Freemasonry - your thoughts?

[YPMG]

So I haven't seen a thread regarding this since I've been religious with the Berry and thought that I would put it up and see what you guys think. I'm interested to know if anyone actually knows much about this ancient society outside of the typical conspiracy shit you find out on YouTube.

What do you know? What are your views, or more importantly, what do you want to know?

Yes, I am a freemason.

 

[fingercuffs]

Some insight, and some flippin idiots here:
http://www.sherdog.net/forums/f48/so-my-best-friend-became-free-mason-2179801/

 

[Smigg]

So I haven't seen a thread regarding this since I've been religious with the Berry and thought that I would put it up and see what you guys think. I'm interested to know if anyone actually knows much about this ancient society outside of the typical conspiracy shit you find out on YouTube.

What do you know? What are your views, or more importantly, what do you want to know?

Yes, I am a freemason.

My personal opinion is that it's a bunch a guys who hang around with each other every so often and then help each other out with jobs. How many times has someone said "Hey, this is my buddy, help him out"?

But then a bunch of crackpots have seen that and then made it something bigger than it actually is.

 

[YPMG]

My personal opinion is that it's a bunch a guys who hang around with each other every so often and then help each other out with jobs. How many times has someone said "Hey, this is my buddy, help him out"?

But then a bunch of crackpots have seen that and then made it something bigger than it actually is.

You're on the right track man, that's what a fraternity is all about.

See the reason that people attack Freemasonry is because it's inclusive - it doesn't matter your race, color, religion or sexuality and people just don't seem to like that. It's also the fact that we never get our backs up and defend what's on the internet or some guy at a party is babbling on about, we let it go and keep on doing what we're doing.

 

[ShadFace]

A co-worker is constantly trying to get me to join.
The funny clothes are expensive and I

 

[Smigg]

You're on the right track man, that's what a fraternity is all about.

See the reason that people attack Freemasonry is because it's inclusive - it doesn't matter your race, color, religion or sexuality and people just don't seem to like that. It's also the fact that we never get our backs up and defend what's on the internet or some guy at a party is babbling on about, we let it go and keep on doing what we're doing.

It's the old Chinese Whispers, one guy hears something, then they pass on what they heard, then they pass it on, and on and on and on, and before you know it, there's repitles shape shifting into humans and the London Olympics are getting bombed.

It's like the One Dollar Bill, people still think that the Mason's put the design on there, when in all actuality, there was only one Mason in the Design Committee, Benjamin Franklin, and then that design was adopted. Although, that again could be pure Chinese Whispers and I've misheard.

 

[Woodkid***]

My grandpa is one and hes a great guy so aint got anything against em

 

[YPMG]

It's the old Chinese Whispers, one guy hears something, then they pass on what they heard, then they pass it on, and on and on and on, and before you know it, there's repitles shape shifting into humans and the London Olympics are getting bombed.

It's like the One Dollar Bill, people still think that the Mason's put the design on there, when in all actuality, there was only one Mason in the Design Committee, Benjamin Franklin, and then that design was adopted. Although, that again could be pure Chinese Whispers and I've misheard.

You're on the money. Another fun fact is that the eye, said to be a depiction of satan (Internet of course), is actually God and can be found in thousands of churches across the world. Alas, I'm still yet to be involved in any world domination plots at Lodge.

You can find out everything bar the secrets (grips, tokens, passwords) in books written by freemasons to assist those who are curious. Lodge just shows you camaraderie and teaches you about life so to speak.

 

[Lost]

You're on the right track man, that's what a fraternity is all about.

See the reason that people attack Freemasonry is because it's inclusive - it doesn't matter your race, color, religion or sexuality and people just don't seem to like that. It's also the fact that we never get our backs up and defend what's on the internet or some guy at a party is babbling on about, we let it go and keep on doing what we're doing.

Do you have to be wealthy to be a freemason?

Only freemasons I have met have been very wealthy.

 

[Robert L Evans]

I met a Freemason when I was deployed in Iraq. That didn't surprise me all that much, but when he started telling me how many members in my unit were Freemasons I was really surprised. Then he told me that he had never been around so many Freemasons himself outside of a meeting (he was refering to the amount of Freemasons he had ran across in Iraq).

