The Masonic fraternity is a loose-knit network of men who share common beliefs and goals. Because Masonry emphasizes charity, truth, and brotherly love, many believe it is an appropriate place for people from various different faiths to gather.
However, there are some lodges that require their members to believe in a supreme being—among Masons themselves. Most lodges allow nonbelievers to become members as long as they have no secular affiliations.
Some lodges even have specific requirements for prospective members that do not adhere to any specific faith or belief system but instead espouse certain moral values such as trustworthiness, courtesy, generosity, and honesty.
There is no single official belief system among the Masonic fraternity; however, there are numerous Lodges that follow a spiritual path called Theistic Rationalism. Freemasonry’s Theistic Rationalism revolves around the idea that there are divine beings but they do not interfere with our world nor can they be seen or heard by anyone on earth. This belief system goes far beyond just believing in God; instead it implies that it is immoral to claim we don’t believe in God because doing so would make us liars and hypocrites before our fellow man and woman.
Who Has the Right to Choose What’s Believed in Freemasonry?
Freemasonry is open to men of all races, creeds, and religions. However, many Lodges have specific requirements for prospective members. These requirements may include particular religious beliefs, moral values, or Masonic concepts such as a belief in a Supreme Being. According to the United Grand Lodge of England, the governing body of all English Freemasonry, a prospective member’s belief in God must not be an essential part of a man’s character. However, many Lodges have particular requirements that demand belief in a supreme being. Freemasonry currently allows for the admission of non-Masons. However, there have been many cases of non-Masons being expelled from Masonic Lodges.
Why Would a Mason Believe in God?
Freemasons believe in a Supreme Being because it is one of the pillars of the Freemasonry philosophy. In theistic rationalism, there are a myriad of supreme beings that can be believed in. For some, there might be one supreme being, while others choose a different form of belief. The Masonic fraternity is open to all faiths and cultures, which means each Mason can choose to believe in whatever form of belief he or she sees fit. Many men who join the Masonic fraternity find Masonic teachings to be very beneficial. For instance, Freemasonry encourages men to be charitable and to help those in need regardless of ethnicity, religion, or creed. For men who have grown up in a society where there is a lot of hatred and bias, an organization that encourages tolerance can be very comforting and healing.
Is Freemasonry a Cult?
Many who are critical of theistic rationalism think that freemasonry is a cult. This is because freemasons do not follow or promote any one religion. They, however, believe in a supreme being that they adhere to. This belief in one supreme being contrasts sharply with what many believe is a right to practice and profess no religion at all. Freemasonry does not force its members to practice their religion in a specific way. For example, a freemason does not have to attend a specific church or synagogue. He also does not have to follow any particular religious text or practice. Freemasonry does have a moral code that encourages men to be truthful and to help those in need. However, freemasons are not required to follow this moral code because it is not part of their belief system. They can instead choose to follow another set of moral values such as helping only those who can repay the favor.
What Does a Mason Believe in?
Some freemasons believe that it is the duty of every man to discover what he really believes in and then adhere to those principles. There are numerous types of freemasonry and the values they espouse may be very different among them. For example, some freemasons subscribe to the idea of a Supreme Being while others may believe that there are no supreme beings. Some may believe in a form of reincarnation while others may believe in an afterlife where there are no reincarnations. Freemasonry is a fraternity that encourages men to be charitable, charitable to all people irrespective of race, religion, or creed. Freemasons also encourage men to practice tolerance, accept all people for who they are, and not judge anyone based on skin color, language, or religion.
Conclusion
The Masonic fraternity is open to men of all races, creeds, and religions. This means that each Mason is free to choose the form of belief he or she sees fit. He or she can choose to believe in a supreme being or he can choose to disregard the idea of a supreme being altogether. The Masonic fraternity currently allows for the admission of non-Masons. However, there have been many cases of non-Masons being expelled from Masonic Lodges. This is because many Lodges view the admission of non-Masons to be against their belief system. This means that a freemason who is not part of the Masonic fraternity can choose to believe in a supreme being or he can choose to believe that there is no supreme being.
