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My Concerns regarding Masonry

Frater Cliff Porter

Premium Member
Just to add further clarification, "Allah" is Arabic for "Yahweh" - the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and God the Father of the Christian Trinity.

If there is only one God how can humans change that reality by assigning to God different names.

It only makes sense that in different cultures and in different times God is known by different names.

We should worry less about what others call God and more about how we demonstrate a love for God in the way we live our lives.
 

jhale1158

Registered User
Being a mason is a rewarding thing. As far as religions, you will meet many Freemasons that have a different religious belief than yourself. I have met many here in Oklahoma that believe in A God, not a specific God and I love it. As long as Religion is not brought up in lodge, I see no reason why the religions AND Freemasonry can't co-exist
 
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T.N. Sampson

Guest
Just to add further clarification, "Allah" is Arabic for "Yahweh" - the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and God the Father of the Christian Trinity.
I've noticed several references to Allah in this thread, but I think a key fact has been missed.

Both the Bible and the Koran define the 'god' to which they refer. Those definitions form what we know of those beings, and point to two different entities. Essentially, Allah, as defined by the Koran, is not the same being as is God/Yahweh/Elohim/etc as defined in the Bible. I think the main reason that the Masonic phrase "GAOTU" was adopted was to paper over such differing definitions in the interest of harmony.

Context and intent determine the proper understanding of 'Allah.' When a Christian uses 'Allah' to refer to the God of the Bible in his Arabic prayers, he is on proper linguistic and religious grounds. But he does not mean the Allah of the Koran when he does so. When a English-speaking Christian uses 'Allah' in the Shrine initiation, for example, he is referring to the god of the Koran, not the God of the Bible.

Such 'conflicts' occur elsewhere. The Muslim, Mormon and Christian may all pray to 'Jesus,' but they are, in fact, praying to three different entities, as each has defined the term differently. In religion, as in all other topics, we have to use common defintions to communicate effectively.

So, 'Allah' is indeed the Arabic for 'Yahweh,' but only under certain conditions. It is a mistake to assume that they are different names for the same God. Cordially, Skip.
 

BryanMaloney

Premium Member
If you truly believe that Freemasonry merely "papers over" important issues and differences, why did you bother to become a Master Mason? "Paper over" means that it is wrong--that you disagree with it. If you disagree with a fundamental principle of Masonry, why did you join and why did you stay with it? After all, your profile states that you are a Master Mason.
 
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T.N. Sampson

Guest
Gentlemen:
1. To 'paper over' means to "gloss over, explain away or to patch up (as major differences or disparities) expecially in order to maintain a semblance of unity or agreement. (Merriam-Webster). The idea in the last part of that definition was behind my use of the phrase. No insult was intended.

2. I am not a Mason. The profile apparently auto-filled the Master Mason part, which I have since corrected.

3. I doubt seriously that Ed King would refer to me as a friend, but I do believe he knows who I am. Cordially, Skip.
 
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Traveling Man

Premium Member
Gentlemen:
1. To 'paper over' means to "gloss over, explain away or to patch up (as major differences or disparities) expecially in order to maintain a semblance of unity or agreement. (Miriam Webster). The idea in the last part of that definition was behind my use of the phrase. No insult was intended.

2. I am not a Mason. The profile apparently auto-filled the Master Mason part, which I have since corrected.


3. I doubt seriously that Ed King would refer to me as a friend, but I do believe he knows who I am. Cordially, Skip.
Skip:

Thanks for the "Miriam" (sic) Webster definition.
(Don't be deceitful here, that was your full intent; to be divisive, as sure as you are Skip Sampson) That's what you came here to do, as always...

Now how about a "proper" introduction to the Gentlemen here? How about a link to your web site?

Why don't you state why you want copies of any mentoring guides?
I'm sure we would all like to know. You do realize that this NOT the place for you to "proselytize" don't you?
Please tell the Gentlemen (Brethren) why Bro. Ed King wouldn't consider you a "friend"?
We all would like to know. "Cordially" Skip?
 
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T.N. Sampson

Guest
Thanks for the "Miriam" (sic) Webster definition. Don't be deceitful here, that was your full intent; to be divisive, as sure as you are Skip Sampson) That's what you came here to do, as always...
You are welcome, both for the definition and for pointing out the spelling error (since corrected). I would offer the view that were deceit my goal, I would not have used my own name on this forum. As to divisiveness, I do not see how a non-Mason can cause division among Masons.

Now how about a "proper" introduction to the Gentlemen here? How about a link to your web site?
I do not have a website. As to introductions, what would you like to know?

Why don't you state why you want copies of any mentoring guides?
Since you ask, it is for the same reason that newly-made Masons ask for it: to learn about Texas Masonry. My view has long been that if you want to know what a group teaches, read their own materials. Primary sources are always much more accurate than the opinions of others, don't you think?
You do realize that this NOT the place for you to "proselytize" don't you?
I do indeed.

