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I find within our studies,there are different opinions that I've come across in which I find myself searching over the same information of our studies to get a stronger understanding. How do you brothers handle this situation?
I find within our studies,there are different opinions that I've come across in which I find myself searching over the same information of our studies to get a stronger understanding. How do you brothers handle this situation?
There are many aspects of Freemasonry that are never going to be resolved. A lot of our history is speculation, because reality gets lost in the mists of time. Interpretation of symbols is very individual. It's possible to be totally wrong in interpreting a symbol, but it's impossible to be the only one who's right about it. Nearly every Masonic book I read upsets something that I thought I knew. Studying Freemasonry is a never-ending journey.
Freemasonry is purportedly the most published subject available. Many of the authors have widely divergent opinions on any single aspect, and different eras bring us new (or rehashed) data regarding our gentle Craft.
Read much, and use an open, inquisitive, and tolerant mind to process it all.
I pick the good of each opinion in our studies, but I find myself at times searching the same contents to piece out what they have in common. Brothers, I just keep going and I find that, we are the most talked about and I make the best of what we have. Thank you Brothers.
I like Bro. Mark's "interpretaion is very individual" statement. This is taught in our lectures and it can be seen in various writings of masonic authors with the wide range of opinions and applications.
I like to use a borrowed phrase"my own brand of freemasonry" as I go about the way. Our interpretation, use and application of symbols and tools may be very different from the next mason or masonic author. My interpretataion and uses are very Judeo-Christian positions and to me are very practical. They're mine and anyone may pick or poke at them. Doesn't make me more or less a mason than the one picking and pokeing. Same for all who have been picked, poked at or slammed as a masonic heretic etc..
I find within our studies,there are different opinions that I've come across in which I find myself searching over the same information of our studies to get a stronger understanding. How do you brothers handle this situation?
Finding the credibility of the author is a great way to get a better feel for the subject. Sometimes men will write to simply write, and others will write for scandal, while some still write to spread further light.
Getting a firm understanding of the source sometimes is just as critical as getting an understanding of the content.