I am not an atheist.

I joined freemasonry recently and have enjoyed every minute of it. However, I saw a person I knew before joining, and know to be very anti religious at an event. I know in lodge we do not discuss religion so I assume his brothers in his lodge don't know his beliefs. However, I can only assume he was asked the same questions I was as in do you believe etc.

I probed him on this. I said I was surprised to see him there as I didn't think he was a believer. He said yeah it's just one of those things, like singing the national anthem, that we do and say but doesn't mean too much and he is still a commited brother.

I have no doubts he is a good brother. He is a very good man, a man I look up to, a real pillar of the community sort of guy. I know he gives a lot to charity, he is a key member of his lodge and is well respected and loved in the brotherhood. He has held provoncial rank and is a mentor.

I find myself in a conundrum how I feel about this. Just looking for some input and sanity checking. I won't call this brother out and I wish him all the best, but I wonder how he squares it away in his heart. Atheists can be good men and should we bar them or force them to lie to join us? Or is he wrong and lying to his brothers and not a good person deep down?

Edited to add: I thank you all for your input and I think I have rashly jumped to the conclusion this person is an atheist, whereas in reality it is more likely he has his own personal beliefs and thoughts on the GAOTU and I shouldn't have been so quick to assume his thoughts as such

Both my Dad and Grandpa are MM and went on to complete their 32nd degree within the Scottish rite. They’ve had quite the impression on me, obviously. Both very good men who would help anyone without a second thought and without being asked. I’ve always felt a sense of safety from other Masons. I’ve always made it a point when I’m traveling, even though I’m not a mason (yet, my petition is being presented in open lodge in two weeks)to look up a local lodge in case I ever needed true help. I’ve always felt as though if I were in trouble, not with the law or anything, that I could find a mason and tell them I’m a masons son and in need of help and it would be given, within reason. Do you think this would be the case?

I was researching a future trip and found a lodge that really peaked my interest. This would be my first visit to a different lodge, Has anyone been?

Hi all My father has been a lifelong for Mason my earliest childhood memories of him disappearing a couple of times a week in his penguin suit. We attended a lodge meeting where we were invited into the lodge to see dad receive his 60 year badge or whatever. I’m just curious that dad has never had any sort of discussion with me About joining the lodge not that I’d want to but is it a thing not to recruit your children or family members.?

A brother asked my help in finding something out. I was asked to keep his identity private. He wants to handle this quietly, so this information was given to me as a secret of a MM only to be shared at this time without his name or Identity attached. This brother and I joined different lodges around the same time 25 years ago. At that time we were both very young and he was a zealous Christian. Perhaps a bit intolerant at the time, but a real good guy for an early 20s guy. I went inactive for around 15 years and during that time he evolved. He told me he no longer can say that God exists, but neither can he say God does not, but he lives his life as though God doesn't. He told me God(s) may exist as a person with a character, or it may be an impersonable force which drives life and it's evolution. He says he also finds it seriously possible life as we know it is a simulation being ran on something like our computers by a creature(s) that might be considered God(s) since they would be creators of our universe.

Questions This brother assures me he told the truth when joining, and I have no doubt that's true. We attended a church of The Lutheran Church Missouri Synod together which is very traditional and he was dedicated. He said his beliefs changed rather slowly over time and he moved church membership over the years until leaving Christianity altogether some time ago. I don't know what definition of atheist Grand Lodge goes on, as there is a disagreement even among atheists as to weather it means You know God does not exist, or you are not convinced God exists which it sounds like is him. Does this brother and good man have to leave Freemasonry?

#fezfriday #Grottoesinternational #ESGA #Grotto #MOVPER #travelingatthespeedofgrotto #Grandhistorianscorner #Freemasonry #itscalledbrotherhood

How do y'all find a lodge that is active? Been wanting to join and continue to better myself but I can't find any in town. Any of y'all have any resources to find freemason lodges to join?

https://beafreemason.org/

looking at becoming a mason want to know more.

Pretty straightforward question. Can they share that information? Is it weird to ask? I'm just trying to find out if an uncle of mine was but the family he left behind when he passed has been estranged from the rest of us. If this varies by location, it would have been in Ontario, Canada.

Hey, long story short, I was hanging around a lodge for about a year, submitted petition, haven't been back for a few months because I was traveling for work.

Lodge just let me know I have the degree in a week or so.

I hate asking this question and I don't need specifics - do I need to prep anything for this degree or can I just show up?

Thank you!

