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Post by bradwatsonmiami on Oct 4, 2011 14:43:30 GMT
The two main premises of Freemasonry and, therefore, the two main requirements of being a Freemason are the belief in the unity of God and the immortality of the soul[/i].
Many books will confirm the above and Masons will, too. Explaining the "unity of God" is rather simple, yet seeing it in practice is almost impossible to imagine! There is One God, yet, in English this is redundant, for 'God' with a Capital G means one ---. If we write 'god' with a small g, this has a very different definition than 'God'. Why, it could be said that Jesus was found guilty of heresy by the Jewish leaders simply because they could not separate 'God' and 'god'!
Jesus famously said, "Know ye not that ye are gods?" This does not get preached on very often because its meaning is a little tricky, but we're comfortable with it because 'gods' has a small g. But no one would feel comfortable with this quote if it read, "Know ye not that ye are Gods." There's no such thing as 'Gods' with a Capital G - it's not to be found in a dictionary. If a self-proclaimed Messiah were to say this today, he'd be guilty of heresy from the Jews, Christians, Muslims, and Hindus!
Yes, there is a unity of God, although the definition of God may vary. And even those of a monotheistic religion may all recognize Abraham as the Father of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam, it's often the differences in these three beliefs that create separation, as opposed to the same God that creates unity. Well, we'll just have to try harder.
Regarding the "immortality of the soul", well, again we have both agreement and disagreement. However, I've been exploring the science behind reincarnation for many years - actually many lifetimes - and my Reincarnation Theory & its 21 Principles changes alot of things. We now have experimental evidence for the immortality of the soul obtained through the scientific method and experimentation.
- Brad Watson, Miami[/size] author of There Are No Coincidences - there is synchronism (this is the "book/scroll" prophesied in The Revelation 5:1-10:10 with the "7 seals"/'beyond Einstein theories' on the cover)
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Post by billmcelligott on Oct 4, 2011 20:28:46 GMT
I believe you are entitled to whatever you believe, however it concerns me when anyone attempts to make Freemasonry a vehicle of Religion.
I am happy for it to be a conduit for Faith. But, that is just my view, no one has to agree with me.
Unfortunately Human History teaches us that conflict arrives at the door the minute one God is placed over any other and Freemasonry is about understanding , tolerance and inner control.
As my ritual says, 'which bears witness that that even in this perishable frame resides a vital and immortal principle that the Lord of Life will enable us to trample the King of Terrors beneath our feet'.
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Post by bradwatsonmiami on Oct 6, 2011 17:24:24 GMT
Bill McElligott,
I assume that "McElligott" is your last name? Mc + Eli + Gott and 'Gott' is German for 'God'. Where you aware?
Before I address your reply, do you agree with The two main premises of Freemasonry and, therefore, the two main requirements of being a Freemason are the belief in the unity of God and the immortality of the soul?
- Brad Watson, Miami
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Post by billmcelligott on Oct 6, 2011 17:31:24 GMT
Bill McElligott,
I assume that "McElligott" is your last name? Mc + Eli + Gott and 'Gott' is German for 'God'. Where you aware? Kinda makes sense , doesn't it ?? In my Order there is a single requirement for a belief in a supreme being. Which is what I signed up with when I joined.
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frater209
Member
per mediam noctis ad solem
Posts: 19
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Post by frater209 on Oct 7, 2011 5:04:18 GMT
As with all things Masonic and otherwise we have to keep in mind that there are more than one interpretation. These are quite multi-faceted concepts.
Take the immortality of the soul, for instance. This concept certainly does not necessarily entail re-incarnation in another physical body. A soul could quite possibly enjoy its immortality without the use of another physical vehicle. Nor does immortality necessarily entail self-consciousness.
As for the unity of God, if I understand you correctly you are reading this to say something more about people than it says about God. It sounds like you're proposing this unity in the sense of everyone coming together and accepting one interpretation of God, and thus being united in this way. This is an interesting idea.
But you can also read the statement as saying less about people and more about the nature of Deity itself. It should also be noted here that belief in a supreme being, and in the unity of God, do not necessarily entail monotheism, by any means.
