Thread: Masonic Straight Shavers Unite!

Originally Posted by WireBeard

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.

Makes sense. But...

Not to play devil's advocate (I'm really curious about this)- what if someone's beliefs change after they have become a mason. It does happen to many people throughout life. I used to be a Catholic and actually practice it, but now I don't believe in any sort of god. So what if I used to be a Catholic, became a mason and then came to my current beliefs? Would one just keep their mouth shut? lol Seriously though, I want to know.

Originally Posted by jockeys

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?

I don't think S.H. specifically rejects any religion or belief, but says that they must be analyzed and tested by each person, rather than just being accepted by faith.

Again, it depends on how the person asnwers the question regarding a Supreme Being. The operative word is believe. An agnostic theist would be accepted, for while they do not claim to know the existence of a Supreme being, they believe in such an existence, and can asnwer the question in the affermative.

depends on the individual a lot of pagans believe that the gods and goddesses are simply different aspects of one god. So in this light it could still be considered monotheistic.

Originally Posted by Philadelph

Makes sense. But...

Not to play devil's advocate (I'm really curious about this)- what if someone's beliefs change after they have become a mason. It does happen to many people throughout life. I used to be a Catholic and actually practice it, but now I don't believe in any sort of god. So what if I used to be a Catholic, became a mason and then came to my current beliefs? Would one just keep their mouth shut? lol Seriously though, I want to know.

Hmmmm....interesting. There have been Mason who have had a change of faith which they felt required them to leave the fraternity, in some cases in a positive manner, in other cases they took a negative path, launching attacks against the group.

I would say that it would be up to you as a person as to how you handled the situation. Is the issue for you a crisis of faith, a problem with the Catholic church, or with the view of there being a Divine Being?

If it is the latter, would your conscience allow you to be involved with others who do hold beliefs contrary to your world view? There is no test regarding your belief in a Supreme Being once you are a full member of the Lodge. From then on, everything rests on your word.

I have never come across a situation where Mason made it known that he had become an atheist.

Greg

Actually Alex it's hard to become a Mason and not change your beliefs and or perspective on a lot of things. I know I did. The one thing that has remained consistant for me is my belief in God. Though I do not subscribe to any so called secular religion, I do believe in the Bible and it's message to us. It is full of examples we can pattern our lives around to become better human beings. But, so do other books that people read in non-christian religions.

I think there has been one thing that has been overlooked in this discussion. Freemasonry's ultimate goal is simply to make good men better. They do this through symbolic and allegorical teaching. Even though certain Masonic speeches involve religous inspiration and quotation, it is not a religion nor does it claim to be. It is simply a Fraternity of good and moral men.

Even though belief in a supreme being is mandatory, it is a small part of what is required of a man to be a Mason. I believe it is more important to practice the morality,charity, and benevolence that is taught in the Bible and other books than any other requirement. Those beliefs are the tie that bind Masons together.

Greg, I enjoy your posts. You are very well read and post with wisdom and insight. You represent the Fraternity very well.

As always, it is only MHO and I would be interested in joining the new masonic straight razor club.

Jason

Member of:
West Allis (WI) Lodge #291 F&AM
32 Degree Scottish Rite Valley of Milwaukee

Count me in.

Liberty Lodge #48
Liberty, Texas

Originally Posted by jjpharris

Actually Alex it's hard to become a Mason and not change your beliefs and or perspective on a lot of things. I know I did. The one thing that has remained consistant for me is my belief in God. Though I do not subscribe to any so called secular religion, I do believe in the Bible and it's message to us. It is full of examples we can pattern our lives around to become better human beings. But, so do other books that people read in non-christian religions.

I think there has been one thing that has been overlooked in this discussion. Freemasonry's ultimate goal is simply to make good men better. They do this through symbolic and allegorical teaching. Even though certain Masonic speeches involve religous inspiration and quotation, it is not a religion nor does it claim to be. It is simply a Fraternity of good and moral men.

Even though belief in a supreme being is mandatory, it is a small part of what is required of a man to be a Mason. I believe it is more important to practice the morality,charity, and benevolence that is taught in the Bible and other books than any other requirement. Those beliefs are the tie that bind Masons together.

Greg, I enjoy your posts. You are very well read and post with wisdom and insight. You represent the Fraternity very well.

As always, it is only MHO and I would be interested in joining the new masonic straight razor club.

Jason

Member of:
West Allis (WI) Lodge #291 F&AM
32 Degree Scottish Rite Valley of Milwaukee

Thank you! My last elected post was in the West, so I was repsonsible for the accuracy of the ritual and presenting information about Masonry's history. I have also done a lot of research into the other bodies. I started as DeMolay, joined my uncles' lodge in Illinois, where I was Initiated, Passed, and Raised in April 1985 (the Grand Lodge had a rep to ensure the proficiency was returned correctly, given the short turn around...I believe it was around 10 days for all, as I was home on leave between school and an assignment in Germany). I joined Lebanon Lodge in Augsburg and sat in the South and then the West. I was reassigned before I could move to the East. I also attended the German Augusta Lodge and translated for the non-German speaking Brothers. I joined the Scottish Rite and York Rite in Germany, and the Shrine and Eastern Star. While in Berlin, I attended a British Military Lodge. I also got to attend a Grand Lodge Convention for the American-Canadian Grand Lodge. When I came back to the US, I was a DeMolay "dad" while I was teaching in Texas.

I am looking to become more active again and petition my local lodge here in Colorado. (Illinois permits dual memberships). I will probably concentrate on the Blue Lodge and on the Scottish Rite. I would also like to join a research Lodge. If I manage to go back and visit friends in Russia, I will try and visit the brothers there, in Moscow and St. Petersburg.

>>>>Please add me to the list of members for a club of Masonic Straight razor users.

I think its a great idea for us to have a social group, count me in also

Farmland lodge #308
Farmland, IN

Wow Greg!! That's quite a list of accomplishments!! I also hope to become more active in the near future. My kids are getting older now so it will be easier to become more regular. I still enjoy the Lodge and it's members and get there when I can. Our Lodge recently celebrated it's 100th aniversary. It was quite a year.

We have an awesome Scottish Rite building in Milwuakee. It is beautiful inside and out. Sometimes when I'm there I can't believe I belong to such a great fraternity.

It's also great to talk to other brothers such as yourself, and hear Freemasonry talked about in a positive way for once.

Fiat Lux!!

I was raised about ten years ago , then decided that it wasn't for me and left.

A question for the Brothers, If I wanted to rejoin another lodge (I live in a different country now) whats the best way to go about it? Am I technically still a Mason?

All help gratefully received