Dear MeanWestTexan,
"'Great Architect of the Universe'"
"That prhase was actually first coined by John Calvin, who can hardly be called anti-Christian."
Citing Calvin to a Catholic isn't exactly the most effective means of arguing one's position. ;-)
That aside, I don't think that anyone's doubting that a Christian can perceive God as the universe's architect. That misses my point entirely.
I spoke approvingly of demonstrating who God is from natural revelation. We Catholics do this all the time. In fact, the Church has dogmatically stated that one can definitively know of the existence of God through the use of natural reason apprehending natural revelation. More to the point, we have been criticized by some Protestants for delving so deeply into "human philosophy."
The problem is that one doesn't need to be a Christian to accept natural revelation, or that God is the universe's architect. And the Catholic concern is that the exclusive emphasis on natural revelation gives short shrift to Divine revelation.
sitetest
LOL, I thought that when I saw that quote. However, Masonry's association in European history with the Protestant Reformation movement goes a long way to explaing the Catholic and Masonic positions towards each other.
Knew YOU wouldn't like Calvin -- point there was people (generaly fringe-group protestants) try to say Great Archetict of the Universe is not God, but something different.
But to the big point "And the Catholic concern is that the exclusive emphasis on natural revelation gives short shrift to Divine revelation"
Here, the problem is the assuming, that Masonry addresses the issue of natural revelation, at all.
It doesn't.
Never talked about, at all.
It's just a fraternity. It no more discusses these deep issues than Marines boot camp discuss these deeps issues.
Now, I understand lots of people CLAIM FM has something to do with this. I lump them into two categories: (1) masons pretending to be more important than they are or (2) people repeating stuff they know nothing about.
All I can say is that I am a fundamentalist Christian in the most traditional sense of the Word --- born a Jew, would be Orthodox, but for my acceptance of Christ.
Have family who don't talk to me --- or go to my daughter's Baptism -- because I became a Christian.
Study the Bible in Hebrew and English and (trying) Greek.
AND I am a knowledgeable blue lodge and York Rite freemason.
And there is nothing that remotely conflicts between the lot.
Given the checkered history --- I detailed it couple posts up --- I have no doubt the RCC position is a relic of historical slanders from the days back when protestants made lies up about Roman Catholics and RCs made lies up about protestants.
That said, RCs should not join, because a rule is a rule.
BUT good RCs should seek to correct the fallacy the RCC is operating under and be careful with the accusations, because they are simply not true.