what are the characteristics of the freemasons?
2007-01-26 02:03:47 · 13 answers · asked by francesca s 2 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
http://web.mit.edu/dryfoo/www/Masonry/Essays/
2007-01-26 02:09:35 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 2⤋
It's basically a society of good old boys who get drunk and engage in philanthropy. It began as a semi-secret organization with "rites" supposedly derived from the ancient Mysteries, but almost nobody takes the traditional claptrap seriously anymore - you just join for purposes of social networking.
But the other answers on this board are typical of the hysterical nonsense you always hear repeated with regard to Freemasonry. In the first place, it's about as "secret" as Amway. In the second place, as stated above, its rituals were at one point supposed to conform to now-antiquated 17th-century notions of the "Mysteries," but today there are very few Freemasons who bother to consider those aspects of it at all, let alone take them seriously - you might just as well argue that Greek college fraternities are "pagan" and "satanic." The web is littered with a lot of lunatic Christian fundie sites that claim to give "shocking revelations" of how Freemasonry is a hotbed of anti-Christian activity, but consider the source (the same sorts of people who brought you the "gay Teletubby" theory). Many masonic rites actually require the "initiate" to be a Christian. Thirdly, there's the "Da Vinci Code" craze, which encourages ignorant dilettantes to pole-vault to insane conclusions about all the usual conspiracy-theorist topics, including Freemasonry. There's not much one can do to assist such people to look at anything sensibly, but the fact remains for rational people that it's all a load of hogwash.
2007-01-26 02:13:41 · answer #2 · answered by jonjon418 6 · 1⤊ 3⤋
The three priniciple tenents are brotherly love, relief, and truth.
Freemasonry has been described for hundreds of years as a peculiar system of morality, veiled in allegory and illustrated symbols.
All Masons must be men of lawful age, freeborn, of good moral standards, and have a belie in one God.
2007-01-27 16:08:18 · answer #3 · answered by Clint S 3 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Freemasonry should be feared in modern society.
If it is an honest and innocent organisation why does it operate as a secret society?
There have been many examples of police officers, govt officials and others showing bias in favour of their members. That in many cases amounts to fraud! I have seen this in action and taken steps to stop it.
They say they do good and give to charity yet where is that done? Other societies with charitable aims or sections are transparent and their works are readily seen.
Most good societies, clubs and organisations are inclusive. The Masons are definitely exclusive. I have been invited to join on a number of occasions and refused to lower my standards and declined.
At the end of the day there should be no place for secret societies in the modern world.
2007-01-26 02:33:10 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 4⤋
They are Masons because they would(in their belief and aim) rebuild the Temple of Solomon, on its original foundations. And believe that to reach the Foundations, they have to demolish the Dome of the Rock and the Muslim mosque, in Jerusalem. They also claim to derive from the wisdom of the holy prophet Solomon. It is their rites and their fraternal links with other Masons-worldwide that attracts new membership. There are six groups,with own names. One of the six is named Rosicrucians of San Jose, California, whose aims are similar. About FreeMasons, those who know do not speak; those who speak do not know, enough !
2007-01-26 03:46:35 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 3⤋
the welfare of others less fortunate. there are many websites which full details on freemasonry www.ugle.co.uk is the main site
2007-01-26 04:53:50 · answer #6 · answered by michael k 2 · 2⤊ 1⤋
If you get to the higher levels you get to wear an upside down flower pot with a tassle on your head and drive a tiny car in parades.
2007-01-26 02:12:16 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 2⤋
well, if it is a secret society how do we know so much about it, Internet and libraries full of info and all masonic halls advertised as such.Think about that one !
2007-01-26 23:41:24 · answer #8 · answered by monty 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It is a secretive society.
Not all its secrets are given to new members...the higher you go the more you are allowed to know.....an ever-decreasing circle of the cognoscenti!!!
Strong pagan roots.
2007-01-26 02:35:29 · answer #9 · answered by alan h 1 · 0⤊ 4⤋
Go to this website and read all about the history and what they do today.
http://www.islipmasons.org/freemasons_today.htm
2007-01-26 02:10:38 · answer #10 · answered by VW 6 · 1⤊ 3⤋