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Is it offending or rude?

Elexir

Registered User
You can ask but dont expect an answer. How much that can be disscused with non-masons depend on juristiction.
 

Winter

Premium Member
I look at it this way, if I am openly wearing an outward sign, as I often do, then I should expect casual questions about my involvement with Freemasonry. I usually try to keep it superficial with general knowledge type info and direct them to the GL website for more info. If they are a loon and insist on telling me that they know the truth really is (read: conspiracy nut) then I will sometimes lead them down the rabbit hole and help them cinch the straps on their aluminum chapeau.

Transmitted via R5 astromech using Tapatalk Galactic
 

Bloke

Premium Member
If you understand or know that someone is a mason, is it offending or rude to ask him questions related to Masonry?

Hi Bashkim, that is polite of you to ask.

Depends on who and what you ask... but I would say no, not rude. Indeed often you will have trouble shutting Freemasons up LOL.. but not all of them are chatty to strangers about Freemasonry, especially in places where there can be negative social (or even legal) consequences of being a member.

Like any questions, you can asked "closed questions" which require a "yes" or "no" type answers of a short response, or "open questions" which give people flexibility on how they answer. Open ended questions are where to start..

So, a really good questions would be;
"I am interested in Freemasonry, are Freemasons able to talk about it?"
The response will tell you a lot about how much info you will get from that person. If they answer "No", then it is rude to ask more questions beyond, "Okay, where would I get information about Freemasonry?:" (Anther open ended question). You will find in some countries, Freemasonry is very closed and men will not talk about it...

I have three questions for you
Where are you (a closed question)
Why are you interested (and open question).
Do you have any questions we can help you with (an open question)
 

bashkim

Registered User
Hi Bashkim, that is polite of you to ask.

Depends on who and what you ask... but I would say no, not rude. Indeed often you will have trouble shutting Freemasons up LOL.. but not all of them are chatty to strangers about Freemasonry, especially in places where there can be negative social (or even legal) consequences of being a member.

Like any questions, you can asked "closed questions" which require a "yes" or "no" type answers of a short response, or "open questions" which give people flexibility on how they answer. Open ended questions are where to start..

So, a really good questions would be;
"I am interested in Freemasonry, are Freemasons able to talk about it?"
The response will tell you a lot about how much info you will get from that person. If they answer "No", then it is rude to ask more questions beyond, "Okay, where would I get information about Freemasonry?:" (Anther open ended question). You will find in some countries, Freemasonry is very closed and men will not talk about it...

I have three questions for you
Where are you (a closed question)
Why are you interested (and open question).
Do you have any questions we can help you with (an open question)

Hello Bloke and thanks a lot for your answer.
If the last three questions are for me then: I am in Tirana,Albania finishing my studies in Law.
I am interested because the idea of being with some people that try to be better and build a better society or enviroment around them through ancient teachings or other sources of knowledge without considering religion, ethnicity, and political beliefs.
Related to questions that i have. I beleive you all know that i have many as all of you in the beginning i guess. A simple one is: Are there any ancient rituals? i mean that are the same for many years? ( i am not asking what the rituals include, i want to know this when the time comes).
 

Elexir

Registered User
Hello Bloke and thanks a lot for your answer.
If the last three questions are for me then: I am in Tirana,Albania finishing my studies in Law.
I am interested because the idea of being with some people that try to be better and build a better society or enviroment around them through ancient teachings or other sources of knowledge without considering religion, ethnicity, and political beliefs.
Related to questions that i have. I beleive you all know that i have many as all of you in the beginning i guess. A simple one is: Are there any ancient rituals? i mean that are the same for many years? ( i am not asking what the rituals include, i want to know this when the time comes).

The rituals themself are not ancient, freemasonry as it is today is from around the 1730s-1800s. Freemasonry is however based on older ideas and techings wich is used in certain ways, depending on wich rituals are used and what the ritual creators wanted to get across.
 

bashkim

Registered User
What i wanted to say is if all rituals are based on ancient teachings and ideas or if they evolved and changed through time.
 

Elexir

Registered User
What i wanted to say is if all rituals are based on ancient teachings and ideas or if they evolved and changed through time.
The answer is actully both. Masonic rituals are based on ancient teaching and ideas as well as the ideas and the culture of the people who wrote the ritual that is used. This is why there is a diffrence between diffrent rituals and juristictions.
 

bashkim

Registered User
The answer is actully both. Masonic rituals are based on ancient teaching and ideas as well as the ideas and the culture of the people who wrote the ritual that is used. This is why there is a diffrence between diffrent rituals and juristictions.

Thank you so much for explaining!
 

Bloke

Premium Member
The answer is actully both. Masonic rituals are based on ancient teaching and ideas as well as the ideas and the culture of the people who wrote the ritual that is used. This is why there is a diffrence between diffrent rituals and juristictions.
Good Answer.
 

jermy Bell

Registered User
To answer a couple questions
We do not worship Satan.
We are not affiliated with the illuminati.
And the goat thing is very questionable.
 

hanzosbm

Premium Member
Some people would consider me fairly closed off in terms of Freemasonry. I don't wear pins, or shirts, or hats. I don't have bumper stickers, and I generally don't talk about being a Freemason. (the reasons are varied and off topic for this)

That being said, if somehow someone knows I'm a Freemason and they wish to speak to me about it, there are basically two 'tests' they have to pass.
1) Do I have the time? If I'm with my family or trying to accomplish something and I don't have the time, sorry, but I'm not going to answer questions today.
2) Is the person asking genuinely seeking information? I have no interest in arguing with conspiracy theory nut jobs, nor trying to change someone's mind about something. If they come to me with already formed opinions that they want validated, it's not worth my time.

If I've got the time, and if someone is sincere about wanting to learn more, then I welcome any question. If they ask something I'm not comfortable answering, I'll politely explain that unfortunately that's not something I'm willing to discuss, but I'm still happy to continue the conversation on another topic.

I think most Freemasons understand that non-Masons are curious and that they do not understand our rules. Most of us are pretty patient with that and won't be offended by a legitimately curious question.
 

Todd M. Stewart

Premium Member
91CCDDC6-DC8D-4D1D-B3DE-4E87F70E3B29.jpeg
I look at it this way, if I am openly wearing an outward sign, as I often do, then I should expect casual questions about my involvement with Freemasonry. I usually try to keep it superficial with general knowledge type info and direct them to the GL website for more info. If they are a loon and insist on telling me that they know the truth really is (read: conspiracy nut) then I will sometimes lead them down the rabbit hole and help them cinch the straps on their aluminum chapeau.

Transmitted via R5 astromech using Tapatalk Galactic
 

Warrior1256

Site Benefactor
look at it this way, if I am openly wearing an outward sign, as I often do, then I should expect casual questions about my involvement with Freemasonry. I usually try to keep it superficial with general knowledge type info and direct them to the GL website for more info.
Same here.
If they are a loon and insist on telling me that they know the truth really is (read: conspiracy nut) then I will sometimes lead them down the rabbit hole and help them cinch the straps on their aluminum chapeau.
Lol!
 
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