fraternity does not prohibit Catholics.

I can accept that you don’t make things up intentionally. However, I’m not sure you understand all that you read or that your recollection of it is not confused, as seen in the link you provided.

You are not in my jurisdictions. I have no vote as to whether you should be a Freemason. Further, and perhaps more importantly, I do not know you. I’ve not even met you. The investigation process requires more than what one reads in a discussion forum.
 

Glen Cook

G A Cook
Site Benefactor
Goomba provided a link that explains that Bill accomplishments don’t make sense. I think 90 degrees was a mockery of from crawling to walking upright. I don’t view Freemasonry as a religious institution but rather a religious fraternity that can be an alternative to all religions exclusively. We might basically saying the same thing.
I assure you, I do not believe Freemasonry is an alternative to religion.
 

Howard Giang

Registered User
The link disputes the majority of your statements, other than that a number of the founders were members of differing branches of Freemasonry. It was interesting.

You assert without foundation that most other religions were founded on Masonic teachings. However, you then name only three modern era faiths, and err as to each.

You appear to agree that most Vietnamese are not Catholic.

You started: “I am not a baptized Christian that might be considered incompatible with Freemasonry.”

The Masonic version of the KJV just adds some non-scriptural pages about the fraternity and for signatures. I think we are in agreement that the KJV is Christian.

The Catholic Church as an institution does prohibit Freemasonry for its members. I think you can search for discussions in this forum. Local Catholic clerics may not have a problem with the fraternity. The fraternity does not prohibit Catholics.

I can accept that you don’t make things up intentionally. However, I’m not sure you understand all that you read or that your recollection of it is not confused, as seen in the link you provided.

You are not in my jurisdictions. I have no vote as to whether you should be a Freemason. Further, and perhaps more importantly, I do not know you. I’ve not even met you. The investigation process requires more than what one reads in a discussion forum.
I am not religious expert. However, I most if not all religions borrowed some symbolic elements from each other e.g an altar, ritual, and funeral rites that can be quite similar to Masonic.
Most of Vietnameses have an altar in their homes. They were once time being accused of worshipping ancestors. An unknown period of time, they included and incorporated various deities such as various Buddhas, Legends, and Warriors. Many of these followers eventually elevated their deities to the status of Gods. In my opinion, they were not uniformity but rather paramagnetic among themselves.
Caodaist and Catholic are more uniformity and hierarchical structure.
Anyway, we are basically agreed more than disagreed.
One thing, Bill 90 degree ex-Mason, he is more sincere than others ex-Mason because you can see a sense of bitterness in them. Now, I think Bill S. may not have been a Freemason because it appears he has no ax to grind against Masonry.
 

Glen Cook

G A Cook
Site Benefactor
I am not religious expert. However, I most if not all religions borrowed some symbolic elements from each other e.g an altar, ritual, and funeral rites that can be quite similar to Masonic.
Most of Vietnameses have an altar in their homes. They were once time being accused of worshipping ancestors. An unknown period of time, they included and incorporated various deities such as various Buddhas, Legends, and Warriors. Many of these followers eventually elevated their deities to the status of Gods. In my opinion, they were not uniformity but rather paramagnetic among themselves.
Caodaist and Catholic are more uniformity and hierarchical structure.
Anyway, we are basically agreed more than disagreed.
One thing, Bill 90 degree ex-Mason, he is more sincere than others ex-Mason because you can see a sense of bitterness in them. Now, I think Bill S. may not have been a Freemason because it appears he has no ax to grind against Masonry.
You are changing the playing field. You first stated that most other religions were were founded on Masonic teachings. You now state that religions borrowed from one another and can be similar to Masonic ritual. Different issues.
No, I disagree with the majority of your statements.
 

Howard Giang

Registered User
You are changing the playing field. You first stated that most other religions were were founded on Masonic teachings. You now state that religions borrowed from one another and can be similar to Masonic ritual. Different issues.
No, I disagree with the majority of your statements.
I accepted your disagreement.
Again, I cannot refer to most religions that formed before 1717. I had to refer to religions formed after Masonry. If I referred to religions that formed before 1717 then Masonic elements may be borrowed from other religions.
 

Howard Giang

Registered User
I assure you, I do not believe Freemasonry is an alternative to religion.
Individually our beliefs are subjective in nature. It is collectively are more important and inline. In fact, your belief does coincide with John S. 32 degree ex-Mason. He said he had a definitive truth. I don’t know but if there is a probability that he is right then you also could be right that Freemasonry is indeed not an alternative but rather Catholicism probably is. I am still not sure. You have to convince me otherwise.
 

Howard Giang

Registered User
M
Why did you pick 1717?
My research and study showed that Freemasonry Grand Lodge was formed 1717 in England; however, I think it found earlier than that. Even so, most religions that I referred to were formed after 1700. Islam were founded in 500 after Christianity. I am not sure the exact date. Again I don’t know much more than you, and I accept learning from you and others.
 

Glen Cook

G A Cook
Site Benefactor
Individually our beliefs are subjective in nature. It is collectively are more important and inline. In fact, your belief does coincide with John S. 32 degree ex-Mason. He said he had a definitive truth. I don’t know but if there is a probability that he is right then you also could be right that Freemasonry is indeed not an alternative but rather Catholicism probably is. I am still not sure. You have to convince me otherwise.
No. My belief in no way coincides with that person’s beliefs. He asserts Freemasonry is incompatible with Christianity, and puts forth various lies to support this. I believe Christianity is compatible with Freemasonry, and do not lie. Opposite views. This would be an example of your difficulty understanding what you read. To be fair, much of what you write I do not understand.

My statement was that I do not believe Freemasonry is an alternative to religion, contrary to your assertion that we were in agreement on this issue. I really do not need to convince you of my belief.
 

Warrior1256

Site Benefactor
Be very skeptical of those claiming degrees above 32. Also be very skeptical of those who are obsessed with degree numbers and use it as proof of anything.
Bill Schnoebelen is likely who this "32-90 degree Mason" that is mentioned. He is a clown that joined about every single religion or group at some time and claims to be the highest ranking in all of them before finding Jesus.
To borrow from another post, be sceptical of those who claim status based on degree numbers.
Absolutely!
Those people who claim degrees are rank forget about us poor York Rite guys. I mean we don't number ours. Are we even important?
Lol...I know what you mean.
 
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