Thread: Masonic Straight Shavers Unite!

Originally Posted by cybrok

Quick question (since I don't want to revive a 2 years old thread).

What is the mason pov on agnostism/atheism?

I'm just curious.

It may depend on lodges, but all the Masons I know irl have told me that being an atheist disqualifies you. My question is, what about polytheists? Can Pagans be Masons? No one I've asked so far seems to know the answer to this.

Originally Posted by cazadorcovey

There are some irregular lodges, a couple in the US and in France that I have heard of where you can be an atheist, but that is very against the norm.

I hope that covered it, for the most part, anyway.

As far as I know, belief in a deity of your own choice is a requirement for becoming a mason.
There are indeed some lodges that don't have this, but from what I've read, masons are only allowed to go about masonic business with people belong to a lodge that is based on the same principles.

So a 'genuine' mason is not allowed to go to a lodge meeting of 'atheist masons'

But as I said before, I am not a mason. This is just what I read in the FAQ of the Belgian Grand Lodge.

Originally Posted by jockeys

It may depend on lodges, but all the Masons I know irl have told me that being an atheist disqualifies you. My question is, what about polytheists? Can Pagans be Masons? No one I've asked so far seems to know the answer to this.

I think I once read that someone became a mason who wa sinto wicca.
So I suspect that paganism is considered a valid religion for the purpose of becoming a ason.
But again: this is just what I concluded from the FAQ of the Belgian Grand Lodge when I was trying to find out what masonry is all about.

That's a pretty good run-down of it Bruno.

I reckon that a man who practices Wicca could become a mason, as long as there is a recognizable holy text to the religion and that it is generally accepted as a religion.

It can get quite a bit confusing at times, especially in our modern times when lot's of things are accepted either as a 'norm' or is seen as a part of daily life.

What I believe hearkens to most about masonry is that there is tradition in it. "My grandfather or great-grandfather was one, so why not me?" There is something timeless about it that to me is inexplicable. It just is.


Heck, even an Episcopal can be a mason! (just kidding, I'm MethodIscopal myself)

You must believe in a Supreme Being...I do not know of any polytheist Masons, but I do not see how that would disqualify you...there are Buddhist and Hindu Masons. Also, many of the lectures and research documents of Freemasonry, be it Blue Lodge, Scottish Rite, etc. reference the philisophical views of many Ancient cultures (Egypt, Greece, Persia, India, Mesopotamia, Phoenecia, etc.), most of which were polytheistic.

Beyond confirming that a member is not an atheist, the issue will never come up again. While in an Open lodge, discussion of religion or politics are prohibited.

But there is no "god" in Buddhism (from what I understood and saw on the net or at school).

I'm a little confused.


But I guess if I'm an atheist I'm out (or simply never will be in).

Actually, Buddhism has many deities, depending on where it is practised, be it Theravada, Mahayana, Zen, Tibetan, Pure Land, or Nicheren. Freemasonry only requires belief in a Supreme Being, not in any specific Deity.

I think the best reference is from Masonic scholar and author Carl Claudy:

... (a Mason) must declare his faith in a Supreme Being before he may be initiated. But note that he is not required to say, then or ever, what God. He may name him as he will, think of him as he pleases; make him impersonal law or personal and anthropomorphic; Freemasonry cares not...God, Great Architect of the Universe, Grand Artificer, Grand Master of the Grand Lodge Above, Jehovah, Allah, Buddha, Vishnu, Shiva, or Great Geometer.

Greg

Originally Posted by WireBeard

Freemasonry cares not...God, Great Architect of the Universe, Grand Artificer, Grand Master of the Grand Lodge Above, Jehovah, Allah, Buddha, Vishnu, Shiva, or Great Geometer.

Big Bang and evolution?



Na, I got itthanks.

fwiw, some of the older branches of Buddhism are atheistic.

now I'm curious if Secular Humanists would be allowed in, since they believe themselves to be their own deities.

any Masons care to weigh in on this one?

Originally Posted by cybrok

Big Bang and evolution?



Na, I got itthanks.

No problem!