@ Skyfloating:
I didn't realise you were a Mason. I've always very much enjoyed your input on ATS, since before you became a mod and all. I've always found that your views and thoughts compare closely with my own. Out of interest, what book did you pledge on when you joined?

Regarding the OP, the bottom line is that with so much corruption at the highest levels, people are desperate to find a scapegoat. Freemasonry provides that and probably always has done - hence why it has always been marginalised and banished. People see the mysterious symbolism, the occult tinges, and they assume there must be something evil behind it.

If I didn't already have so much on my plate I'd seek membership. Traditions are important, and I suspect that the tradition of Freemasonry is among the wisest of traditions.

Originally posted by Cythraul
@ Skyfloating:
I didn't realise you were a Mason. I've always very much enjoyed your input on ATS, since before you became a mod and all. I've always found that your views and thoughts compare closely with my own. Out of interest, what book did you pledge on when you joined?

Thanks. Ive been enjoying your posts too.

To answer your question:

I very reluctantly pledged on the bible.

Originally posted by freight tomsen
Notice how all the Masons have symbolic/meaningful avatars here on ATS. This is because they speak in symbols and numbers.

Really? I'd love to know what you make of my avatar and my apparent underlying rationale for using it to cite my membership in Masonry.

Originally posted by Skyfloating
I very reluctantly pledged on the bible.

Haha, I thought there'd have been a little reluctance on your part there. I suppose it can be seen as a traditional formality and a means to an end (the end being all the positive, non-religious aspects of Freemasonry).

I aplogise if this has already been covered, but what would be the point of an anti-Mason conspiracy? What possible benefit to these supposed 'anti-Mason's' could there be? If Mason's are indeed a bunch of lovely chaps do great and charitable works for the good of society, what do these anti-Mason's get out of their conspiracy, which as a reminder, is 'a secret agreement between two or more people to perform an unlawful act'?...

Originally posted by Vector J
I aplogise if this has already been covered, but what would be the point of an anti-Mason conspiracy? What possible benefit to these supposed 'anti-Mason's' could there be? If Mason's are indeed a bunch of lovely chaps do great and charitable works for the good of society, what do these anti-Mason's get out of their conspiracy, which as a reminder, is 'a secret agreement between two or more people to perform an unlawful act'?...

Those are excellent questions. A look at the history of Freemasonry will answer them.

There are several famous anti-Masonic conspiracies. One that has gotten a lot of attention here on ATS concerns the Illuminati, which was a quasi-Masonic rite that was formed in Bavaria in 1776.

The founders of the Illuminati wanted to promote Enlightenment ideals, guarantee equal rights fro women, separate church and state, and institute freedom of speech. These ideas were met harshly by the Bavarian government, who ruled in a religious dictatorship. So they conspired to defame the Illuminati, knowing that if they could make the people afraid of them, the Illuminati could not get the popular support they needed. They were more or less successful in their propaganda campaign, and even today, a couple of centuries later, many (though not all) anti-Masons still fall for the "Illuminati conspiracy" scam.

Another famous anti-Masonic conspiracy comes directly from the Vatican, through various papal bulls, and most notably, Leo XIII's "Humanum Genus", which I recommend you read, along with its rebuttal, "A REsponse To Humanum Genus" by Brother Albert Pike. Incredibly, Pope Leo condemns Freemasons for standing up for individual rights and freedom of religion.

Originally posted by SantaClaus
You're then, a true man amongst your people, and I hope your kind is not the exception.

Much as I'd like to puff-up my breast and get all cocky, the simple fact is that I'm a very average and typical man both among men at large and Masons in particular and far from exceptional.

Originally posted by SantaClaus
I honestly, think that most anti-masons are against masons simply because they know very little. Probably the same reason voters aren't voting for Ron Paul (nyuk nyuk nyuk). God I am bad at puns.

In society today, it's much easier and more deliciously fun to believe the worst about people. Why? Because it gives the teller a usually unwarranted presumed superiority over the 'evil' individual or group. The simple fact is that it's bad news we pay the most attention to: dog bites man is much more engaging than dog licks man's hand (even though the latter is far more prevalent than the former).

Originally posted by SantaClaus
Anyway, your response satiates what I was trying to get, so I won't argue any of it. I still don't agree with the whole oddly ritualistic (I may be hearing a tall tale, I'll admit) aspect of the group, as it is secrecy for the sake of being secret, but you're obviously a sane minded individual.

Any ritual viewed from an uninformed perspective is off-putting and can be characterised as odd. Tell me that any Catholic or Anglican or just about any religion's rituals can't be viewed through the same filter. In fact, every human interaction is ritualistic to one degree or another. Take the act of shaking hands when introducing one's self. Why that ritual? To prove no weapon was being secreted. Do we worry about that now? No. Yet still we do it. Why? It's a ritual.

As for the "sane minded" comment, don't get ahead of yourself.
Wouldn't want to disappoint a certain demographic.

Originally posted by SantaClaus
Therefore I must concede to my defeat and say that I will more thoroughly study the culture(?) before I question it again.

