Freemasonry And Religion

Many have accused Freemasonry of being a separate religion unto itself. The truth of the matter is that nothing could be further from the truth. In short, Freemasonry is not a religion, nor is it a substitute for one.

However it can be argued that Freemasonry is of a religious nature. For it requires of all its members a belief in the Divine. How that member perceives the worship of the Divine is his own business.

As such, the fraternity permits men of all monotheistic faiths to gather together in fellowship, to practice the tenets of Brotherly Love, Relief and Truth upon which the fraternity has always been founded. In a Masonic lodge you will find Christian, Muslim and Jew, men of every walk of life and from every political affiliation imaginable. With a common belief in the Brotherhood of Man under the Fatherhood of the Divine, these men are able to break from all sectarian, political, sociological and economical differences to unite in making good men better men.

With regard to religion the Masonic fraternity has always believed that there is but one the Divine and recognizes that its members, which come from a variety of religions and branches of those religions, employ different teachings and interpretations to express their understanding of the Divine. Such has it always been and if Freemasonry is to remain successful as a fraternity to unite men, such it must always remain.

It is this freedom of religious inclination that has put Freemasonry at odds with many branches of Christianity. For the teachings of many Fundamentalist sects is opposed to the notion of Christians praying side by side with Muslims, Jews, Hindus and even many branches of mainstream Christianity that they view as heretical. We accept their right to believe as such. Indeed any Fundamentalist Christian who believes so would not derive anything from the fraternity. For many Fundamentalists believe that where prayer is uttered without the name of Jesus Christ, such prayers fall upon deaf ears. They believe that such prayers are often given to false the Divines. It is their belief that Freemasonry worships a false the Divine. Such is not the case.

Since Freemasonry accepts men of good moral character from the ranks of all monotheistic faiths, it stands to reason that a prayer offered to Jesus Christ would be as offensive to the non- Christian as the reverse would be to a Christian. However while all faiths have parts or points that are not in line with the beliefs of others, there is one common bond they all share, the belief in a creator the Divine.

To the Muslim He is referred to as Allah, to the Jew, Jehovah as well as many other suitable names, to the Christian the Divine or Jesus. Freemasonry uses such terms as Great Architect of the Universe when united in common prayer; generally at the opening or closing of the lodge.

This name is nothing new and was first used by John Calvin in his book, Institutes of the Christian Religion. If Calvin had no problem referring to the deity as Great Architect, why should anyone else? Certainly the millions of Freemasons, who are your friends, neighbors and fellow parishioners, should not and do not.

Another common misconception about the fraternity is that it has its own Bible. Again this is false. Freemasons in north American lodges traditionally use the King James Version of the Bible, which must be opened at a particular chapter and verse when the lodge is open, or at work, in Masonic terminology. A Masonic Bible is usually a KJV with the Masonic emblem of the square and compasses on the cover. It may also include pages where those in attendance at a candidate's degree can sign. The Bible may also have a section with a few notes on Freemasonry and the scriptures used in the ceremonies. Much of the fraternity is derived from the Old Testament, particularly the Book of Kings and Second Chronicles. Men of other faiths are permitted to take their oath of membership on the Holy book of their faith, which is in keeping with the Masonic requirement that a member remain true to his faith.

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