Replies

This is from England:
http://www.ugle.org.uk/static/masonry/freemasonry-and-religion.htm

Freemasonry and Religion

Introduction

The following information is intended to deal with a topic mentioned in the leaflet ‘What is Freemasonry’.

It explains the United Grand Lodge of England’s view of the relationship between Freemasonry and religion.

Basic Statement

Freemasonry is not a religion, nor is it a substitute for religion. It demands of its members a belief in a Supreme Being but provides no system of faith of its own.

Freemasonry is open to men of all religious faiths. The discussion of religion at its meetings is forbidden.

The Supreme Being

The names used for the Supreme Being enable men of different faiths to join in prayer (to God as each sees Him) without the terms of the prayer causing dissention among them.

There is no separate Masonic God; a Freemason’s God remains the God of the religion he professes.

Freemasons meet in common respect for the Supreme Being, but He remains Supreme in their individual religions, and it is no part of Freemasonry to attempt to join religions together. There is therefore no composite Masonic God.

Volume of the Sacred Law

The Bible, referred to by Freemasons as the Volume of the Sacred Law, is always open at every Masonic meeting.

The Obligation of Freemasonry

The Obligations taken by Freemasons are sworn on or involve the Volume of the Sacred Law, or the book held sacred by those concerned. They are undertakings to help keep secret a Freemason’s means of recognition, and to follow the principles of Freemasonry.

The physical penalties, which are purely symbolic, do not form part of an Obligation. The commitment to follow the principles of Freemasonry is, however, deep.

Freemasonry Compared with Religion

Freemasonry lacks the basic elements of religion.

a) it has no theological doctrine, and by forbidding religious discussion at its meetings will not allow a Masonic theological doctrine to develop.

b) It offers no sacraments.

c) It does not claim to lead to salvation by works, by secret knowledge or by any other means. The secrets of Freemasonry are concerned with modes of recognition and not with salvation.

Freemasonry Supports Religion

Freemasonry is far from indifferent to religion. Without interfering in religious practice it expects each member to follow his own faith, and to place above all other duties his duty to God, by whatever name He is known. Its moral teachings are acceptable to all religions.

Freemasonry is thus a supporter of religion.

these are from wikipedia footnote links.

Freemasonry is a religion as follows:

Masons meet in temples, ....such as the Scottish Rite Temple. ...They have an altar ...and there is a "holy book" on it.... They have prayers, ..deacons, ...and religious titles for their leaders, ...such as High Priest and Worshipful Master..... They say that they bring men from spiritual darkness to spiritual light. ...In some Masonic degrees, they even serve communion.....

Although Freemasonry is a religion,' most Masons deny it.'..... They use double talk and say "We are an order of religious men, but not a religion." .....Most of them are quite sincere about this....... (Tom C. McKenney, "Please Tell Me," pages 81-82)

"Freemasonry is not Christianity, nor a substitute for it. It does not meddle with sectarian creeds or doctrines, but teaches fundamental religious truth."..... (Albert G. Mackey, "Encyclopedia of Freemasonry," page 162)

Most Masons sincerely (but wrongly) believe that Freemasonry is not a religion. How can they be so wrong when they are so sincere?...... Tom McKenney says, "...they were told upon entering the Lodge that, whatever their religion, Masonry would not conflict with or contradict it. They believed this because sincere men told them so. Those sincere men who told them so believed it because an earlier generation of sincere men had told them the very same thing. And so, this deception, which originated as a lie in Masonry's dark beginnings, is perpetuated generation after generation." (Tom C. McKenney, "Please Tell Me," page 82)

Masons are not supposed to mention the name of Jesus in the Lodge:

"A Christian Mason is not permitted to introduce his own peculiar opinions with regards to Christ's mediatorial office into the lodge." (Albert G. Mackey, "Lexicon of Freemasonry," page 404)

"Whether you swear or take God's name in vain don't matter so much. Of course the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, as you know, don't amount to anything, but Mah-hah-bone--O, horror! You must never, on any account, speak that awful name aloud. That would be a most heinous crime--unmasonic--unpardonable." (Edmond Ronayne, "Masonic Handbook," page 184)

James Shaw, a former Thirty-Third Degree Mason, was appointed Chaplain in the Scottish Rite. Since at that time he didn't know how to pray, he got a book of John Wesley's prayers and read one, ending "in Christ's name". For that he was sharply rebuked by his Commander and reported to the Secretary of the Scottish Rite, who told him that he was never to end a prayer "in Jesus' name" or "in Christ's name." (Tom McKenney, "Please Tell Me," page 72)

The vast majority of Masons, Freemasonry is 'a lifelong succession of deceptions'. .......Most Lodge leaders do not realize that they are deceiving their members. ......For the most part, they are simply reciting the same things they have heard and said, over and over, assuming that they are right and good...... However, the Princes and Adepts of Freemasonry deliberately deceive the Masons under them......... (See Tom C. McKenney, "Please Tell Me...Questions People Ask About Freemasonry -- and the Answers," pages 123-133.)

