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Is freemasonry a cult?
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| Yes | 51% | 46 votes | Total: 91 votes | |
| No | 49% | 45 votes |
Yes
by Colleen Mart
Created on: February 19, 2010
Is freemasonry a cult?
To answer this question we must first know what a cult is. Cults are more commonly thought to be religious in nature than not. The word cult can be used in a derogatory manner to describe a group of persons who have the same beliefs and practice rituals that may appear strange and even ominous to others who do not share the same beliefs.
The Freemasons are a group of men, a fraternity or chapter, who believe that it is their duty to perform charitable works whether it for members of their chapter or whether it is for those in the community where the chapter is located. Although there are many chapters located all over the world, each with their own independent ideology, this is a consistent belief belonging to all Freemasons. Each member is expected to perform charitable works whether it is convenient to his schedule and life or not. Another belief of the Freemasons is that they should promote education to all regardless of race or ability to pay and they provide grants to worthy students.
One symbol found in every Freemason gathering hall, or Lodge, features a carpenter’s square and compass. Freemasons wear rings with this symbol emblazoned on it. Critical non-members point to this as a symbol that the freemasons are not members of organized religion and declare that it therefore it must be a cult. It is true that Freemasons are not members of any particular organized religion, however it is a requirement that all of their members have a belief in a Supreme Being and that they are devoted to the worship of who they believe God to be. Therefore if a member is Christian and another member is Buddhist, each must show devotion to their own faith and their own God and in fact there are Lodges that display more than one version of sacred texts. Because of this requirement to show devotion to a Supreme Being, the Freemasons are (in their own words) “of a religious nature, Freemasonry is not a religion. It urges its members, however, to be faithful and devoted to their own religious beliefs.”
The Freemasons do indeed practice rituals are considered to be strange by non-members. Sometimes ceremonial garb is worn during certain activities. The use of ceremonial garb and rituals associated with advancement within the organization may be considered strange by non-members, but does that make the Freemasons a cult any more so than those who witness the strange rituals performed at Via Dolorosa or those who participate in ritual purification.
So if the definition of the word cult is taken literally as a group of person with common beliefs and practicing strange rituals, yes, the Freemasons are a cult, just as some of the most accepted organized religions of the world are.
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No
by Al Harven Sr
Created on: February 26, 2010 Last Updated: February 27, 2010
This article is written to provide some understanding of Freemasonry, and to answer the question is Freemasonry a cult?
Cult from the latin Cultus - to care, cultivate, religious worship, or devotion to a person or thing.
Freemasonry does not qualify as a cult under this definition or any other definition. Freemasonry is a fraternal order whose main goal is to help the widowed child. That is to help and assist all mankind that are in need of aid.
Freemasonry has historically been misunderstood throughout the ages by outsiders, because the craft is found within the Traditions of ancient Egypt, the mysteries of ancient alchemist and holy mystics, the symbolism and secrets of world wisdom and knowledge.
Short of giving away it's secrets, Freemasonry is simply the spiritual awaking and development of those who seek more light (knowledge). It is the alchemical process of man's transformation from a life of darkness to the perfect light of all wisdom. The freemasonry transformation begins with three(3) degrees of mastery and during the lifelong steps to perfection the Freemason shall become as pure gold, or the pure substance of true knowledge, wisdom and light.
It may be appropriate to pause and give a brief history of Freemasonry to those who do not know of its orgin. Most historians believe that develop over time from the guilds of medieval operative stonemasons who built the Gothic Cathedrals of Europe. Centuries earlier, the Angles and Saxons settled in ancient Britain and established a form of the organization. A civil system of social order developed (guilds) alongside it, initially founded on blood ties in Scotland and later on community ties. The first of these guilds was organized in Italy ,and then France and Scandinavia as a means of suppressing piracy at that time. Their scope grew so by the 13th century guilds had become the outstanding feature of the social and economic life in Europe. Men and women, rich and poor all could belong to this new order. At the head of each guild were two or more wardens medieval Foreman's who supervised the work performed by the craft and oversaw standards. The general membership was divided into three tiers: Masters, Fellow crafts, and Apprentices. The same three are used today to distinguish the differences between the three degrees of Freemasonry.
The members of Freemasonry are not religious in practice or belief. They did not follow the rules of a cult belief system, nor do they bow to any man. They worship God, believe in and serve their Country, and give aid to those in need.
Famous Historical figures who were Freemason's: President George Washington, Benjamin Franklin,President Gerald Ford, Presidents Theodore Roosevelt and Franklin Roosevelt, Mozart, Nat King Cole, Duke Ellington, Harry Houdini, and the list goes on. So, if Freemasonry was a cult then America is built upon cult ideas because most our founding fathers were Freemasons, and believed and practiced Freemasonry.
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