Are masons a cult? What do they believe?

Question

Also do you know of an incident where a church may have been divided or split because of an uproar invovling masonary?

Answer 1

I am a Freemason. In my Order, American Co-Masonry, we admit women and men of good moral character, all races (as I believe all Freemasons now do), and have a belief in a Supreme Being. We leave the religious conviction to each person's own conscience.

We are not a secret organization. You may see our symbols on our Lodges, on the backs of our cars, on our rings and tie tacks almost everywhere. Hardly a secret cult. Yes, we have passwords to get into Lodge but those are more to remind us of ancient times when written documents were few. Further, even in modern times (like under Hitler in Germany) it is sometimes death to be a Freemason. You see Freemasons believe in the equality of mankind, that we should treat all humans as brothers, obey the Golden Rule (do unto others as you would have them do unto you.) That is in direct conflict with dictators.

We also do not publish exactly what we do in Lodge, the ceremonies. In particular, we do not wish for the person going through the Initiation or other particular passages to "already have read the book," as it were. You ever read the book and then go to the movie? You know how you were comparing the book to the movie all the way along? Well, Freemasonry is experiential. We want our people to experience the ceremony, not to be rereading it.

In order to become a Freemason you must ask one. It is not by invitation, quite the opposite. We do investigate the person asking. We do not want criminals and thieves, anarchists and atheists. We want people who will work to improve the world by improving themselves. That, after all, is the only thing you can improve: yourself, your conduct.

We, at least in my Order for I can speak of no other, are an esoteric society. We are not just a social fraternity. I drive over 800 miles a month to attend two Lodges. I get up at 4:30 AM, get there at 9AM to set up the Lodge, leave Lodge by 4PM and then try to get home by 8:30PM. In August I will go to a summer workshop that lasts all week.

It is hardly a cult. I do not cut myself off from my family and friends. I do not urge others to join (in fact, I am forbidden to do so). I do not give huge amounts of money to the Lodge. There is no dogma. Funny thing, when I ask what a symbol means, I am asked in turn "what does it mean to you?" All of those points disqualify it as a cult at least in my mind.

I am a Master Mason, 3º. I am an Almoner in one Lodge. That means I make sure that the Brothers (yes, even our female members are called Brothers) are doing ok; buy birthday cards, etc. And I am Secretary in the other. I make sure Brothers know when the meetings are, take down the minutes of the meetings, etc.

The Catholic Church has had problems in the past when it appeared that it both allowed and then disallowed its members to join Freemasonry. I cannot speak to that. Freemasons welcome any person of any faith as long as they believe in a Supreme Being. Such uproars are totally unnecessary as far as we are concerned.

If you have more questions about Freemasonry, American Co-Masonry, or just stuff, I would be glad to answer. Likewise, feel free to go to our Order's website for more info.

Answer 2

Masons are not a cult nor a religion. They are a "fraternal organization." Basically, they're a club that requires their members to believe in a supreme being. That doesn't mean they all believe in the same god.

Read more at the source.

Answer 3

it rather is a fraternal order of adult men, and a few communities of ladies people who have faith in God. Being a freemason will practice you how to advance right into a better guy. it rather is comprehend-how God by way of expertise and awareness. it rather is Freemason's pastime to accomplish God's artwork right here on earth by way of charity. The Freemasons sole purpose as we communicate is charity. Scottish ceremony Hospitals are Freemason funded. you need to be 21 or older of any ethnicity or creed, yet have faith in God. you need to have an upstanding character. They do very thorough historic past exams on their applicants. To be one, you need to ask one.