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Post by Temple on Apr 2, 2005 17:09:33 GMT
I spoke to someone recently who told me she had gained an inner peace through Masonry.
Have you had this experience since joining?
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Post by foxcole on Apr 3, 2005 14:07:17 GMT
I can't really answer that question, because I was initiated only a couple of weeks ago (Mar. 12).
What I can do, however, is suggest that from all I've seen and read, from all the questions about meaning and ritual that have been asked and answered, and all the discussions about history and variations between the different Masonic orders, it all boils down to one thought: what you get out of Masonry is what you put into it. Every Mason's experience could be different.
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giovanni
Member
odi profanum vulgus, et arceo
Posts: 2,627
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Post by giovanni on May 24, 2005 8:16:26 GMT
Yes. I am more self-conscious and less afraid, more corageous. I reaized that this, in which I live every day, in not the Reality (with Block Letter)
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Post by Bondi on May 24, 2005 15:21:07 GMT
Not sure if you would describe it as inner peace, although it would be one way of wording it.
I have spent long periods of time trying to find my faith, not so much find it, but place it in the world of many religions. I do not class myself as Christian or Catholic although I have many similar traits, and live a very simialr life.
Freemasonry let me have my faith, without trying to change it into a "norm" or "commercial" belief. The craft is happy that I believe in a Supreme Being, and doesn't try to tell me what the SB should be. This gave me my faith, allows me to follow what I believe withour ridicule or statements of my error, but encouragement, acceptance and allowance to follow what i believe to be right.
Wouldn't say it was inner peace, but it definitely gives me peace of a sort.
I hope that is the kind of thing you mean?
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Post by Temple on May 24, 2005 15:29:57 GMT
I agree with this. It feels more dignified to exist within a community which allows and even encourages me to question where my faith leads. To question religious organisations. I am very uncomfortable with the term "faith in the church". The church is man made and changeable. Full of contradiction and amended to suit the whims of men. "Faith in the SB" - YES! In the church - Not on your nelly!
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bod
Member
UGLE - MM (London), MMM RAM(Middx), OSM (London)
Posts: 1,296
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Post by bod on May 24, 2005 15:48:28 GMT
Hmm, of sorts - but it also raised conflicts that left me far from peaceful Not conflicts with any of my moral or social obligations, more inner conflicts about how I should react or respond to situations.
I.e. - resisting the urge to verbally 'chew' someone out for asking stoopid questions for the billionth time....
Still no-one said being a mason was easy! ;D
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Post by Bondi on May 24, 2005 17:29:25 GMT
I.e. - resisting the urge to verbally 'chew' someone out for asking stoopid questions for the billionth time.... Still no-one said being a mason was easy! ;D Patience is a Virtue Bro. A Shame sometimes! didn't mean it
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Post by ingo on Jun 3, 2005 9:19:07 GMT
Giovanni wrote: I am more self-conscious and less afraid, more corageous.
Ingo: Same with me.
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Post by mwatkins9801 on Feb 28, 2006 19:36:16 GMT
it has allowed me the freedom to experience my beliefs. i was raised in a very religious background and all of my life i felt substandard because i couldn't make the doctrine work for me. there were just so many things that didn't make sense in a modern age and i felt so left out because i could never just accept it and be happy. i would see others who had found their meaning and purpose in their various religions but until i looked inward i was lost. masonry did not teach me a new doctrine, it reinforced what i already believed, and just finding other people who share my beliefs and don't condemn me to hell just because of them was indeed a blessing.
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Post by maat on Feb 28, 2006 22:39:00 GMT
it has allowed me the freedom to experience my beliefs. Exactly my experience, mwatkins. I was FREE to EXPERIENCE MY beliefs. No fear, no guilt - just joy and inner peace. This is what I find in Freemasonry. Maat
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Post by rocksteadyeddy on Jul 7, 2006 6:53:52 GMT
Bro. Temple...
I will share my 2 cents worthof what i have achieved. First of all i'm a new initiate, to be exact i was welcomed to the brotherhood...last tuesday (4th july 2006) and what i can say for now is that...i have a renewed feeling of confidence in myself and what i can do with my life. I'm a broadcaster and of cause a sense confidence is reqired for this kind of a job. I now feel more confident and couragious...its still early i know but i cannot deny what i feel becuase in a way i was searching for this feeling...
Besides the lessons we learn as we work towards being better men, i have realised that justt he thought of actually now being a brother a sense of peace prevails in what i face everyday...many things used to trouble me mentally but now i know i have the capability to face anything that came my way.
The feeling beats the joy i had when i first sky dived (tandem) from 15,000 feet in Mombasa during the Safari Beach Boogie jump...
Being a mason now gives me a renewed purpose to know that i can deal with my fears as they come along the path of my life.
I sum it up simply...
I WILL STAND TALL EVERY SINGLE MOMENT OF MY LIFE , AND I MAKE IT BETTER I WILL SING THE JOYS OF MY NEW LEASE OF LIFE...
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