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Dave Mavity
Super Moderator
Posts: 2371
Registered: Feb 2005 |
 Posted October 4th, 2006 06:19 PM IP   
10th Degree
Elu of the Fifteen
David D. Mavity 32°
Pike in M&D states first that “Masonry is not a religion. He who makes of it a religious belief falsifies and denaturalizes it.” He then follows: “ Masonry teaches, and has preserved in their purity the cardinal tenets of the old primitive faith, which underlie and are the foundation of all religions…Masonry is the universal morality which is suitable to the inhabitants of every clime, to the man of every creed.” (M&D 161)
These two statements are seemingly contradictory, and are used by our detractors as evidence that “Masonry is, indeed, a religion.” Worse, many Brethren are also confused by these words, and unable to effectively explain their real meaning. In the first case, Pike is easily taken out of context, and such misuse of Masonic writers’ words is often used by anti- Masons, both out of malice, and out of ignorance. In the second case, most Brethren rarely read or study Morals and Dogma, and have difficulty in getting to the basic meanings of Pike’s Lectures.
Statement #1: “Masonry is not a religion.”
Most Masons have found themselves in a conversation where this point has come up, and it’s something we ourselves stumble over. The usual line is “we’re not a religion, but we are religious.”
That usually doesn’t help, because most who believe that Masonry is a religion are completely unaware of the Initiatic tradition, and many can’t separate the idea of religious men, meeting in Temples, and what they perceive as religious practice, which is generally done by religious people in a place of worship.
Even Masons are perplexed by this, to the extent that we have begun calling our Craft and Scottish Rite Temples “Centers,” unwilling or unable to explain one of the meanings of a Temple as a place of learning, not a place of worship.
W.L. Wilmhurst sums up this “Masonry as religion” issue well, as well as explaining the Initiatic aspect:
“Masonry, therefore, like every Initiation system, is not non- religious, but super- sectarian, and directed to secrets and mysteries of Being with which popular religion does not deal.
It is ontological and philosophic, but not theological.”
Now, strip away the dogma from religion, and what do we have?
Statement #2: “Masonry teaches, and has preserved in their purity, the cardinal tenets of the old primitive faith which underlie and are the foundation and are the foundation of all religions.”
A couple of definitions may be in order, here. (It’s my definition, but…it’s my paper):
I define philosophy as an examination of man’s purpose, his relationship with Deity, and his duties towards his fellow man, with the true philosopher working to put his reflections and conclusions into practice. Masonry, and Scottish Rite Masonry in particular, is Pike’s “primitive faith.”
Religion is dogmatized, doctrinized philosophy, generally culturally or racially specific.
But, understand, that religion has, at its core, this pure philosophy, just “cluttered- up.”
So, is Freemasonry a Religion?
No, but…what a difference an “a” makes. We can answer “yes” to this, if we use the previous definition of religion as a philosophy describing the relationship between man and Deity, and our duties towards each other, as long as we strip away the sectarian dogma, and make a slight change to the question: is Freemasonry religion? Perhaps we’re asking the wrong question, but in the end analysis, the average “anti” simply isn’t going to understand the difference.
But, sectarianism seems to be an automatic component once philosophy, and particularly initiatic philosophy, becomes religion. Take, for example, the post- Nicene Christian Mysteries. Originally a simple philosophy, taught by one very controversial Rabbi, explaining the Unity of G-d, the Law of Love, and the Divine within, which, through dogmatic meddling, political influence, and playing upon the superstition of the masses eventually devolved to the highly dogmatic religion that is most visible today.
Interesting to note, however, that there have always been practitioners of the Christian faith who still approach it, more- or- less, in the tradition of a mystical system, and, more interesting, is the resurgence of this method of belief in the late 20th/ early 21st centuries. A quick glance through the Internet will turn up several “Gnostic Christian” websites and seminaries, and there is a current movement to revitalize the Cathar tradition in both Europe and the U.S..
