The Holy Bible and Freemasonry, page 2

Originally posted by johnpaulbelmonde
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?

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.