Reasoned study from a reasoned mind is never something to be feared.

Originally posted by SantaClaus
I never thought you were evil, I just think that sometimes there are single entities of every staple in life that ruin things for the entire population. Catholic church anyone? I am a former member of that and I still don't recall it as "evil." Lets get logical.

Any statistically identifiable group is bound to have individuals that bring discredit to the group as a whole. However, tarring the entire group as having the same traits as the individual just isn't on and any cool-headed, rational review would show this to be the case. It's when the brain goes 'hot' that we get the likes of "The Troubles" or Freedom Fries or insert-your-favourite-illogical-group-against-group-fracas-here. In my Lodge among the officers in line right now, our Senior Warden's black, our Senior Deacon Sikh, our Junior Deacon and Inner Guard Catholic, I'm Anglican and the brethren are a mixed bag of races and religions. Yet we all get along pulling for the betterment of ourselves and society at large as well as rendering us more worthy to the Supreme Deity whom we as Catholics or Sikhs or Anglicans or what-have-you understand him.

This is a bad thing?

Originally posted by SantaClaus
On to the illuminati, those might be harder to find.

PS. I'm using one of your lines in some music, please U2U me to ask that I don't, I just thought it was poetic.

Knock yourself out. I'm at a loss to think of anything I've ever written as poetic but far be it for me to interfere with art.

Originally posted by freight tomsen


How did Albert Pike and the Masons plan to "Unleash the Atheists and Nihilists" during World War III?

He didn't. The letter is a hoax written by an anti-Masonic Catholic priest in the 20th century.

It would help if you actually did a little research before posting that stuff.

Originally posted by Vector J
I aplogise if this has already been covered, but what would be the point of an anti-Mason conspiracy?

Freemasonry encourages it's members to educate themselves and to put morality into their decision making, it can lead to spiritual enlightenment. I cannot think of any force of 'good' that would oppose such practices. This is enough for me to realise that the enemies of freemasonry are my enemies too.

Freemasonry, not only offers a route to enlightenment but it brings like-minded people together. People who can trust each other, rely (somewhat) on each other in times of need. A support network. I can only think that whoever would oppose such a system would wish to isolate that group from society as a whole, for fear that such a system would spread. Therefore it may be assumed that those who oppose freemasonry favour divide and conquer rather than enlightenment of the masses.

Originally posted by Vector J
I aplogise if this has already been covered, but what would be the point of an anti-Mason conspiracy? What possible benefit to these supposed 'anti-Mason's' could there be? If Mason's are indeed a bunch of lovely chaps do great and charitable works for the good of society, what do these anti-Mason's get out of their conspiracy, which as a reminder, is 'a secret agreement between two or more people to perform an unlawful act'?...

Thanks for your post.

There is nothing unlawful about wanting to expose the secrets of a society whose tenticles reach as far as the boyscouts, rainbow girls, girls scouts, lyon, elks, shriners,

Presidents, Prime Ministers, Kings, Queens, judges, lawyers, ceo's, pastors, doctors, congressmen.......

No, what they want is the "useless eaters", or anyone outside the circle, to be kept in the dark, to go to work, and to pay their taxes, thanks to George Washington.

No conspiracy here.

Nice of the forum moderator to be unbiased though, isn't it?

Originally posted by cutbothways

Nice of the forum moderator to be unbiased though, isn't it?

We dont actually moderate our own threads.

Oh...and what would your response to the opening post be, considering you are one of the more outspoken anti-masons here?

[edit on 1-5-2008 by Skyfloating]

No conspiracy here.

Yes, there is an effort to bring down the masons.

I happen to be part of the effort.

But the usual gang of 5 or so masons here on ATS seem to be getting
a kick from it, so by all means, have a good time.

It's laughable at most. Sorry, no star young man.

Originally posted by cutbothways
No conspiracy here.

Nice of the forum moderator to be unbiased though, isn't it?

SF isn't a mod of this forum. I guess you've never noticed this at the bottom of every page

"This thread is in a forum moderated by: TheBorg, lombozo, WyrdeOne, benevolent tyrant, HarlemHottie, lombozo, yeahright, Cuhail, Sauron, NGC2736, khunmoon, JacKatMtn, Spiderj, GAOTU789, junglejake, kleverone"

And in case you're wondering, Mirthful Me is a Mason although, again, not a mod of this forum. Intrepid's been accused a number of times but alas and alack he isn't a Mason.

HTH

Originally posted by Fitzgibbon

Originally posted by cutbothways
No conspiracy here.

Nice of the forum moderator to be unbiased though, isn't it?

SF isn't a mod of this forum. I guess you've never noticed this at the bottom of every page

"This thread is in a forum moderated by: GAOTU789

And in case you're wondering, Mirthful Me is a Mason although, again, not a mod of this forum.
HTH

Pick, pick, pick.

You cleave on little.

GAOTU789 is a mason.

Mirthful Me is one of the "three amigos", or founders of this forum, correct me if I'm wrong.

And since this is the largest conspiracy forum on the internet by a long shot, I would suggest the instillation of mason moderators/shadow knights is no accident.