posted
So, what, you've had trouble adapting your language to that used since the light bulb was invented?
-------------------- Yes, you're despicable, and... and picable... and... and you're definitely, definitely despicable. How a person can get so despicable in one lifetime is beyond me. It isn't as though I haven't met a lot of people. Goodness knows it isn't that. It isn't just that... it isn't... it's... it's despicable.
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posted
It's a really big deal to them that Masonic language, as used in the ceremonies and oaths and stuff, NEVER CHANGES. The PA lodge is particularly anal about that. Worse, PA is probably the only remaining grand lodge which doesn't permit any part of its rituals to be written down. Everything has to be memorized, and passed on through rote repetition. Trying to get your tongue around some of the more archaic phrases is a real treat for the brain.
-------------------- "The best defense is not a good offense. The best defense is a terrifyingly accurate and devastatingly powerful offense, with multiply-overlapping kill zones and time-on-target artillery strikes." -- Laurence, Archangel of the Sword
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posted
Within Masonry, no, it's NOT okay to interpret those ancient words in a modern context. That's the whole damned point, doopus! You have to use the old language. AND, you have to know what it meant then, in order to understand it.
For instance: "Well regulated" (a recognizeable phrase, yes?) back then had nothing to do with rules and regulations. It simply meant "uniform" as in "all structured in the same manner, orderly, well-maintained."
If you had a "well regulated" lodge (or militia, as it may be), that merely meant that someone coming in from another lodge would find the structure and procedures of his lodge essentially identical to your own, and be able to integrate with a minimum of fuss.
-------------------- "The best defense is not a good offense. The best defense is a terrifyingly accurate and devastatingly powerful offense, with multiply-overlapping kill zones and time-on-target artillery strikes." -- Laurence, Archangel of the Sword
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quote:Feh. These words meant different things, 300+ years ago.
More to the point, I was winding you up. Unclench. I'm sure we'd all agree that the whole gun control thing is one that we're never going to agree on, so why bother go into it all again?
What I would like to know is, what do you get out of being a Mason? What is it about it that pushes the right buttons for you? I really am curious. I've no desire to join that kind of society, and was wondering what the attraction is.
posted
Honestly? It was something to do with my dad, now that he's retired.
Now that I work on meeting nights, I don't do much in the way of Masonic stuff, though I still do what charity work I can, and help out when I'm off.
-------------------- "The best defense is not a good offense. The best defense is a terrifyingly accurate and devastatingly powerful offense, with multiply-overlapping kill zones and time-on-target artillery strikes." -- Laurence, Archangel of the Sword
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A. The 'true' governing body for most of the world that protects itself by blaming the Jews.
or
B. A men's club with self imposed ancient rituals that mainly serves as a place to swap stories and advice in ones choosen profession.
Item B is what a guy told me, which, if Item A is 'true', is what I would expect.
-------------------- "You are a terrible human, Ritten." Magnus "Urgh, you are a sick sick person..." Austin Powers A leek too, pretty much a negi.....
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posted
It's B. Jews can be Masons. So, for that matter, can Muslims, or anybody else who believes in a Supreme Being. Although the overtones, even in the Blue Lodge (the most basic) are decidedly Judeo-Christian in nature (They use a Bible, but I don't know if they use a Koran or a Torah in nations with a majority i other religions.)
[ April 26, 2003, 10:28 AM: Message edited by: First of Two ]
-------------------- "The best defense is not a good offense. The best defense is a terrifyingly accurate and devastatingly powerful offense, with multiply-overlapping kill zones and time-on-target artillery strikes." -- Laurence, Archangel of the Sword
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quote:Originally posted by First of Two: It's B. Jews can be Masons. So, for that matter, can Muslims, or anybody else who believes in a Supreme Being. Although the overtones, even in the Blue Lodge (the most basic) are decidedly Judeo-Christian in nature (They use a Bible, but I don't know if they use a Koran or a Torah in nations with a majority i other religions.)
Out of curiosity, how engraved in stone (pun not-intended) would that be? So more technically, any monotheistic religious background is fine, but polytheism (Hindu, Bhuddist...not too sure about that one, native American) is not? How about atheism, agnostics, or deists? Or for that matter Confuscian or Taoism, which are both more philosophical than relgious?
Or is this all just a "this is the way it is and has always been, we'll deal with it when we get to it" kind of deal?
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posted
IIRC, Rob claims to be a deist. So, he would qualify.
"So more technically, any monotheistic religious background is fine, but polytheism (Hindu, Bhuddist...not too sure about that one, native American) is not? How about atheism, agnostics, or deists? Or for that matter Confuscian or Taoism, which are both more philosophical than relgious?"
I don't know about polytheism, since he didn't say "one and only one supreme being". But, obviously, by definition, deists would be in and atheists and agnostics would be out.
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posted
Actually I think the hindus see the universe as more of a whole, with the various dieties being facets of the supreme...so you could in that way interprit it as monotheisitc.
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posted
Hiranyagarbha is the central one, with all others being manifestations of him, er, it....
-------------------- "You are a terrible human, Ritten." Magnus "Urgh, you are a sick sick person..." Austin Powers A leek too, pretty much a negi.....
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