Freemasonry
From The Red Pill
The Masonic Order has roots from antiquity. Members of the Order are joined together by shared ideals of both a moral and metaphysical nature and by a common belief in a Supreme Being (the Great Architect of the Universe). Despite what many believe, Freemasonry is not a religion or an occult group, but it is a spiritual organization. Freemasonry uses an initiatory system of degrees to explore ethical and philosophical issues. It often calls itself "a beautiful system of morality veiled in allegory and illustrated by symbols." The Square and Compass is the most widely used and best known of the Masonic symbols. Another symbol that is well known, but not because of Masonry, is the skull and crossed bones. The skull and crossed bones symbol was used by the ancient Christians on their burial sites in the catacombs. It was also used by the Medieval Knights Templar. In Freemasonry it is symbolic of mortality and rebirth.
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Connection to the Knights Templar
Some historians and authors have tried to draw a link from Freemasonry and its many branches to the Knights Templar, with some Masonic groups claiming a direct descent from them. This alleged link remains a point of debate among scholars, although John J. Robinson makes a very strong case for the Templar/Freemason connection in his book 'Born in Blood: The Lost Secrets of Freemasonry.'
The Religious Right and its opposition to Freemasonry
There have also been attacks against Freemasonry by certain members of the religious right. One of the most vehement has been by the televangelist, Pat Robertson. Robertson's attacks are ironic in that he claims to be an ultra patriot and yet there is no doubt that Freemasonry played a major role in the founding of the United States, with many Founding Fathers being Freemasons, including such notables as George Washington and Benjamin Franklin. The cornerstone to the U.S. Capitol was even laid by Washington in a Masonic ceremony. These assaults on Freemasonry are responded to in 'A Pilgrim's Path: Freemasonry and the Religious Right,' also by John J. Robinson.
Popular culture
Freemasonry is featured in the following literature and movies
- Dune
- According to the Masonic writer Hal Siemer, in the novel Dune, by Frank Herbert, the order of the Bene Gesserit is a play on 'bene Jesuit,' which is Latin and English combined for 'good Jesuit,' a term often used sarcastically. The name Fremen plays on Freemason, and the use of the color blue in the Fremen's eyes is representative of the Blue Lodge, which is the primary organization in Freemasonry. Also, the Jesuits and Freemasons have a long history of political rivalry, which is a parallel to the Bene Gesserit and Fremen connection.
- The Man Who Would Be King
- National Treasure
Masonic organizations that are limited to Freemasons
- Masonic Lodge (Blue Lodge)
- Scottish Rite
- York Rite
- Ancient Arabic Order of the Nobles of the Mystic Shrine (Shriners)
- Ancient Egyptian Order of Sciots
- National Sojourners
- The Philalethes Society
- Tall Cedars of Lebanon
Masonic organizations that are not limited to Freemasons
- Daughters of the Nile
- DeMolay International
- International Order of the Rainbow for Girls
- Job's Daughters International
- Ladies Oriental Shrine of North America
- Order of the Eastern Star
Books
- The Guide to Dan Brown's The Solomon Key by Greg Taylor. (2005). ISBN 978-0875168166
See also
References
- Hal Siemer (2005). Freemasonry: An Introduction to the Masonic Order. Quest Magazine.
