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Post by prplmnky on Mar 19, 2008 22:50:16 GMT
Hello,
I discovered this forum while browsing the web and couldn't resist posting. I will start with some background info on myself: I am 20 years old, live in the US, and an atheist. I know how heated the debate is about considering atheists as masons, but I do not apologize for my (dis)belief and feel that my world view allows me lead a good life as much as faith would for a religious person.
That aside, ever since my mid-teens I have been interested in freemasonry. I guess I was (and still am) attracted to the involvement of masons in the American Revolution. Contrary to some anti-mason sites, I feel that Masons are well (best) suited for preserving the liberties and freedoms of my country.
However, the two closest lodges to my area are at least 10 hours apart from each other by car, and seems nearly impractical for me to visit, much less attend regularly. I could be wrong about this, I've read that some lodges only meet for about 6 times a year, and that sounds more doable.
In addition, I am not opposed to joining a more traditional (UGLE?) lodge, but I yet to ask those in my area, primarily because I think they are very clear on requiring belief in a Supreme Being.
My questions are: (1) Are my reasons for wanting to become a Freemason valid and (2) What are my options for joining the Masonry(sp?) if there are no local lodges in my area?
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Post by billmcelligott on Mar 19, 2008 23:36:31 GMT
Hello and welcome to the forum. I am UGLE and the Mainstream GL's in the US will be along the same lines and will require a confirmation of your belief in a supreme being.
UGLA used to have that requirement but it seems to have teamed up with GOdF which means that requiement has been dropped. I think, other will confirm or deny that I am sure.
(1) Your reasons are quite valid and there are a number of groups of Masonic foundation you can look into, have you checked Co Masonry? (2) You have covered your basic options with your heading , but others will chip in with more information I am sure.
I hope you find what your looking for.
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imakegarb
Member
One wee, sleeket, cowran, tim'rous beastie
Posts: 3,573
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Post by imakegarb on Mar 19, 2008 23:50:05 GMT
You and your prospective lodge will decide how "valid" your reasons are but they sound good to me. As for whether there are local lodges in your area, it would help to know where in the US you are. Most lodges in the US, including those in my Obedience, require believe in a supreme being but not all do. So if you can give us a general idea where you are, we might be better able to put you in touch with an appropriate Obedience. Or two. Or six. Or . . . ;D Good luck to you
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Post by prplmnky on Mar 20, 2008 7:46:36 GMT
I live in Raleigh, NC. I meant to say that the two lodges I was looking at were 10hr apart from my hometown. I was basing my earlier estimate on Masonic groups with an active website. (One I found was Sirius Lodge 7 in Atlanta.)
Hm, no I haven't looked specifically into Co-Masonry, but it's definitely something I may be interested in/something I'd like to find out about more.
I greatly appreciate your assistance! Also, I've decided to make the effort to go and seek lodges in my area. After all, I hear that many lodges welcome visitors, and it certainly doesn't hurt to ask questions!
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Post by brandt on Mar 20, 2008 11:48:10 GMT
Have you contacted Sirius Lodge? One of the members of said lodge tends to drop in on occasion.
Brandt
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Post by devoutfreemason on Mar 20, 2008 15:25:10 GMT
There is a common misconception that all lodges that work under the GOdF allow athiests or are in themselves entirely athiestic. Under the GOdF almost all decisions are made at the lodge level, including that one. Many allow athiests, many do not but all would allow intervisitation amongst each other.
In the USA "mainstream" if you where honest about being an athiest they are not supposed to grant you admittance. However, you may find that a certain lodge might not care so much about that. For an example I know of a couple of lodges where the WM is an upfront agnostic. In the south I doubt finding such a mainstream lodge would be very difficult. I know that many lodges in the south are out and out Christian (that is also supposed to be against the rules) so examine all options but they may be limited at this time and like so many of us you may have to travel.
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Post by prplmnky on Mar 20, 2008 16:52:20 GMT
Ah, I've just tried. They need me to enter some username and password in order to send questions about the lodge. (Not the most user friendly design ) I didn't know many Masons were required to travel! Traveling itself isn't a problem. I just don't want to be labeled as non-committed to a lodge if I live out of state.
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Post by leonardo on Mar 20, 2008 19:46:58 GMT
Hi prplmnky and welcome to the forum. I too wish you well in your search for a branch of Freemasonry where you'll feel comfortable. My own Lodge does require a belief in a Supreme Being but there are other LDH Lodges in France, for example, where such a belief isn't necessary.
Hopefully Parisfred, who is an atheists and a member of this forum, will say a few words of his form of Masonry.
Again good luck to you and please keep us informed on how things go.