Masons take blood oaths, but are told that they are only symbolic. They participate in rituals that they don't understand, assuming that they must be alright because their masonic friends have done it.

Part of the symbols are displayed there to the initiate, but he is intentionally misled by false interpretations. It is not intended that he shall understand them; but it is intended that he shall imagine he understands them." .........(Albert Pike, "Morals and Dogma," page 819)

Masons believe that God is the Light-bearer until the 19th Degree, .......as Pike writes, giving them new revelation.

This insight completely squares with stated Masonic policy of... 'deliberately misleading Masons in the lower degrees'... until they were really ready for the "truth....

This is the truth -- Masonry worships Lucifer:

"Lucifer, the Light-bearer! Strange and mysterious name to give to the Spirit of Darkness! Lucifer, the Son of the Morning! Is it he who bears the Light, and with its splendors intolerable, blinds feeble, sensual, or selfish souls? Doubt it not!"................ [Albert Pike, Morals and Dogma of the Ancient and Accepted 'Scottish Rite of Freemasonry,' p. 321, 19th Degree of Grand Pontiff

"When the Mason learns that the key to the warrior on the block is the proper application of the dynamo of living power, he has learned the mystery of his Craft....... The seething energies of 'Lucifer' are in his hands, ......and before he may step onward and upward, he must prove his ability to properly apply energy....... He must follow in the footsteps of his forefather, 'Tubal-Cain', who with the mighty strength of the war god hammered his sword into a plowshare .....(Tubal-Cain is the password given in the Third Degree of Master Mason)....[Manly P. Hall, 33rd Degree, K.T., The Lost Keys of Freemasonry or The Secret of Hiram Abiff , Forward by Reynold E. Blight, '33rd Degree', K.T., Illustrations by J. Augustus Knapp, 32nd Degree, Macoy Publishing and Masonic Supply Company, Inc., Richmond, Virginia, p. 48

The similarities between the witchcraft (first level) initiation and the masonic one are striking:

The initiate (candidate) is skyclad (naked) in the witchcraft ritual but in the masonic ritual he only need bare his left breast area. In each initiation a blindfold is applied and a rope is tied about the neck...symbolizing that the candidate is going by blind trust in the word of those who initiates him and that he/she is bound in such a commitment. ..........The candidate is led to bind himself by oath to the craft (occult) or lodge (masonic). Believers in Christ who submit themselves to such things violate the words of our Lord Jesus Christ to not make such oaths:

"But above all things, my brethren, swear not, neither by heaven, neither by the earth, neither by any other oath: but let your yea be yea; and your nay, nay; lest ye fall into condemnation." James 5:12.

At the time that he is led in the oath, the candidate is disoriented, blindfolded, half naked, confused, afraid, and humiliated. He has been stripped of all his clothes and his wedding ring, and has put on something similar to pajamas, with one leg rolled up and the shirt half off his torso. He has been blindfolded with a hood, and had a rope put around his neck...... He has been led around during the initiation ritual like a blind dog on a leash..... He has no idea who is watching him or how many men there are.... He has been told that he is in darkness and must depend on Masonry to give him light.

After having been pressured into taking an oath that he never expected to take -- and which he only partly understood because he was disoriented and only heard a few words at a time -- the initiate is given a written copy of the oath. He is required to memorize it word for word. This is similar to being pressured into signing a blank check, and later finding out what it is going to cost you.<[> All of this is a powerful means of subjugation and mind control. It can bind men to the Lodge and its authority both mentally and spiritually. (See Tom C. McKenney, "Please Tell Me," pages 66-69 and 124).

The upper level masons are still not the highest level in their craft. In such highly secretive groups such as.... 'the rites of Memphis, the rite of Mizraim, the Palladium rite', etc. ....they grant candidates up to 90 degrees. In some it is even higher.

It is difficult for a man to turn away from Freemasonry because of the many blood oaths which he has made in order to obtain his degrees..... Furthermore, he has invested a lot of time, effort and money into Masonry, and many of his friendships and business connections are with fellow Masons.