Mormon connection to Masons explored ahead of 'Da Vinci Code' sequel

Salt Lake City Tribune ^ | 1/13/06 | Peggy Fletcher Stack

[wolfcreek]

My parents were divorced when I was 2 and I spent the majority of my youth living with my Grandparents. I just seemed odd that my Grandfather took me to church with him but, never ever mentioned anything about FM. (My GM told me not to ask)

[Bullfrogg]

Past Master here, and a member of the
True Order

[BunnySlippers]

*

[Chode]

And to you... there's a Lodge almost everywhere, you can just sit in for fun.
i try to make it a point to visit the local Lodge where ever i travel.

[Lochlainnach]

I think you're right...to a point. William Faulkner said the best fiction was more real than any reality. Now, of course he was a fiction writer--but he has a serious point. One that illuminates the problems with fiction like Dan Brown's.

There is Literature, and then there is fiction. Literature tries, for the most part, to be of Faulkner's statment--true to life, meant for a purpose beyond publicity and money. Literature is meant to last the ages (to some extent) and influence society in a meaningful manner--whatever that means. Some may call it pretentious, but at least its typically heartfelt and meant to spark minds.

Then we have fiction, the kind of books you throw away after reading, or lose and never think of again. These are the books that get made into movies. And sadly to say, most writing that comes out in America today is fiction. Even nonfiction books like "A Million Little Pieces" seem to fall into the fiction category. Hm. That people talk seriously of Dan Brown's books baffles me...and scares me, and seems indicative of the cultural lowering of the bar, as it were, that elevates people with seeming no talent into the spot light.

[Chode]

Greetings...!!!

8^)

[Nasty McPhilthy]

"Wow. I hope Dan Brown waits until Christmas to put out his book so everyone can fight over another amazing yarn about fictional conspiracies."

Care to name another of the fictional conspiracies?

By the way, welcome to FR.

[PeterFinn]

Hmm. It's not enough to smear the Catholics, the atheists have to take a few potshots at the Mormons, too.

[GOP_1900AD]

With DaVinci Code Brown managed to tar Roman Catholics, Jews, and Christ himself. If this new one tars Free Masons and LDS, then he'll have nearly all his bases covered. After that, he'll probably go after the Protestants. Will Mr. Brown's lies go down in history as sort of a grotesque replay of "The Protocols of the Learned Elders of Zion" writ large? Will a rising totalitarian axis use his writings as part of the justification to liquidate the Judeo-Christian part of the world?

[TFFKAMM]

Well, you have to admit he's a canny self-promoter. Mr. Brown realized that there was a vast, largely-untapped audience of readers out there who want to believe that the West's major spiritual institutions are based in lies, deceit and power-mongering, and that they'd consciously suppressed a "Goddess Civilization" that bears a remarkably convenient resemblance to hippie and feminist utopianism.

To understand just how badly and deeply the moonbat element wants to believe DVC is more than "just a work of fiction," I present to you this piece by a columnist well-known to Freepers.

[uglybiker]

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[TFFKAMM]

Great graphic! Is that one of David Icke's famed "Lizard People" in the East?

[JCEccles]

The guy that did that was arrested by a Mormaon Sheriff, Appeared before a Mormon Judge and Jury. Was convicted by the Mormon Jury, and went to prison.

I'm fairly certain he was executed by firing squad.

[Dan(9698)]

I hear those Masons are a real 'crafty' bunch.

They made really good jars for canning fruit.

[Dan(9698)]

...bash the Catholics...

I bet there is a connection there also or didn't your family can fruit and vegitables?

[RobRoy]

"People discuss the darn thing like it's real."

It IS reel! Which reel? The last reel of this vintage motion picture, "High School Madness".

Sorry. Had to do it...

[Radix]

Brown ripped off ideas from a couple of other authors that I have read in the past. I am not Catholic though I was raised in that faith. He did a real hatchet job on the Catholic Church which some might feel is deserved. I don't.

I was not aware about a connection between Masons and Mormons. That is intriguing. I may have to read his next book, but not certain yet.

I think that it would be quite optimistic for either Masons or Mormons to anticipate a fair shake from this guy.

I still can't believe how many books he has sold.

[Dan(9698)]

I'm fairly certain he was executed by firing squad.

As they taught it in Church History, he went to jail.

In any event, he was punished and the Church isn't covering it up. It is taught in seminary class.

[nopardons]

Oh goodness gracious...here we go again. When this new book comes out, there'll no doubt be a deluge of crazy anti-Masonic threads. Sheeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeesh...........

[nopardons]

Then join our anti-antiMasonic ping list. We can use you to help refute the crazies here. :-)