Why not? *facepalm* Everyone keeps secrets. Trust. Nothing, but we like anyone enjoy our privacy, our secrecy, and honestly I don't see why we have to justify it. I disagree.
Because it breeds suspicion. Seriously, why not just spread knowledge and forget about the weird rituals? Why even have masonary in the 21. century? But why keep secrets as an organisation? I would be less trusting of people withing the same organisation unwilling to share information. If you wan't to recruit new membes you might have to, considering how your numbers are going down.
How does having a deeper meaning breed suspicion? Do you have an entitlement ideology? Do you believe you shouldn't have to work to get something? That it should be given to you? And why do you believe you're entitled to know what we teach? I'd say Freemasonry keeps many of the traditions our corrupted culture today seems to ignore. Freemasonry is a breath of fresh air in "entertainment and instant gratification" society. What's wrong with secrets? Are you this concerned with corporations who keep secrets? I've never understood why anyone ever had to justify keeping things private...particularly in America. Keeping secrets is not tantamount to being distrustful. From your quote, you'd be okay for someone to break their word. I personally wouldn't be offended if someone could keep a secret. I know, I know, today fidelity is a strange creature and too many are incapable of keeping their word. Everyone keeps secrets and it breeds trust. Are you married? Freemasonry wasn't always a large organization. The mid-20th century gave everyone a false sense and inaccurate model to follow as society moved on. Freemasonry used to be smaller than we are now. Freemasons today need to do a few things to change and...I'd say modernize but that's not a good word to use as we should actually embrace some of the older practices that were thrown by the wayside during the Factory Age (a term I use to describe the mid-20th when they had a large boom in membership). Some of what is needed is: 1) Embrace technology 2) Increase degree fees (follow inflation a bit) 3) Increase dues (follow inflation a bit) 4) Quit lowering standards 5) Focus more upon education 6) Place an emphasis on quality of members rather than quantity of members 7) Don't allow certain officers like Sec/Treasurer to hold a position for a lengthy amount of time There are some Lodges who have embraced the Traditional Observance (European Concept) and follow many of these points, and they have a line out the door of people trying to join their Lodge. There are some Brothers who have their head in the sand and refuse to change believing that no adaptation is okay when in reality they have driven off the cliff. Luckily enough there are those who are bringing change. I'm actually working on a lengthy report on my beliefs, from a young Masons POV, as to how the Freemasonry should operate if it wishes to continue with strength.
[video=youtube;k0BWlvnBmIE]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k0BWlvnBmIE[/video] Why does she repeat "I'm wide awake" three times at the beginning of the song?
How would I know? EDIT: That's a very interesting video. I've heard the song, but I had never seen the video.
I don't mean to imply that has anything to do at all with Freemasons in any specific ways. It's nondescript, sort of like the earrings she wears, could be construed a certain way by their shape, but it's left to the audience to make that connection or not. I suppose it could just as easily be about the Daughters of the American Revolution, for all I know. But, where it is an obvious statement about excess, or, the path or route to wisdom and enlightenment, and she's sporting a light in her hand, she's the ambulatory lady liberty lost in the labyrinth. Seems like it maybe goes along the lines of what you mentioned, something about change from a young perspective, so maybe it's meaningful or maybe it's not, I can't really know that. But, to the point of my question, I'm thinking since there are three degrees of Freemasons, maybe you have some insights as to why to repeat that three times. Why three? Why not twice, why not four?
I'm really disappointed in her for making this god-awful song. I usually like Perry's songs because they are very catchy and fun to sing along to but I hear this at work every day over and over and it just sounds so stupid! Same with that terrible song about how some guy will always be on Jordin Sparks' "heart just like a taaattoooo~ I'll always have yooouu". Derp. Awful, awful songs...
Because masonary acts like a religion by embracing these foolish rituals. Since it's not advanced math i am pretty sure i could get it. Reading a book or understanding something is always a challenge. Depends on size andinfluence. What traditions and why is today's culture corrupted? If it would be something as anachronistic as masonic rituals i would be cool with it. Wasn't population also smaller?
Freemasonry doesn't act like a religion. We don't meet the basic requirements. What is foolish about them? Plus, even if your incorrect comments were right, it doesn't answer my question of "How does having a deeper meaning breed suspicion?" Again, I don't know why you feel entitled to know our business. You sound like someone who just wants everything handed to them. Well, too bad. A short answer can't do this justice. There are books on the subject. If you don't think today's society is corrupted then you need to take your head out of the sand. It's nothing, but a "now, now, now" and "me, me, me" society. What's outdated about Freemasonry. And don't just say "the ritual" as the use of rituals are not anachronistic. What specifically? Population size had nothing to do with it. We're not racist. Ignorance has been around as long as man has.
Maybe you aren't personally. Freemasons as an organization mos def are and always have been. In fact this is their single most cause of existence.
As an organization we're not. Have their been examples of racism? Sure. Look at some of the Grand Lodges in the South, but racism is not a systemic problem in Freemasonry nor is it the cause of our existence. That's just stupid and ignorant to think that.
Yeah, it's more like a cult. Of course it breeds suspicion if you are not willing to share thatmagical mambo jambowith anyone. Not everything, but knowledgeis freely accessible in this century. Why would the masons exclude themselves? Really? There are books about the origins of Arayns by Blavatsly, that does not mean they are true,. Hey, way better than the WAR!!! WAR!!, serve !!! Serve!!! society. If my understanding is correct only a few rituals were made aviable to the public. The stupid secrecy itself is anachronistic.
Lots of things can be erroneously called a cult when they aren't. This is one of those instances. What "mambo jambo" are we to share? Plus, are we not allowed to private? Information is freely found, but I wouldn't call it knowledge and it's definitely far from wisdom. It's our information, we can do with it what we like. Then prove me a liar. Look harder. Secrecy is neither stupid nor anachronistic. I refer you to post #116. To say such thing is to show ignorance of human nature and relationships.
I never said they were all online. I just they were made public. Plus, like in my Lodge monitor, most of it is coded, but can be found in libraries.
Happy Birthday to the Supreme Council 33° of the Ancient & Accepted Scottish Rite, Southern Jurisdiction of the US. This august body was founded in 1801.
This is something my jurisdiction does. Some jurisdictions have it written out all the way. We use it to delineate restricted parts of the ritual that is not to be confided to non-members. I also think it's easier to memorize the work using the coded system.
Actually, the "G" stands for and symbolizes The Grand Architect, whom Hiram Abiff was. Grand Architect also is what Al Fatir wa Al Khaliq is but I will not delve into this being that many will go off on tangents, start fighting, name calling, etc.
