Path: utzoo!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!mailrus!uwm.edu!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!sunybcs!rutgers!aramis.rutgers.edu!athos.rutgers.edu!christian From: PTREI@asgard.bbn.com Newsgroups: soc.religion.christian Subject: Re: Christianity and Freemasonry. Message-ID: Date: 23 Dec 89 05:03:58 GMT Sender: hedrick@athos.rutgers.edu Lines: 49 Approved: christian@aramis.rutgers.edu > hedrick@cs.rutgers.edu writes: > [I'd be interested in your reaction to the official Masonic response, ^^^^^^^^ The only portion of my message which anyone could call "official" is the quoted pamphlet. The rest is mine. > [...] I could imagine any of > - that you simply don't believe it > - that you believe it is inappropriate for a group to speak on > religious issues even as far as requiring belief in a supreme > being (which they say they do) without being explicitly Christian > - that you find some activity that they think is non-religious which > you believe is so close to religion that it should only be done > in an explicitly Christian context. Well, I can imagine at least one other: - Accept it. Realize that your negative estimation of Freemasonry is based on ignorance and misinformation, and modify it accordingly. For those who wish to learn more about Masonry (even if only to argue from a position of knowledge :-), I recommend two books: "The Craft: A History of English Freemasonry." by John Hamill. Crucible '86. ISBN 0-85030-460-1. This scholarly history is well-written and very readable, but confines itself to England. It includes an interesting chapter about attacks on Masonry. "The Builders" by Rev. Joseph Fort Newton, Macoy Publishing and Masonic Supply Co., Richmond, VA. ISBN 0-88053-045-6. Originally published in 1914, it's still in print, and in many libraries. This is a somewhat tougher read, but goes much more into the religious aspects of Freemasonry from the point of view of a Christian minister (albeit in 1914). go with God (and merry Christmas), Peter Trei Senior Steward Wilder Lodge AF&AM Leominster, MA. ptrei@asgard.bbn.com Behold, how good and pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity! - Psalm 133 [disclaimer: The above are MY opinions, and do not neccesarily represent those of my employer or any Grand Lodge]