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imakegarb
Member
One wee, sleeket, cowran, tim'rous beastie
Posts: 3,573
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Post by imakegarb on Mar 20, 2008 23:04:48 GMT
I didn't know many Masons were required to travel! Traveling itself isn't a problem. I just don't want to be labeled as non-committed to a lodge if I live out of state. I live in Oregon. My lodge is in Washington (4-hour drive each way). Some of my lodge brethren fly down from Canada. Yup, a whole lot of traveling going on. I doubt anyone would label you as non-committed unless you miss six or so meetings, so some such thing. And, so far as I know, *all* Masons travel. It is, after all, a journeyman's craft
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Post by parisfred on Mar 21, 2008 13:32:00 GMT
There is a common misconception that all lodges that work under the GOdF allow athiests or are in themselves entirely athiestic. Under the GOdF almost all decisions are made at the lodge level, including that one. Many allow athiests, many do not but all would allow intervisitation amongst each other. It's easier than allowing or not : they don't ask the question ;D ... if ever the question arise : "freedom of conscience" of the candidates is the rule. A brother from the GOdF may, of course, access to all the other lodges of the GOdF and to most of the GOs or GLs ( ...out of the "UGLE's recognition list" ) this means lodges quite everywhere in the world. As an atheist we have a lot to learn about the myths and the symbols that shape us as an individual and as a member of the human family. It's maybe easier for us, agnostics or atheists, because we look at symbols and rituals with another point of view without dogmas and also because we don't have a faith that explain the meaning of life... Something else, there is a lot of very interesting that happen actually in the American freemasonry, it will be an historical opportunity to be a part of it. Feel free to contact me by PM, Fraternally,
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Post by antoninus9 on Mar 21, 2008 21:38:02 GMT
I'm a member of Sirius Lodge in Atlanta. We just put up a new web site which should have solved all the bugs. Either drop us a line through the form on the site or contact the GOUSA at www.grandorientusa.org, or give the GOUSA a call at (216) 923-0795 . The lodge web site is www.siriuslodge.orgThere is a physician in your area that is looking to start a new GOUSA lodge. Perhaps you should meet him as well. Jeff
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Post by prplmnky on Mar 21, 2008 22:49:24 GMT
Well said, parisfred.
Thank you Jeff! The website layout has been drastically improved. (<--web designer by trade)
Sure, that'll be great! It'll be interesting to learn his motives for opening a new lodge and what role Freemasonry plays in his daily life.
-Dametri
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Post by antoninus9 on Mar 22, 2008 3:36:35 GMT
Dametri, I just found out that the Contact form on the Sirius web site was not functional. I fixed it. Sorry about that. I've been updating all of the sites over the last few weeks and still have a few bugs here and there. lol
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Post by devoutfreemason on Mar 22, 2008 7:39:06 GMT
The new Sirius Lodge website looks very good Brother. Keep it up.
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Post by 2 BOWL CAIN on Mar 22, 2008 23:12:06 GMT
Greetings Dametri, I was a mainstream mason for 7years. I could not find what I was looking for in that time within this american form of masonry.(32nd degree, knight templar, shriner, amd,grotto, past master, etc..I was in them all and no mysteries or real Light) It is not "Free" by any means. You will ruled and obligated to death. Not enlightened. you will learn the restrictions set upon you by small minded men who make up territorial rules and visitation restrictions.
Brother Antonius is one of the hardest working and most knowledgeable masons I ever have met.
I am not an atheist, but I do not believe in the "God" of the bible. I believe an oder exists in the cosmos, and something had to direct it. Not jehova, adonai, god, yahweh, allah, etc......
Now in North carolina, the mainstream masonry refuses to "recognize" their equal black counterpart in masonry, the Prince Halls, see because the good old southern boys do not feel the black masons are equal yet. That is the mentality prevalent within that region of masonry. Also, if your not a baptist, you may have troubles, too. Everybody is "nice and sinscere" at face value, but if you are truthful to them about being an atheist, they will treat you like frankenstein.
educate yourself before "joining" anything. follow your conscience
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Post by prplmnky on Mar 23, 2008 1:45:03 GMT
Thanks for your reply 2 Bowl Cain.
I'm glad you shared your experience with me even though they were unfortunate. I didn't know that racism was still an issue in masonry (myself, a black person).
I haven't considered joining a Prince Hall lodge because religion (particularly Baptist and Methodist denominations) plays a huge role in black culture, and I would probably feel more out of place then in a mainstream lodge!
But maybe all lodges in the South aren't all like those? What about those in liberal cities like Chapel Hill, Raleigh, and the Triangle?
I will. Thank you.
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Post by penfold on Mar 27, 2008 16:44:28 GMT
Definitely commend the last sentiments - educate yourself as to what you are seeking, and which GL would be best placed to provide what you are seeking.
The vast majority of PH GL's and 'mainstream' GL's in the US are in amity and permit visitation, freemasonry doesn't encourage or practice racism in it's rituals and the US is really the only country in the world where the situation historically existed
Good luck in your search and hope you find what you are looking for
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Post by maat on Mar 27, 2008 22:02:49 GMT
freemasonry doesn't encourage or practice racism in it's rituals What about the turks bit? Maat
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