Freemasons

[Shendemiar]

Since we have some here, I'd like to hear what "freemason" exactly means.

[Clausewitz]

I always thought a freemason was just someone who didn't charge to do cement work...

[digital]

I'm pretty sure theres a secret handshake in there somewhere.

[Shendemiar]

I'm serious!

[McGoogus]

clausewitz said:

I always thought a freemason was just someone who didn't charge to do cement work...

rofl

I've always been curious as well actually.

[captiancadaver]

I could tell you but then I would be killed. Sorry guys and gals.

[Arminius]

You have to believe in a 'superior being', haven't you?

[SkulkrinBait]

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Freemason

[Shendemiar]

Well is it like a hobby, or a religion, or a status or an occupation?

Why do they define themselves as a freemasons when other people refer to their ethnics or job or martial status or whatever?

It sounds to me like a big scam or hoax that is there just to take your money.

[Clausewitz]

My understanding is that it is most akin to a fraternity for grown men.

They relish the "secret" elements, because isn't everything more fashionable when it's secretive?

Rather than stateside adult fraternities like the Lion's Club, who get together for pints and to sponsor young men for academic scholarships and whatnot, the freemasons are much more renown for getting together to discuss philosophical matters.

Incidentally, there's all sorts of conspiracy-theorists out there, since many of the U.S. founding fathers were freemasons.

[Natmus]

I actually was invited to join, or at least come to their introduction meetings, by someone I know. I did attend, keeping an open mind. It's a whole lot of hot air, bogus talk of mysteries and mediocre minds pretending to grasp .... gibberish.
Reminds me of the "Emperor's new clothes" tale. Nothing's there, but as everybody believes that only clever people can see it, they are afraid to admit they can't see anything.

Ask them a couple of critical questions, and they get all confused. It's like any other sect, there is no reason, argument or facts to it. Just another form of blind belief and self-deluding.

[Freiegeister]

Nicely put Mads.

btw. Did anyone watch Richard Dawkins new series: Enemies of Reason? Part 2 is here: video.google.co.uk/videoplay?docid=-4720837385783230047

[captiancadaver]

Freemasonry is like the Lions Club but also completely different. A Freemason is a brother to everyother other Freemason around the world. We all share comon beliefs, and stive for the same things. Also it is a catalist to community service. It allows masons to perform community service and outreach. In terms of comparing Freemasonry, it is like the Morkin alliances. How connected we all are, sharing the same dreams etc...... Freemasonry is not a religion, but instead is a orginization that has rituals (Skull and Bones, etc...).

[ashimar]

Not wanting to step on feelings too hard here, but rituals are useless in my view of the world.

My father was a freemason and a friend's father was one and I've questioned both. The very fact they let my father in was the nail in their coffin for me. I've attended some open house things and read a coupe of books and indeed it's a club that fosters lowered access to different people in society, but then the rotary and the Tolkien Society enable you to do the same thing and much cheaper.

Sure , if it works for you then that's great, but I'll stick with the idea that they're mostly harmless but equally nutty as the ones going to Club Med, or playing golf ("Golf is for people not able anymore to dash off after a ball that's actually moving")

[AeroS]

I don't mind ritual because it helps connect in a physical way with the spiritual self. I am sure many here have no belief in any spiritual nature of man but to those of us that do, a ritual makes for a crossover to understanding those beliefs through a physical expression.
As far as Golf is concerned... I played it recently for the first time in years. It caused me to engage an many physical expressions.