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Throughout the Old Testament, the word Ba'al is an ordinary everyday word, with ordinary everyday meanings. It is true that it is used sixty-nine times to represent a Canaanite god or gods, although often not as a proper name, but as a description. It is used as a proper name of other things or persons many times. For Example Ba'al is the name of a city in 1 Chronicles 4:33. In 1 Chronicles 5:5 and 9:36, it is a name of a Jewish person.
It is used even more frequently in combination:
Baal Gad, Baal Hazor, Baal Hermon, Baal Meon, Baal Perazim, Baal Shalisha, Baal Tamar, Baal Zephon, Baalah, Baalath (feminine of Baal), Baalath Beor and Baale are names of towns or places.
Baal Hanan and Baalis are names of kings.
Baal Berith, Baal Peor, and Baal Zebub (Lord of the Flies) are names of gods.
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However, what is much more significant is the use of baal translated into other words. It is translated as "master" four times...
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This is very important, as by analogy, Yahweh is the Ba'al of Israel. Another translation is "owner" (twelve times).
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A third translation is as husband (eleven times).
At it's highest level it's sex worship. The 'G' sometimes seen in the square and compass doesn't stand for "God" it stands for the "Generative Principle" (S*x).
The square represents the male and the compass - the female etc.
One thing I have noticed about low level masons is that they know they are low level but think they know enough about the entire HUGE organization enough to vouch for it just to be a member and I have noticed that many of the ones I have met are perverts.
Originally posted by VeritasAequitas
reply to post by NotAnAspie
One thing I have noticed about low level masons is that they know they are low level but think they know enough about the entire HUGE organization enough to vouch for it just to be a member and I have noticed that many of the ones I have met are perverts.
Please do explain; how do you define High-level & Low-level masons? Where would I find one of these "Higher-levels"? Now since I know you can't really explain this; I shall to you. Scottish Rite Freemasonry, where you derive your illegitimate argument of "Higher-levels", has no bearing on the Freemasonic Blue Lodge. Scottish Rite did not precede the blue lodge; because the blue lodge consisted of the original teachings. There is nothing above a Master Mason; so there are no "Higher-levels" to really know things others do not. I can't believe I acted like some of you just before my eye was opened. It would behoove you to learn and know that unless through direct study and application of the Craft, you as a profane will never understand that which you seek to define.
Originally posted by KSigMason
reply to post by VeritasAequitas
There are so many Masonic symbols that have the dualistic representation of the physical and spiritual world.
reply to post by NotAnAspie
What they should have said is that you're not required to believe in a Christian God. You must believe in a Supreme Being.
What constitutes "low-level" versus "high level" Masons? How is it you think you can slander the entire organization not being a member?
Freemasonry doesn't control the pulse of society in the way you think it does. You're vague, general statements are unsound and show no fact or truth to the matter.
Freemasonry is a "fraternity". Now go look up what "fraternity" means. What is immoral about Freemasonry?
Satanism is not a part of Freemasonry. It's a laughable, desperate attempt to label Lodges as "Satanic". You try to slander us in an attempts to silence and hinder the free assembly of men. You're trying to scare men from the Craft by using terms that breed fear and mistrust. It's fascist behavior.
You make some bold statements of nepotism and corruption, but I doubt you can back it up with evidence.
Our rituals don't concern hookers, sex, or degradation. Nor would they go to the point that someone would die.
Originally posted by VeritasAequitas
reply to post by NotAnAspie
Realizing and understanding the importance and power of symbols is not worship; it is a form of gnosis. Understanding the effect certain colors produce on the brain would be a very good analogy. You know nothing of the Freemasonic Craft, while as I may yet to be initiated, I have done my own solemn duty of finding the way. You can not label all masons in the same category simply because not all masonic traditions teach the same things. Scottish and York rite differ a great deal from the Blue Lodge. Also there is a big difference in real death and a mock death. You should probably try and figure that out. Nobody ever really 'dies' in an initiation. They merely kill the egoistic and selfish desires of themselves in a metaphoric and symbolic sense.
