Masons and conspiracy theories, page 2

Originally posted by Skadi_the_Evil_Elf
I am still confused about Masonry. On one hand, I have seen stuff indicating they are part of a serioes of gateway societies into the Illuminati. On the the otherhand, Ive also heard they are against such things.

The Illuminati was founded by two Freemasons: Adam Weishaupt and Adolph Von Knigge. Many, if not most, of the people who joined it were Masons, and were members of the Rite of Strict Observance, at that time the largest Masonic Rite in Bavaria. Goethe and Mozart were also members of the Illuminati.
However, the historical Illuminati bears little resemblance to the �Illuminati� of the conspiracy theorists. The historical Illuminati were actually freedom fighters, who wanted to establish a democracy in Bavaria based upon that of the American Revolution; the Jesuit Electorate, who ruled Bavaria, attempted to discredit them by inventing absurd conspiracy theories in order to slander them, and to control Bavarian citizens through fear of the unknown. The Illuminati conspiracy theories exist today, more widespread than ever, even though Weishaupt disbanded the Illuminai over two centuries ago, and published its formerly secret papers to the general public.

One thing I have learned, is that not all Freemasons are rich or very powerful. I had once assumed this, as most freemasons I knew of were pretty well to do, upper middle class, ect. But then i found out my grandpa and my uncle were both Masons. So, scratch that.

This is, nevertheless, an important point. Freemasonry�s existence is owed to the 18th century Enlightenment, and the Fraternity professes enlightened ideals. The equality of all men was a basic doctrine of the Enlightenment, and continues to be exhibited in Masonry. In Masonic Lodges, men such as Frederick the Great, Benjamin Franklin, and Voltaire met with farmers and street vendors as Brothers. I have personally sat in Lodge with two U.S. Senators, a famous television personality, and a world-renowned musician, as well as unemployed college students, auto mechanics, and truck drivers.

So, Im undecided about Masons. the secrecy thing is kind of wierd, but I know several other groups, religious or not, that are secretive.

I don�t think secrecy is weird if viewed in its historical context. The stonemason guilds, from whence we came, were not extremely secret. But the Holy Inquisition caused the Fraternity to go underground, and adopt the form of a secret society. Today, the Fraternity no longer operates in secret in free countries, but preserves its customs out of tradition.

The only thing that creeps me out is that so many pillars of the community are part of this large secret society. Lots of people are christians too, yet Christian doctrine is hardly a secret.

Masonic doctrine has never been secret, and there are a great many scholars within the Fraternity who have written excellent books on the subject, all available to the general public.
Masonic doctrine, in a nutshell, can be summed up as follows:

1. The belief in One God.
2. The belief that God has considers all men and women His children.
3. The belief that since #2 is true, the Brotherhood of Man is a fact in Nature.
4. That each individual has the right to his/her own religious beliefs without being coerced by any church or organization.
5. Government by consent of the people, exercised through citizens� suffrage.
6. The complete separation of Church and State.
7. That our Faith in a Higher Power is best manifested in our actions and deeds rather than in sectarian and theological argument.
8. Support for public education, and opposition to any attempt to allocate public money to private or sectarian institutions (a very basic Masonic ideal that is currently under attack from both state and federal governments....Brother Masons, be sure to vote in November!)

Fiat Lvx.

[Edited on 14-5-2004 by Masonic Light]