I genuinely and wholeheartedly believe I am meant to be a freemason as everything I do and see is pointing me in this direction, or in the very least learn all that I can. I have a thirst for knowledge and a desire to make myself into a better man, right now I have been trying to focus on doing inner work. And contribute to my community by helping when I found myself capable of doing so wherever I am in my travels. 2 questions

1. where can I find a book that is publicly available that follows the dogma and doctrines.
2. What would the correct procedure be in joining my local lodge# 33.

Any Pagan/Wiccan/Heathen brothers here in Massachusetts? How do you square the circle with the GL Monotheistic requirement? Has it ever been an issue?

Before I made MM, I was not aware of the Monotheistic requirement as the GL website stated "Belief in a supreme being."...to learn that MA GL requires belief in Monotheism.

Anyone struggle with this? Anyone get blackballed in any affiliated lodges?

I was put off of Manly P Hall because it was too sweeping and speculative for my liking. Is Wilmhurst the same?

Curious about how

Good evening brethren,

Anyone have any clues where this pin badge originated from and any history?

I was given a box of treasures and this was in the box.

Cheers

Been looking into Freemasons and their literature and I like the self development aspect of it. Seems really interesting and I want to join a lodge. The only thing is I don’t know anyone in the craft and from what I read it’s how mostly older men and is kind of dying out.

How would I go about introducing myself to my local lodge?

I’m new to learning and inquiring about this so I’m curious if anyone has knowledge on the lodges in Charlotte. There are a few all over the city but I was curious if any of them have a good or bad reputation, if they have some younger members, just any general knowledge.
Thanks y’all!

I’ve been looking into this since a teenager, but I’ve had a bit of a turbulent (but very straight and narrow) life and never got to stick around in one place for too long.. is there any lodge accepting new members in the DMV area?

Hey all, just a thought I've had got a long time, and I've been wondering y'all's thoughts on it.

In the last couple of months I've started visiting lots of lodges, and as such, meeting a lot of brethren. Every time I end up talking to a brother for a long time, I end up asking them why they joined (because I like to know, and it's a good way to get to know someone). Typically this leads to them responding by asking why I did, and as always the topic of family comes up.

I always respond "No Masons as far as I know, my grandfather always wanted to be one, but he couldn't because he was an atheist." To which I have now had two brothers respond "well I'm an atheist" and at that point I've just gone "fair enough" and left it be, because I suppose there's a reason we don't discuss religion.

I was wondering if anyone on here was atheist and could explain how that works, especially UGLE Masons, because I can't wrap my head around it. One said (before we changed topics) that he finds the term "supreme being" vague enough that it worked out for him, but I'm just a bit lost. Personally for me I can't see how it would work as an atheist, but if anyone has any experience with it I'm just curious to know, and I don't want to press on the brethren I do know to avoid any disharmony.

Edit: lots of folks are referencing the Masters' obligations, as I'm an FC I haven't received that yet so would know.

Does anyone know of this video or where to watch it? I think it was recorded in the late 90s, early 2000s by a guy whose name I cannot remember. He references quite a few books in the video as well and possibly wrote one or two himself ?

I’ve watched it multiple times over a period of time and now its seems to of disappeared from my search history / saved videos. Originally got the link for it off another reddit user awhile back, which again I cannot seem to find for the life of me. The rabbit hole that lead me to that comment is long gone as well lol.

It is the most fascinating video I’ve ever seen on freemasonry with a surreal amount of factual information, along with some hypothetical stuff as well, of course.

Thanks

Looking at getting some accounting software that can keep track of members dues and invoices…. What do people use or should l say avoid? I’ve found this software tool online that seems to tick the boxes….

https://www.theworkingtools.co.uk/

Has anyone used it yet?

Really appreciate your help in advance

Since we're edging towards Friday and that Freemasons tend to have a good sense of humour in seeing some similarities here and there, I wished to pose a question on this:

When looking at Gringots Bank in Harry Potter and the Freemasonary Hall in London...I see small similarities both exterior and interior.

What do ya'll think?

[Forgive me if this isn't appropriate for this subreddit, just a silly observation I'd like to share considering everything in this movie appears to be associated with freemasonry in some way )according to the observers that be online - another discussion if anyone wishes to spark that in this post with a comment]

I heard Continental Masons allow Atheists into their society and are also Atheistic. Can y'all tell me how can people become Continental Masons and what are your thoughts on it?

Hey there, I was looking around Charlotte, NC at the different lodges and was curious if I am allowed to join if I’m gay? A little about me, I’m a gay 25 year old man in Charlotte, NC. I’ve been in a relationship for 5 years, have a college degree and work full time.
I moved from Texas recently, and while I lived there, a man invited me to join his Lodge. He was very friendly in the time I knew him but I wasn’t out at the time so he didn’t know I was gay. Ever since then I’ve been intrigued about joining.