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Information Fact VS Fiction
Information Fact VS Fiction
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Many myths about Masonry have taken hold in the imagination of "conspiracy buffs.” This may be because Freemasons, like government intelligence agencies and big business, often allow the uninitiated to argue amongst themselves so that the truth remains private. In recent years, Masonic organizations worldwide have made efforts to address these myths and better address their critics. Some of the most common Masonic “fictions” are addressed below: Fiction: only certain people can be masons It is commonly held that individuals become Freemasons through invitation, patrimony, or other non-democratic means. In fact the truth is quite the opposite. Traditionally, the prospect must as a Mason, and there are no invitations granted. A man must ask freely and without persuasion to become a Freemason in order to join the fraternity. Freemasonry accepts members from almost any religion, including Christianity, Judaism, Islam, Buddhism, and so forth. A belief in God is a requirement. To become a Freemason in New Mexico, one must: · Be a man at least 18 years age or older. · Believe in a Supreme Being · Be of sound mind and body · Be of good character and reputation. The "sound body" requirement is today generally taken to mean physically capable of taking part in Lodge rituals, and most Lodges today are quite flexible in accommodating disabled candidates. Fiction: masons have to take “blood oaths” The traditional Masonic obligations, sworn by a candidate during the initiation ritual, are sometimes called “blood oaths” by those critical of the fraternity. The candidate wishes severe physical punishment upon himself should he ever reveal the secrets of Freemasonry to a non-Mason. While many non-Masons are horrified by this, these traditional obligations are no more literal than commonplace childhood "blood oaths", like "cross my heart and hope to die” – symbolic but psychologically powerful ways to express a serious bond or promise. There are only 3 penalties that Masonry can actually impose on a member: censure, suspension of membership, and expulsion. Fiction: masons are conspiring to rule the world Freemasonry has been a long-time target of conspiracy theories, which see it as an occult and evil power — often associated with the New World Order and other "agents," such as the Pope, the Illuminati and Jews — either bent on world domination, control of world politics, or covert political activities. This assumption has been influenced by the assertion of Masons that many political figures in the past 300 years have been members of the fraternity. These theories would be possible to apply to almost any secret society (since a society with secret meetings allows secret coordination, the very essence of a conspiracy). Nevertheless, Masons have been the largest target because of their size and notable membership. The historical complaints that the Masons have secretly plotted to create a society based on their ideals of liberty, equality, fraternity, and religious tolerance, are not denied by Masons. In an enlightened age many have now accepted the core Masonic values as stated. Additionally, freemasonry is almost universally banned in totalitarian states. In 1925, it was outlawed in Fascist Italy. In Nazi Germany, Freemasons were sent to concentration camps and all Masonic Lodges were ordered shut down. Fiction: masonry is a religion In a sectarian age many hold that Freemasonry is a new religion. Externally, to some at least, it has many similarities to a religion: · It has an altar and a sacred book (usually a bible, but often a Torah, Koran or other relevant text) · It has its own way of saying "amen" ("So mote it be," a literal translation of "Amen") · It has far more developed rituals than most Protestant denominations · Some groups of Masons (especially the Scottish Rite) call their Lodges "temples," · It has a large amount of iconography and symbolism. From the perspective of many religions, which feel that they present the perfect system of morality, any competing system of morality can be considered opposition – and if not strictly another religion, then certainly as competitor. In response, many Masons argue that the ritual observances of Masons should be seen in the same context as rituals maintained in the military services, in government, and civil authorities. |