Freemasonry

[pure_mercury]

What do people know about Freemasonry? My new roommate is a very interesting character (in AA, studying to be a Gnostic priest, friends with many SoCal esoterics) and he suggested that I might be interested in becoming a Mason, based on some things I was saying over a game of chess about liberty and personal responsibility. I wanted to get some more information from people who may know more. I know that many prominent Americans are Masons, and I always like learning about subcultures and societies.

[ajblaise]

Do you believe in a supreme being? I think that's a requirement.

To me they seem like a glorified country club.

[booyalab]

Originally Posted by ajblaise

To me they seem like a glorified country club.

Yeah. It's very doubtful that all the conspiracies surrounding them are true, but the fact that they revel in the secrecy and intrigue indicates to me that they are more interested in their perceived exclusivity and influence than anything. It's immature.

[nozflubber]

I very much like what I do know, such as the idea that everyone will have their own unique placement hence perspective "underneath God", and this concept seems almost innate in the spirit of the 1st amendment. Let each find thier proper place is a good policy that's hard to argue with!

There's a lot of mystery and folklore around their clannishness, though. I don't know what to believe with regards to that.

[Wild horses]

I have heard some weird stuff about rituals... but agin it coul djust be folklore.. didn't know that you had to believe in a supreme being to be a member though interesting is it techincally a kind of religion then or is that just a porcess used for selection??

[Victor]

Originally Posted by pure_mercury

What do people know about Freemasonry? My new roommate is a very interesting character (in AA, studying to be a Gnostic priest, friends with many SoCal esoterics) and he suggested that I might be interested in becoming a Mason, based on some things I was saying over a game of chess about liberty and personal responsibility. I wanted to get some more information from people who may know more. I know that many prominent Americans are Masons, and I always like learning about subcultures and societies.

There is a large Masonic premises not far from where I am sitting.

When Canberra was founded free land was set aside for every and all religions and beliefs including the Masons.

And the Masons built on prestigious and valuable land right next to the Parliamentary Triangle.

But over tha last 20 years or so, their membership has been declining and declining until there were only a few old men left.

And as I write the wrecking machines are tearing the building down.

Here the Masons have become ridiculous - the opposite of cool.

[YourLocalJesus]

The masons seem pretty ridiculous here in Sweden, too... It's an age-old tradition that the "powerful" and wealthy people meet in one place... But seriously... It's a goddamn joke. My father was invited but he declined with a laugh, I would do the same.

[erm]

I have a few step family who are members.

One was the Supreme-Master of his lodge or something. My parents went to his mason party a while ago and they said nothing really happened, it was just a regular party except they toasted to the universal creator.

Seems like nothing special really happens, you just get a few connections from it.

[lowtech redneck]

Originally Posted by pure_mercury

What do people know about Freemasonry? My new roommate is a very interesting character (in AA, studying to be a Gnostic priest, friends with many SoCal esoterics) and he suggested that I might be interested in becoming a Mason, based on some things I was saying over a game of chess about liberty and personal responsibility. I wanted to get some more information from people who may know more. I know that many prominent Americans are Masons, and I always like learning about subcultures and societies.

Many of the Founding Father's were Mason's, and if I remember correctly the freemasons in the United States were strong supporters of the American Revolution on ideological grounds-that's probably what gave your roommate his idea. The Mason's have essentially become a victom of their own success; the values they espoused have become mainstream, and the society and institutions they were instrumental in creating has rendered that sort of enlightened old-boy's network irrelevent. The masons are slowly dying, now-I'm grateful for what they did for my country, but I don't mourn their passing.

[heart]

Just another religion, just like Militant Atheism or Christian Fundamentalism.