We recently had a candidate that took his obligation on another book beside the bible and he had some question with the word scripture as a few other petitioners have had when filing out the petition so I became curious as to why the GL chose to use the term Holy Scriptures as it is universally associated with the bible which is not always easy to explain to non-Christians. Why was the wording Sacred Volume of Law not used or why is that question in there at all? I cannot find in our Ancient Charges that we have to swear belief in the divine authenticity of any book so why is that question there? The candidates that really put me on the spot about it I was forced to discuss what divine authenticity meant and how we interpret the word scripture and as cool as I am :laugh: those were tough moments that no Mason should have to go through in my opinion. Anywho, as I read into the law for further explanation on this I see even it has a little disclaimer under it after it uses the term Holy Scriptures. Has this been an issue for any of you and how do you handle it so not to end up in a religious discussion which is prohibited by GL law?
Art. 397. (434). Religious Belief. A firm belief in the existence
of God, the immortality of the soul, and the divine authenticity of the
Holy Scriptures is indispensably necessary before a candidate can
be initiated, but this Grand Lodge does not presume to prescribe any
canonical books or what part thereof are inspired. It is the policy of
this Grand Lodge to permit a candidate whose religious persuasion
is based upon other than the Holy Bible to be obligated upon the
book of his chosen faith, and same may be situated upon the Altar
in front of the Holy Bible during the conferral of the three degrees of
Masonry. In which event, all esoteric references to “The Holy Bibleâ€
during the conferral of the degree(s) and the lessons appropriate
thereto shall be substituted with “The Book of your (my) Faith.â€
Art. 397. (434). Religious Belief. A firm belief in the existence
of God, the immortality of the soul, and the divine authenticity of the
Holy Scriptures is indispensably necessary before a candidate can
be initiated, but this Grand Lodge does not presume to prescribe any
canonical books or what part thereof are inspired. It is the policy of
this Grand Lodge to permit a candidate whose religious persuasion
is based upon other than the Holy Bible to be obligated upon the
book of his chosen faith, and same may be situated upon the Altar
in front of the Holy Bible during the conferral of the three degrees of
Masonry. In which event, all esoteric references to “The Holy Bibleâ€
during the conferral of the degree(s) and the lessons appropriate
thereto shall be substituted with “The Book of your (my) Faith.â€