I for one am of a pagan persuasion. I embrace and even worship many different manifestations of Deity. Yet I also know, in relation to my Work, that all of these are but different aspects of the one Deity uniting them all. There is but one God, who manifests in many different perceptible forms. Possibly infinite forms.
I also tend to hold to the Hermetic idea that ALL is ONE. The unity of God, to me, is a metaphysical principle describing the very nature of reality. Everything is connected, not only to each and every other physical thing, but to God itself. Everything is ultimately of one essence. Ideas such as this are, I think, supported well by Qabalistic metaphysics.
I also embrace pantheism. For me, duality is the nature of human experience, and is our lot in life, but it is ultimately illusion. When there exists in reality only ONE thing, its hard to imagine a dis-united Deity.
It goes without saying that I think this is all quite within the bounds of Masonic principles, as do many others.
---Fr. 209
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Post by sammy on Oct 8, 2011 12:33:41 GMT
I've been discussing these topics lately as well. It is a mindboggler, but think of God like gravity and the mass ( like mind and body). Able to balance the mass anywhere in space all at the same time. We are the same, but from our point of view and not the view from the mass. Its our point of view toward the mass "God".
Mass can niether be created nor destroyed, and they are figuring out its all perty much the same through all of space. Just in different densities, atmosphere etc... We are a part of that one mass that is God, but we dont have the same tasks within our individual portions of that field.
I agree with bill and the one requirement perty much covers all bases, a religious conflict isnt needed. The supreme being is who you work with though, and I have always considered masonry a religious experience. Its just the avoidance of titles that I like, because the words are only something used to describe an event or emotion. What it is in truth, not the words behind it.
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Post by rembrandt on Oct 10, 2011 16:05:16 GMT
What is the experimental evidence mentioned in the original post?
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Post by maat on Oct 17, 2011 3:13:34 GMT
Illustrated beautifully by the FPoF Bill, a god? I have never doubted it Bill, discussing the nature of a or the Supreme Being isn't religious, its more a philosophical or theosophical discussion. Religions rely on dogma and doctrines, and are Sectarian.
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Post by billmcelligott on Oct 17, 2011 11:33:19 GMT
Of course their is only one God - Popeye
'I am what I am and that is all that I am, I'm Popeye the Sailor Man!'
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Post by bradwatsonmiami on Feb 27, 2012 18:04:50 GMT
Bill,
I AM disappointed in your disrespect to God. That attitude is taught nowhere - especially in Freemasonry. All our actions have repercussions.
Everyone,
The question is does Freemasonry require from its members: (1) a belief in the unity of God, (2) a belief in a supreme being, or (3) neither?
Non-coincidental synchronic reaction: 2/27/12 12:49 "Right now I'm taking this boat to my buddy Bill so he can fix it and shut my father up" - Pawn Shop, "Sink or Sell" (2009) - History Channel
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Post by billmcelligott on Feb 27, 2012 18:20:25 GMT
When I stand before my God, we will laugh at my joke about Popeye.
When you stand before your God Brad, he will explain the joke to you.
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Post by jackson on Feb 29, 2012 17:05:01 GMT
Bill; you said...
"The two main premises of Freemasonry and, therefore, the two main requirements of being a Freemason are the belief in the unity of God and the immortality of the soul."
What Masonic authority do you cite as proof and evidence that the former is a landmark for Freemasonry?
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Post by rembrandt on Mar 13, 2012 5:28:06 GMT
Gawd must have remarkable sense of humor. I offer this thread as evidence.
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Post by omprakashkalal on Nov 5, 2012 6:30:39 GMT
Thank You For posting !!!!!!!!
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Post by jackson on Dec 28, 2012 21:39:45 GMT
Bill; Popeye is a very interesting character. In fact, have you watched the movie they made about it? I happened to see references to Canaanite deities while watching it, thereby making it very interesting viewing.
Not to mention the fact that he only has one eye...
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Post by jackson on Dec 28, 2012 21:43:45 GMT
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Post by billmcelligott on Dec 28, 2012 23:08:04 GMT
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