widows son
Premium Member
Is Masonry "guilty" of teaching toleration?
All seriousness you are right. We are brothers. That's our common ground
All seriousness you are right. We are brothers. That's our common ground
In response to Brother Maloney's post ("If this is truly the doctrine of Masonry, then I cannot remain a Mason. If it is truly the doctrine that I must embrace the doctrines of all religions and reject Christ's unique status as the sole Savior.")
My Brother, the gist of Hall's statement expresses his belief that Light is to be found many places, not just in a single faith or philosophy. You are, of course - as is any Mason - wholly free to reject this notion. You may reject the idea that there is any Light to be had in Judaism or Islam or Hinduism...just as Brothers of those faits are free to reject Jesus Christ as a savior. Recall, however, that a Lodge in Israel, for example, might have upon the alter the Torah...amongst those Jewish Brethren, none might hold any idea at all about Jesus as a savior. In Turkey, you will find the Koran on the altar - in Islam, Jesus is given the status of a prophet - not savior. Those Brothers are...Brothers. Masonry does not dictate what your faith ought to be - just that you believe in a Supreme Being and in the immortal soul.
I have mixed feelings on this statement. Although I agree that one man's opinion doesn't determine what Masonry is. And that sometimes opinions can be misunderstood. I think it is very Masonic to put one's faith before everything else. Even if that decision is based on misinformation.That being said, to the Brother who appeared willing to quit Freemasonry over a simple characterization of faith by one man, then maybe are not ready to be a Mason.
I have mixed feelings on this statement. Although I agree that one man's opinion doesn't determine what Masonry is. And that sometimes opinions can be misunderstood. I think it is very Masonic to put one's faith before everything else. Even if that decision is based on misinformation.
So Bryan, you are saying that Rome didnt condemn anything that wasn't part of its cannon? What about the Albigensian crusade? The inquisition? Or the fall of the Templars on false grounds? Or the condemnation of freemasonry?
Prove that Rome ever ran my Church, the "Eastern" Orthodox Church. It never did at all. Rome has, indeed, condemned many things, but it is an outright lie to claim that "Christianity" condemned every single thing that did not originate within Christianity. Such a claim is within the mindset of a bigot. Indeed, Saint Justin Martyr cited pagan practices as essentially prefiguring some Christian doctrines. Since you deem yourself qualified to condemn all of Christianity, you are certainly familiar with Saint Justin Martyr, right? As for a 5-pointed star, it was considered a Christian symbol before the Enlightenment in many parts of Europe. Read "Gawaine and the Green Knight" for an example of a medieval Western Christian interpretation. I can easily tolerate others' beliefs WITHOUT bowing down to them. I do not demand that they bow down to mine, only that they cease insisting I bow down to theirs.