The Holy Bible and Freemasonry

Freemasonry does not have a holy bible. The volume of Sacred Law must be present in open lodge. If Christians are present, then the Holy Bible is open. If Muslims are also present, then the Qu'ran is also present, etc.

Traditionally, if Christians are present, the King James version is opened in lodge, but if, for example, a catholic is present, who lives by the Good News version of the bible, then this would also be present, should that Brother so wish. If no Christians are present, for example, if only Muslims are present, then the Qu'ran would be the only book open.



Yes

The moral lessons taught in Freemasonry are those same values taught in the Bible, the Qu'ran, the Torah, the Egyptian Book of the Dead etc...




Freemasonry has no view on either the old or new testament.

Freemasonry accepts as the volume of sacred law, any book in which "are laid down such divine laws and moral plans, that were we conversant therein, and adherent thereto, would bring us to Him..."

However, each Brother is expected to follow his own VSL.

[edit on 7/10/2009 by Saurus]

You can understand the Bible without Freemasonry, you can not understand Freemasonry without the Bible.....regardless of your faith.

All of the masonic lessons come from the Bible. Both Old and New Testement.....but more focused on Old Testement within the Blue Lodge.

I just gave you 100% unmitigated truth......beleive it or ignore it as you will.

This is exactly right, brother.

Good points!

I beg to differ. We have a brother at our lodge from Israel. There are no references to Christianity or the Bible in their lodges. Not even in their degree work, they work purely from the Torah.

The volume of the sacred law and the degree work reflect the country in which they are located.

According to the Iowa Masonic Library:



Link

A Past Grand Master of Israel, who regularly posts on the Philalethes Society e-list, has stated that most Israeli Lodges open with all books on the altar due to the fact that there are almost always Christians, Muslims, and Jews present.

It's not something that can be differed with, it's apart of ritual. I can not comment more.....just to say it is apart of the ritual, but it is wisdom no faith would take issue with.

This is not about what book is used...I am refering to the ritual language itself.

[edit on 9/10/2009 by ForkandSpoon]

reply to post by ForkandSpoon

---

i understand what you are trying to say, and can in some way agree, but to say you can understand the Bible? are you saying that free masons are the only one,s who understand the sacred secrets within it?

The 'ritual language' is not the same everywhere that you go. Conceptually they are similar but the language itself is altered to fit the breakdown of religious views in that area.

For the brother I am referring to, his lodge is made up of entirely Jewish people. Not because they set it up that way, but rather that is how it has evolved.

Edit: This is not to say that they would not accommodate a Christian or Muslim Mason, we know that they would. And that includes the sacred law pertaining to their faith.

[edit on 11/2/2009 by Choronzon]

The VSL in the lodge is there to help steer spiritual and moral conduct of brethren. It is common knowledge that most faiths see their sacred book (Bible, etc) as a set of moral or spiritual stories who's lessons you should try and guide your self by.

This is taken into lodges with the same meaning, as it is there to reenforce the basic grand principals of masonry: Brotherly Love, Relief and Truth as these themes are common amongst all sacred books.




OFF TOPIC: I have not been a member of ATS long but have made a number of posts in this subject. Every thread about Masonry always ends up in the same way or has people saying the same things by the end if it. DO A DAM SEARCH before posting your out of date and narrow minded views on the subject. If you want a modern and accurate view, look at the United Grand Lodge of England web site: www.ugle.org.uk or look at Wikipedia (take that with a pinch of salt at times). Also the sticky at the top about subjects critical of masonry does apply both ways as well!

I have a masonic bible. It is the King James version and it has a square and compass on the front. Further, it contains a short synopsis on the history of freemasonry, and points you to some interesting parts of the Bible. The canon is the same as any other king james version.



From my point of view: no. The thing is, there is no central dogma on religion in freemasonry. Reading and applying the Holy Bible is really but one aspect of how people get to know their conception of God. To a christian, it is of course the eternal and infallable Word of God. Another person may have a totally different view on God, and what he considers Holy.



Like I said, there is no central religious dogma in freemasonry, so let's leave it up to the individual to make his own choices in this matter.

No I said quite the opposite. That you can not understand freemasonry, without understanding the bible. As the bible/torah are where 90% of it's teachings are based. The book on the alter does change depending on the religion of the person being initiated. So a Muslim Mason might desire to have Koran on the alter as his symbol of God's truth. However the ritual language, the teachings that would be used, are still in fact based on the Torah/Bible. It's just a historical fact. Usally Muslims in particular have no issue with this as they are holy books in their religion as well. However even if a Brahmin was initiated and chose a vedic source to be on the alter, the teachings would still be based on the Torah/bible....but from both his point of view I would wager, and the masonic point of view that is fine, because the wisdom chosen is universal.

Still to seriously understand and read the history, and background of many masonic lessons means you have to study the Torah/Bible....because THAT is where these originated.

A mason may or may not understand the Bible better then anyone else. But for a mason to understand masonry to it's fullist he should most likely read the Bible which is the origin of masonic lessons.

I really think even a Muslim or Brahmin would have no reason to disagree with this statement. Bear in mind I'm a Christian mason....but I have no issue reading the Koran, or one of the Vedas and realizing there is spiritual wisdom there.

The need to stamp out all other forms of thought but your own to remain "pure" in your religion is a zealot ideal for fundimentalist....but it has no place in either masonry, or to any educated Minister, Rabbi, Priest, llama, Cleric etc of any of the major faiths....true spiritual men of all religions do not fear reading other religious texts....they're a bit more grounded then usually uneducated zealots. It is the ignorant that fear even "hearing" another opinion.... So while the lessons of masonry are historically from the Torah/Bible... masons of faiths outside of Judaism and Christianity usually see them as universal truths.....wisdom that simply is.

One can say they "differ" with it all they want for some political correct reasoning ....but the ritual and story speaks for itself.