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Post by yoakum56 on Nov 16, 2016 0:43:01 GMT
Hello, recently I have become very interested multiple aspects that seem to be pillars of freemasonry. I am particularly interested in the architectural connection to numbers and ratios present in the many sites designed by master masons and how this is applied to one's own understanding of self and personal growth. But I had some questions...
Do you need to belong to an organized faith? I believe in God, but don't adhere to any of the major religions.
Does anyone have any advice on lodges?
What's the deal with the rituals / ceremonies? There is so much demonizing online it's hard to differentiate fact from defimation.
I keep a pretty busy life, what kind of time commitment does joining present?
I appreciate any advice on these topics. Thank you.
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Post by peter2 on Nov 16, 2016 7:18:15 GMT
>Do you need to belong to an organized faith?
That is not required but in most English-speaking Masonic orders you will need to state that you believe in a Supreme Being. What that means to you is your private business and you should not be questioned about that.
I had an applicant that did not believe in a Supreme Being but when I questioned him closely he did believe that Life has meaning. That seemed to me to just be another way of saying the same thing and in discussion he was comfortable with that proposition. He then was ready to affirm his belief in a Supreme Being even though his concept was not exactly that, and was initiated not long after.
>Does anyone have any advice on lodges?
Ring the secretaries of local lodges - usually their contact details are on line - and discuss with them what are your interests in Freemasonry and in the deeper aspects of life. I rang perhaps 4 lodge secretaries before I found one reading the same sort of books.
Also ask if you can attend the festive board (meal) that most lodges have. You can see if the brethren are your sort of people.
If you have a strong spirituality you may be better off with mixed Masonry - where both men and women are members. Women seem to be better at the deeper aspects of ritual.
>What's the deal with the rituals / ceremonies?
If you look around you can find the rituals on line, but it is generally better not to know in advance. The rituals are fairly straightforward with strong influences from the Old Testament and to some degree the New Testament. There is increasing thought that Freemasonry is too close to Judaic and Christian traditions and should be more Deist (abstract Creative Source) rather than Theist (specific and personal god or God).
The rituals are nothing like the stupid comments on extremist sites. I read about 30 years ago that half of the Anglican priests in England were Freemasons. Certainly there are many Anglican priests in Freemasonry.
>what kind of time commitment does joining present?
When not an officer with a role in the ritual, in most areas there will be one meeting a month or perhaps 2. (Some US states are more frequent). An officer is expected to turn up to practices as well and perhaps visit other lodges.
The most important commitment is not so much turning up to the ritual but doing the private work on your own inner development. Without that you will not get nearly as much out of the ritual.
Further, the ritual is largely the outer form of Masonry. It takes real effort to penetrate that. After 30 years I am still discovering more.
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Post by yoakum56 on Nov 16, 2016 14:27:41 GMT
Greatly appreciate the straight forward answers. The personal development is what I'm really interested in, but want to make sure my sources arent bogus. Thank you again
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