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Post by michelle on May 19, 2010 21:29:07 GMT -8
I had a friend today tell me that he wanted me to be a reference for him because he wants to become a Freemason. I told him I didn't feel comfortable doing that because most of what I know about Freemasons seems pretty sketchy. What are people's experiences/knowledge of Freemasons? I know that Freemasons would say that are just about living morally and community service and I know there are a lot of theories about them out there, but most of what I've found seems to be on one extreme or the other. Josh, I may need that book back.
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Post by Josh on May 20, 2010 17:54:46 GMT -8
It's been quite a while since I did research on Freemasonry, but here's my two cents:
Aside from all the conspiracy theory stuff, Freemasons put a Christian gloss over what basically amounts to a Unitarian belief system, which blends a mish-mash of different religious beliefs with humanism. Freemason beliefs contradict all the beliefs which make Christianity unique from other religions.
Is your friend a Christian? If so, I would strongly advise him against involvement with the Freemasons.
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Post by michelle on May 21, 2010 7:52:06 GMT -8
Is your friend a Christian? If so, I would strongly advise him against involvement with the Freemasons. He refers to himself as a "student of Christian Science". He says he has been a Catholic, a born-again Christian, a Lutheran and has dabbled in some African mysticism. From what I've read, Mary Baker Eddy took a lot some Freemason ideas when she created Christian Science. I am guessing that is how he became involved with the idea.
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Post by robin on May 21, 2010 9:13:08 GMT -8
This also goes for Joseph Smith, the Mormon Prophet.
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Post by b on May 21, 2010 9:51:12 GMT -8
Read "The Cask of Amontilado" by Edgar Allan Poe to learn everything you need to know about the Free Masons ( aka Shriners and many other names)
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Post by Josh on May 24, 2010 20:28:39 GMT -8
If he asks you to pay a visit with him to the wine cellar, tell him no way!!!
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Post by b on May 28, 2010 14:04:38 GMT -8
The Free Masons provide the motivation of both characters in the story
His eyes flashed with a fierce light. He laughed and threw the bottle upwards with a gesticulation I did not understand. I looked at him in surprise.
He repeated the movement -- a grotesque one.
"You do not comprehend?" he said.
"Not I," I replied.
"Then you are not of the Brotherhood? You are not of the Masons?"
"Yes, yes," I said; "yes, yes."
"You? Impossible! A Mason?"
"A mason," I replied.
"A sign," he said, "a sign."
"It is this," I answered, producing from beneath the folds of my roquelaire a trowel.
"You jest," he exclaimed, recoiling a few paces. "But let us proceed to the Amontillado."
Edgar Allan Poe (1846)
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