i was recently raised but have some questions that are making me feel a little uncomfortable most of which resolves around religion.
Congratulations!
I know that masonry does not care what religion you are and allows you to believe whatever you want.
"Allow" is not something the society has control over. Freemasonry encourages you to practice your belief. That is all. There is no "Faith Police" overseeing religious practice.
However, it seems to me that Mason's believe that all religions worship the same God and this is a belief that I simply cannot accept as a Christian.
Although it may seem that way to you, members believe what they want to believe about other members; just as you have done here... along with your intolerance about your assumptions.
This has been weighing heavily on me o the point of questioning if I should retract my membership from my lodge. I have family asking me if Jesus would have been a mason? Sounds crazy, I know, but it does make a point.
Yes. It does indeed sound crazy. You've imagined an intolerant situation, based upon unconfirmed assumptions and are ready to flush it all away based upon unfounded conclusions.
Any insight brother Mason's can provide will be appreciated.
Please see last comment.
Thanks for the insight. Like you say, just about every Christian point of view is negative.
Yet, there are quite a few that you're not being pummeled by that are quite positive. Perhaps you're simply hanging with negative people who claim to be Christians, but truly are not Christ-like in their hearts.
Let me cite an example:
Jesus Heals a Centurion’s Servant
5 Now when Jesus had entered Capernaum, a centurion came to Him, pleading with Him, 6 saying, “Lord, my servant is lying at home paralyzed, dreadfully tormented.”
7 And Jesus said to him, “I will come and heal him.”
8 The centurion answered and said, “Lord, I am not worthy that You should come under my roof. But only speak a word, and my servant will be healed. 9 For I also am a man under authority, having soldiers under me. And I say to this
one, ‘Go,’ and he goes; and to another, ‘Come,’ and he comes; and to my servant, ‘Do this,’ and he does
it.”
10 When Jesus heard
it, He marveled, and said to those who followed, “Assuredly, I say to you, I have not found such great faith, not even in Israel! 11 And I say to you that many will come from east and west, and sit down with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven. 12 But the sons of the kingdom will be cast out into outer darkness. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” 13 Then Jesus said to the centurion, “Go your way; and as you have believed,
so let it be done for you.” And his servant was healed that same hour.
This is what Jesus did in similar situation when confronted with a man who believed differently. He PRAISED him and put him forth as a good EXAMPLE.
He was more concerned that a man had faith than what faith the man had.
I would really like to meet a pastor or something that is a mason so I could pick their brain.
Ya got one. Start picking.
I guess I'm worried about getting to vested making friends and forming bonds with my new brothers. If I turn around feeling it's not for me, it will put me in a bad position.
I suggest you be more worried about those who would cause division between you and good men. They are not after your best interests.
As a Christian I of course do believe in a single God, but do not believe all religions worship the same God.
This is your personal view. Everyone has his own. Even Jesus accepted, supported and encouraged those who worshipped differently, as long as they had Faith!
I do respect all other religions, just do not believe that they all have the same idea in who our creator is.
So What! If you're looking to hang with those who have exactly your view, you're going to find the world a very lonely isolated place.
Or instance if someone was to tell me God looks like an elephant or something, I couldn't assume it's the same... I just have a hard time generalizing all religions into one.
And no one within the society OR the society in general is asking you to do this. This is something that you have assumed, latched on to and have run into the ground.
Belief in God is the ONLY religious requirement to join. Your religious views are not in question! Yet, you are making every effort to question those of others. That is NOT what our membership focuses upon, AT ALL!
I'm really not trying to get into a debate, just wanting to know if freemasonry teaches that everyone's God is the same.
This is a religious view. Freemasonry does not teach religious views. Your quest is focused upon a dry well.
...if everyone's God was the same, then there would be no reason for me to believe that Jesus is my savior since another religion doesn't believe in him... I am ok with everyone praying together and for your prayer to be to whoever your God is. I just want to know if masonry believes everyone's God is in fact the same God.
Freemasonry leaves belief in God in the hands of each member. You're assuming a lot about Freemasonry that has nothing to do with Freemasonry.
I'm not concerned if grand lodge allows different beliefs or religions.
Good!
Just asking if they assert that whatever your religion is, you are all worshiping the same God.
Freemasonry asserts nothing in this respect. Almost every jurisdiction, like Jesus, is more concerned that you have a belief in God (as you understand God), than what faith you actually have and practice.
Also, Freemasons don't "worship God". They believe in God. Worship is left to the individual member to do in his own way and on his own time.
Basically, what I am getting at is that for me to feel comfortable in being a member, I would have to hear that masonry requires a belief in A God,
Freemasonry requires a belief in God. There! Feel better!
...but not require that we believe everyone's idea of who God is is the same.
Freemasonry has no such requirement.
Of course I believe there is only one God that created everyone and everything, but someone else may have a completely different version of God.
It is not "may"; even Christians do battle to the death over whose version is correct.
Like I said I really don't care if brothers believe in another God, just don't want to be told that everyone's version is ultimately the same
Actually, it does come across that you do care and that you do care a lot.
I am new to masonry and hope I'm not ruffling any feathers.
It's gonna take a lot more than what you offered here to ruffle.
I love the friends I'm making and enjoy the rituals and lodge, it's just the religious aspects that give me questions.
As they should! Kudos for bringing them up.
I not only want to figure it out for my own well being, but also so I can defend the craft and its ideas if need be. I know I should be asking the brothers in my own lodge about this stuff and I probably will. I just don't want them to think I may leave after spending so much time teaching me the work. Just trying to find clarity I guess.
Are you clearer now?