The following is posted on our Ex-Masons for Jesus discussion board by a FORMER Mason from Jacob's jurisdiction of Tennessee:
__________________________________________________
From Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary & copy; 2001-2004:
Religion
1: the personal commitment to and serving of God or a god with worshipful devotion, conduct in accord with divine commands especially as found in accepted sacred writings or declared by authoritative teachers, a way of life recognized as incumbent on true believers, and typically the relating of oneself to an organized body of believers.
Freemasonry, very clearly and distinctly throughout Ritual, teaches the Mason a personal commitment to and serving of a deity, conceptualised in "The G.A.O.T.U.". Ritual refers the Mason to his VoSL, whether it be The Bible, The Qu'ran, The Upanishads, or The Bhagavad-Gita. Freemasonry also calls men to "a way of life recognised as incumbent on true believers"; The Charges, and "Fortitude, Prudence, Temperance, and Justice", as well as the points in the Oaths/Obligation are clear upon these.
Knowing that this concept of "The G.A.O.T.U." is inclusive of very contradictory presentations of "God", and that each separate VoSL is interchangeable upon Masonry's Altar, what is evident from this "Religion in which all men agree", is that it is not merely a fraternal gathering of men of separate sects in harmony. Rather it becomes a separate Religion, leading all of these 'imperfect religions' into that "religion of nature and primitive revelation". One need only get beyond the superficial explanations of The Symbols and Ritual, and seek their roots in Ancient Mystery Religions to find this.
Freemasonry's "authoritative teachers" are those that have gone beyond the surface of The Symbols and Ritual, drawn back the "veil of allegory", and have taught these things. That these Adepts of Masonic Religion are sometimes spurned by Masons has aught to challenge the truth of their writings. These teachers very pointedly admit that many Masons will never reach beyond the superficial explanations given The Symbols and Ritual, resigning themselves to the truth that despite being "Raised", that most will never become Master Masons.
2: the state of a religious
Viewed upon 1:, even though this application is somewhat unused today, "Bob died in his thirtieth year of Masonry" is synonymous.
3 a: one of the systems of faith and worship: a religious faith b: the body of institutionalized expressions of sacred beliefs, observances, and social practices found within a given cultural context.
Upon the first argument posed upon 1:, the argument is extended to its next logical step here. That Freemasonry seeks to reconcile very diverse and contradictory religions into "that religion of nature and primitive revelation", "that religion in which all me agree" is clear.
Freemasonry very clearly becomes defined by 3 a:. By its Ritual and Practice, even when separated from its homogenous religion, 3 b: very easily applies, that "cultural context" being Freemasonry itself.
4: the profession or practice of religious beliefs: religious observances.
Given the "G.A.O.T.U." and multiple VoSL arguments against Freemasonry, this would be applicable upon the strength of the concept of the Fatherhood of God/Brotherhood of Man found within The Craft. That Masonry seeks to become "that religion in which all men agree" upon these tenets, the entire body of Work of Masonry becomes "profession and practice" of a separate religion, and the Work/Ritual the "religious observances" of that religion.
5: archaic: scrupulous conformity: CONSCIENTIOUSNESS, FIDELITY
Though archaic, this is a true application of the term regarding Freemasonry (Ritual and Landmarks), but hardly alone a point of contention with Fundamental Christian Belief. Where Fundamental Christian Belief holds to scrupulous conformity to The Word of God, Freemasonry holds to its homogenous, all religion encompassing ideal of "The G.A.O.T.U."
6 a: a personal awareness or conviction of the existence of a supreme being or of supernatural powers or influences controlling one's own, humanity's, or all nature's destiny b: the access of such an awareness or conviction accompanied by or arousing reverence, gratitude, humility, the will to obey and serve: religious experience or insight.
7 a: a cause, principle, system of tenets held with ardor, devotion, conscientiousness, and faith : a value held to be of supreme importance b: a quality, condition, custom, or thing inspiring zealous devotion, conscientious maintenance, and cherishing.
In both 6: and 7: we find a very applicable description of Freemasonry, which at first glance would seem to cause no problems with Fundamental Christian Belief, were it not for Freemasonry's homogenisation of conflicting religions and "gods" under "The G.A.O.T.U.".
The sticking point however, is the LACK of specificity or singular identification of such supreme being, powers, cause, or principle within/among several accepted V'soSL, and Freemasonry's solution in the all encompassing "G.A.O.T.U.". In this condition of “anonymity” the Fundamental Christian Belief would then argue it as heretical paganism/pantheism.
In Christ' Service,
WD
__________________________________________________
So, as prominent Mason George H. Steinmetz once said; "Neither official denial nor confirmation can change facts. It is of small consequence whether or not Masonry is acknowledged to be a religion. The important thing is HOW IT IS PRACTICED."
As you can see, by the testimony of someone who once practiced Freemasonry in the same domain as Jacob, that by definition and in practice Freemasonry is a RELIGION. The delusion that it is somehow complementary to the Christian faith is in Jacob's & Ben's minds, and not a reality. It just goes to show how
pride, and/or Satan's grip of deception can keep someone in such denial EVEN after being presented the truth.