Please tell the Gentlemen (Brethren) why Bro. Ed King wouldn't consider you a "friend"?
Since I do not know his standards on 'friendship,' I would not presume to make such a claim without positive assurance on his part. Aside from that, I do not recall any significant personal interaction with him upon which either of us would base a claim to friendship. Cordially, Skip.
 
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Traveling Man

Premium Member
Since I do not know his standards on 'friendship,' I would not presume to make such a claim without positive assurance on his part. Aside from that, I do not recall any significant personal interaction with him upon which either of us would base a claim to friendship. Cordially, Skip.

That's an understatement if I ever read one!

You came here to gather material for your anti-Masonic preaching didn't you? Come on now, be honest with that at very least least! I still ask why you don't give us a full introduction and you real motives for being here?
 

JTM

"Just in case"
Premium Member
He hasn't done anything wrong here, and he's been fairly cordial. I don't have a problem with anti-masons being on these forums as long as they treat folks with respect and aren't here to cause problems. If ya'll two want to continue, then take it to private messages :)
 

Traveling Man

Premium Member
I don't have a problem with him being here either. I just want him to be honest and forthright is all. I think it's only fair to state what his full intentions were :)
 

Ali

Registered User
Greetings brothers and friends. I found this thread to be interesting for several reasons. I am a MM who happens to be a Muslim and have taken my obligations on the Holy Quran. Although I find several ways that Masonry relates to Islam, as I'm sure it relate to any religion, there is a reason why we choose not to discuss the topic of religion at lodge. I would rather focus on the cement that unites us. The only reason one must declare a belief in deity is so that an obligation would be binding. Other than that Masonry is not a religion or substitute there of. I think bro. Michael Hatley & cemab4y seem to hit the nail right on the head with their wise council for you. Although I appreciate your admiration and respect for masonry, I not not necessarily agree with your views. I would advise you to carefully consider your journey into masonry if you have trouble harmonizing with men from different faiths. As obvious by this thread, one way I can tell a Bro. Mason from a non-mason is the way they speak of other religions. Again, please consider carefully as we all did, if we are worthy and well qualified.
 

Traveling Man

Premium Member
Thank you Brother Ali, how very succincly stated. If I recall properly this was supposed to have been hashed out; oh, say 150 years ago?
 

MarkR

Premium Member
Greetings brothers and friends. I found this thread to be interesting for several reasons. I am a MM who happens to be a Muslim and have taken my obligations on the Holy Quran. Although I find several ways that Masonry relates to Islam, as I'm sure it relate to any religion, there is a reason why we choose not to discuss the topic of religion at lodge. I would rather focus on the cement that unites us. The only reason one must declare a belief in deity is so that an obligation would be binding. Other than that Masonry is not a religion or substitute there of. I think bro. Michael Hatley & cemab4y seem to hit the nail right on the head with their wise council for you. Although I appreciate your admiration and respect for masonry, I not not necessarily agree with your views. I would advise you to carefully consider your journey into masonry if you have trouble harmonizing with men from different faiths. As obvious by this thread, one way I can tell a Bro. Mason from a non-mason is the way they speak of other religions. Again, please consider carefully as we all did, if we are worthy and well qualified.
Well said brother. I'm a college professor, and fairly recently I had a young man in my office for an academic advising session. I have Masonic symbols clearly displayed in my office. This young man is a Muslim. He asked me about the symbols and Freemasonry. During the course of the discussion, of course the subject of men of different faiths being able to gather together as brothers came up. He said "I could never call a Jew my brother." I simply said, "well, then Freemasonry is obviously not for you" and we wrapped up that discussion.
 

Michael Hatley

Premium Member
When you get right down to it, it is rarely the actual religions that make men feel so distant from one another. Politics is at the root of that.
 

Frater Cliff Porter

Premium Member
Hey Skip,

Long time no see. Man since you and the boys from E5-11 were all over LRUS...creating fake posters, editing content and all the other devious things you guys pulled in the name of Christ; I had not seen you in a while.

Brethren I have been an e-Mason since I was a Freemason. I watched Skip and his buddies kill one of the most successful Masonic forums in existence at the time. They turn every discussion into a defense of Masonic principles. Men can't post without ending up in some discussion as to how they are both a Christian and a Mason and then Skip and some of his boys will follow will start with the same old rhetoric and eventually your members here at MoT will leave because they did not come to defend their faith or Freemasonry.

Skip and his friends have lied and fabricated in their war on Freemasonry because in their version of Christianity the ends justify the means.

I recommend you BAN him and don't look back.

My two cents based on experience.
 
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T.N. Sampson

Guest
Long time no see.
Good to hear from you, too.

BTW, I was banned in 2008 and LRUS survived until late in 2011, so I'm not sure why you'd give me credit for its demise. Personally, I believe I was one of the reasons it was an interesting place, with Theron being one of the other key reasons. In the end, though, it just died of apathy. Cordially, Skip.
 
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