In the Scriptures, the Hebrew word ba′ʽal is employed with reference to (1) a husband as owner of his wife (Ge 20:3); (2) landowners (Jos 24:11, ftn); (3) “owners of the nations” (Isa 16:8, ftn); (4) “confederates” (literally, “owners [masters] of the covenant”) (Ge 14:13, ftn); (5) owners or possessors of tangibles (Ex 21:28, 34; 22:8; 2Ki 1:8, ftn); (6) persons or things having something that is characteristic of their nature, manner, occupation, and the like, for example, an archer (literally, “owner of arrows”) (Ge 49:23), a “creditor of the debt” (literally, “owner of a debt of his hand”) (De 15:2), “anyone given to anger” (literally, “owner of anger”) (Pr 22:24), “judicial antagonist” (literally, “owner of judgment”) (Isa 50:8, ftn); (7) Jehovah (Ho 2:16); (8) false gods (Jg 2:11, 13). The term hab·Ba′ʽal (the Baal) is the designation applied to the false god Baal. The expression hab·Beʽa·lim′ (the Baals) refers to the various local deities thought of as owning or possessing and having influence over particular places.
The term “Baal” occurs once in the Christian Greek Scriptures, in Romans 11:4, where it is preceded in the Greek text by the feminine article he. Commenting on the use of the feminine article before “Baal” in the Greek Septuagint and Romans 11:4, John Newton wrote in an essay on Baal worship: “Though he is of the masculine gender in the Hebrew, [hab·Ba′ʽal], the lord, yet Baal is called [he Ba′al], = the lady, in the Septuagint; Hos. ii. 8; Zeph. i. 4; and in the New Testament, Romans xi. 4. At the licentious worship of this androgyne, or two-sexed god, the men on certain occasions wore female garments, whilst the women appeared in male attire, brandishing weapons.”—Ancient Pagan and Modern Christian Symbolism, by T. Inman, 1875, p. 119. At times in Israel’s history Jehovah was referred to as “Baal,” in the sense of his being the Owner or Husband of the nation. (Isa 54:5) Also, the Israelites may have improperly associated Jehovah with Baal in their apostasy. The latter appears to be borne out by Hosea’s prophecy that the time would come when Israel, after going into and being restored from exile, would repentantly call Jehovah “My husband,” and no more “My owner” (“My Baal,” AT). The context suggests that the designation “Baal” and its associations with the false god would never again pass the lips of the Israelites. (Ho 2:9-17) The bad connotation that appears to have become attached to the Hebrew word ba′ʽal because of its association with the degraded worship of Baal is thought by some to be the reason the writer of Second Samuel used the names “Ish-bosheth” and “Mephibosheth” (bo′sheth means shame) instead of “Eshbaal” and “Merib-baal.”—2Sa 2:8; 9:6; 1Ch 8:33, 34; see ISH-BOSHETH.
Baal Worship - Little was known about Baal worship aside from the many Scriptural references to it until excavations at Ugarit (the modern Ras Shamra on the Syrian coast opposite the NE tip of the island of Cyprus) brought to light many religious artifacts and hundreds of clay tablets. Many of these ancient documents, now known as the Ras Shamra texts, are thought to be the liturgies of or words spoken by those participating in the rituals at the religious festivals.
In the Ras Shamra texts, Baal (also called Aliyan [the one who prevails] Baal) is referred to as “Zabul [Prince], Lord of the Earth” and “the Rider of the Clouds.” This harmonizes with a representation of Baal, showing him as holding a club or mace in his right hand and a stylized lightning flash with a spearhead in his left. He is also depicted as wearing a helmet with horns, suggesting an intimate connection with the bull, a symbol of fertility. Normally from late April to September there is hardly any rain in Palestine. In October the rains start and continue throughout winter and into April, resulting in abundant vegetation. The changes of the seasons and the resulting effects were thought to come in cycles because of the never-ending conflicts between the gods. The cessation of the rains and the dying of vegetation were attributed to the triumph of the god Mot (death and aridity) over Baal (rain and fertility), compelling Baal to withdraw into the depths of the earth. The beginning of the rainy season was believed to indicate that Baal had awakened to life. This, it was thought, was made possible by the triumph of Baal’s sister Anath over Mot, allowing her brother Baal to return to his throne. The mating of Baal with his wife, presumably Ashtoreth, was believed to ensure fertility for the coming year.