I've been in the military for over 20 years, and I never realized so many Freemasons were in the military. Is this normal or was I just in a unit that had alot.

Also I heard about a large Freemason gala/dinner/event that happened in Iraq that was attended by a lot of US officers and Iraqi. Is this just conspiracy he said she said shit, or does anyone think it has any credence?

 

[sh1tehawke]

So I haven't seen a thread regarding this since I've been religious with the Berry and thought that I would put it up and see what you guys think. I'm interested to know if anyone actually knows much about this ancient society outside of the typical conspiracy shit you find out on YouTube.

What do you know? What are your views, or more importantly, what do you want to know?

Yes, I am a freemason.

i've never really understood what freemasonry is all about, i've heard of it obviously and of some of the weird handshake, consipracy rumours but i've never heard what they actually do.

maybe you would be kind enough to tell us a little bit about it. do you have meetings so many times a week? what do you discuss/plan/whatever? is it just a club to meet people and sit around, having a few beers and shooting the shit or do you do things like, i dunno, raise money for charity or something?

like i say i know nothing about it so if you could tell us a bit about it it would be great.

 

[Smigg]

You're on the money. Another fun fact is that the eye, said to be a depiction of satan (Internet of course), is actually God and can be found in thousands of churches across the world. Alas, I'm still yet to be involved in any world domination plots at Lodge.

You can find out everything bar the secrets (grips, tokens, passwords) in books written by freemasons to assist those who are curious. Lodge just shows you camaraderie and teaches you about life so to speak.

I saw one website called "Hollywood Subliminals" which I think you'd get a kick out of, because it is the absolute definition of "Ooooh, there's an eye there... ILLUMINATI" when there isn't even an eye there, they even did it with an MTV logo, it's absolutely hilarious.

 

[Sufo]

What was your motivation for joining?

From what I've heard, membership often runs in families, so I guess that's one valid reason. Another could be the for charitable work I hear they do. However, joining something simply because of "fraternity" and because it's a sekrit club reeks of personal weakness if you ask me.

 

[ValeTudo95]

They have secret handshakes and do a lot of charity work. That's all I could extract from a mason friend...

Also, you have to believe in a supreme being - so there are religious constraints.

 

[BUTTCHEDDAR]

I think they're now just an elite club for men. I mean shit they give the members rings! and bumper stickers! How cool is that! Now if they gave certain public privelages oh say like free air fair or being a member made you exempt to government taxes then sign me up!

 

[LazyFatass]

I am a low-level Master Mason. It's nothing special. Just a fraternal society with rites and traditions based on religion and old lore that would seem weird if you weren't initiated. Charitable work, lectures on "being better men", that sort of stuff. And then we get drunk and play ping-pong.

 

[Sufo]

I am a low-level Master Mason. It's nothing special. Just a fraternal society with rites and traditions based on religion and old lore that would seem weird if you weren't initiated. Charitable work, lectures on "being better men", that sort of stuff. And then we get drunk and play ping-pong.

oh ya. So how does the religious aspect work? Admitting a belief in a "higher power". Could this be accepting there is any life form greater/more complex than humans, or does it have to be some humanity loving, moral compass manufacturer?

 

[Jumpy]

My personal opinion is that it's a bunch a guys who hang around with each other every so often and then help each other out with jobs. How many times has someone said "Hey, this is my buddy, help him out"?

But then a bunch of crackpots have seen that and then made it something bigger than it actually is.

I think most of the people that join are exactly as you describe: there for comradery and bro-time. But there has been a ton of fishy stuff, like the Italian dude being hanged from a bridge, symbolism tying back directly to Masonic symbols/texts.

It's been years since I was into digging into secret societies, but the upper echelon of the masons(and any club with exclusive members consisting of rich, influential, powerful men)will always have their fingers in shady operations.

Again I'm not saying every mason is diabolical, there are probably entire chapters/lodges that consist of broke rednecks(this exists in fact, in my hometown).

 

[DanteAli]

Do the freemasons allow people of all religions/sexualities to join? Or are there constraints?

 

[rosettastoned]

My uncle is a freemason. I just go to their lodge once a year to pick up one of the spaghetti dinner fundraisers.