The farming and cattle-raising Canaanites probably thought that their engaging in a prescribed ritual, a sort of sympathetic magic, helped to stimulate their gods to action according to the pattern enacted at their religious festivals and was necessary to ensure productive crops and herds in the coming year and to avert droughts, locust plagues, and so forth. Hence Baal’s coming to life again to be enthroned and mated with his consort apparently was celebrated with licentious fertility rites, marked by sexual orgies of unrestrained debauchery.
Undoubtedly each Canaanite city built its Baal sanctuary in honor of its local patron Baal. Priests were appointed to conduct the worship at these sanctuaries and the many shrines on neighboring hilltops known as high places. (Compare 2Ki 17:32.) Inside the shrines there may have been images or representations of Baal, whereas near the altars outside were to be found stone pillars (likely phallic symbols of Baal), sacred poles representing the goddess Asherah, and incense stands. (Compare 2Ch 34:4-7; see SACRED POLE.) Male and female prostitutes served at the high places, and besides ceremonial prostitution, even child sacrifice was practiced. (Compare 1Ki 14:23, 24; Ho 4:13, 14; Isa 57:5; Jer 7:31; 19:5.) Worship of Baal was also carried out right on the housetops of the people, from where sacrificial smoke to their god was frequently seen to rise.—Jer 32:29.
There are indications that Baal and other gods and goddesses of the Canaanite pantheon were associated in the minds of their worshipers with certain heavenly bodies. For instance, one of the Ras Shamra texts mentions an offering to “Queen Shapash (the Sun) and to the stars,” and another alludes to “the army of the sun and the host of the day.”
It is, therefore, noteworthy that the Bible makes several references to the heavenly bodies in connection with Baal worship. Describing the wayward course of the kingdom of Israel, the Scriptural record states: “They kept leaving all the commandments of Jehovah . . . , and they began to bow down to all the army of the heavens and to serve Baal.” (2Ki 17:16) Concerning the kingdom of Judah, it is noted that right in the temple of Jehovah there came to be “utensils made for Baal and for the sacred pole and for all the army of the heavens.” Also, the people throughout Judah made “sacrificial smoke to Baal, to the sun and to the moon and to the constellations of the zodiac and to all the army of the heavens.”—2Ki 23:4, 5; 2Ch 33:3; see also Zep 1:4, 5.
Each locality had its own Baal, and the local Baal was often given a name denoting his being attached to a specific locality. For instance, the Baal of Peor (Baal-peor), who was worshiped by Moabites and Midianites, took his name from Mount Peor. (Nu 25:1-3, 6) The names of these local Baals later came to be transferred through a figure of speech (metonymy) to the localities themselves, as, for example, Baal-hermon, Baal-hazor, Baal-zephon, Bamoth-baal. However, although there were many local Baals, officially, among the Canaanites, it was understood that there was actually just one god Baal.
By recent, you mean 8 years ago?
Originally posted by NotAnAspie
are you really going to make me dig up the article about a recent initiation gone wrong?
No need to ask questions. He plead guilty and was sentenced for his crime.
OH ... YEAH... RIGHT. They got the guns mixed up when doing their anxiety ritual but it was a total accident no questions asked.
So you're saying she was shot, in the hospital, with the gun that she brought into the hospital? And I guess you're saying that being a Mason gave him x-ray vision to see through the wall and know where to shoot to hit his wife?
I personally know of an ex mason who was in the hospital and was not feeling like himself after heart surgery and was arguing with his wife about going home. She took a shower in his room and he pulled a gun out of her purse and shot through the bathroom wall.
I do personally believe he was "out of it" but had he been a totally different type of person, There would have been charges to PROVE he was out of it... not just a room full of police who decided it was an accident... even though they had a guard on him during his stay because they were concerned about control but in this case it was a public service, not a reason to be concerned or think that maybe at least someone should suggest he be kept away from his house full of guns or maybe have her permit questioned??... but no, none of that.