There might still be an easier way to approach this Masonry as religion question. Often people will make distinctions between being spiritual vs. being religious. The distinction is largely semantic, yet with the distaste many have today for the actions and dogmatic, narrow- minded thinking of much sectarian religion, there could be a case made for the difference in our modern usage of the terms. There are enough people who openly say “I’m spiritual, but not religious,” to legitimately say, that: while some people subscribe to a particular “religion” and set of dogmatic beliefs, some people simply do not, and take a much larger view. I believe we can take a view of Masonry as a spiritual path, and still have it be very much within the framework of philosophy, without calling it “religion.”
Some of our Brethren will shy away from this idea of “spirituality” in Masonry, tying this in with “religion,” but it is very important to realize that Masonry, as philosophy, has a very large spiritual component. How could it not?
Freemasonry without spirituality is only half a philosophy, as is Freemasonry without reason and intellect. Freemasonry, properly understood, respects both reason and spirituality.
The simple answer is this, and it’s an answer upon which Pike and Wilmhurst seem to agree:
Masonry transcends religion, because what Masonry teaches are the core truths of all religions, just stripped of all doctrine and dogma. Pure and unadulterated. Philosophy, without doctrinal and dogmatic trappings. This is the “primitive faith” to which Pike alludes- Freemasonry as the basic philosophy on which all religion depends. His choice of words is honest, open, and straightforward, and, unfortunately, beyond the understanding of today’s majority of the uninitiated, common man.
Dave Mavity
Academia Lodge #847 F&AM, Oakland, CA: Traditional Observance, baby.
Golden City Lodge #1 AF&AM, Golden, CO
Oakland, CA Valley A&ASR
Intra Nobis Regnum Iehova
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Peter Taylor
Master Mason
Posts: 1946
Registered: Aug 2005 |
Posted October 5th, 2006 08:19 AM IP
Good stuff Dave! Had a quick read and will read a couple of times more! Not an easy subject: "Philosophy of Religion", deeply interests me but it also does my head in too!
Regards, Peter
PM Lodge Albert 448, PM Lodge Discovery 1789, Provincial Grand Secretary of Forfarshire, Hon. 54, 164, 299, 327, 486; PZ RA Chapter Albert 503, Installed Mark Master, AASR (30th), PMWS Rose Croix, ROoS, KT, KTP, OSM, RCC, RAM, CC, SRIS, Squaremen
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john ford
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Posted October 5th, 2006 08:37 PM IP
I have responded on the other forum - perhaps I should have posted here.
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Jeb_Carroll
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Posted October 6th, 2006 02:29 AM IP
I think it was well done Dave. A very good paper indeed, however I agree with Peter as it being a touchy subject.
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skiendhu
Super Moderator
Posts: 2627
Registered: Dec 2004 |
Posted October 6th, 2006 11:09 AM IP
A well thought out and researched paper Dave and well written.
And even although I can hardly be described as a fan of Pyke, I have to agree with most of what you say.
My opinions on religion and its questionable use to mankind are fairly well documented on this forum, as is my thoughts on the existence of God so I need not expound further.
Sufficient to say that your paper is well received and appreciated.
S&F
Practical experience is the best teacher
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Dave Mavity
Super Moderator
Posts: 2371
Registered: Feb 2005 |
Posted October 6th, 2006 01:48 PM IP
Thanks, all.
Br. John, critique read and appreciated. Working on a response to it.
Yeah, this whole issue is an extremely controversial one in Masonry, and something that people are uncomfortable with. Just FYI, that was written for the SR coursework in the College of the Consistory out of the Guthrie, OK, Consistory. That particular school pretty much requires that we tackle the more controversial teachings of the SR (and there are many) in general, and of Pike in particular.
S&F,
Dave Mavity
Academia Lodge #847 F&AM, Oakland, CA: Traditional Observance, baby.
Golden City Lodge #1 AF&AM, Golden, CO
Oakland, CA Valley A&ASR
Intra Nobis Regnum Iehova
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A.T.Smith
Master Mason
Posts: 1739
Registered: Jul 2006 |
Posted November 14th, 2006 10:35 PM IP
Absolutely lovely Dave!!! I don't think i've ever heard the question answered quite so succinctly!
Gotta love that truth!
I recomend Cyber Grand-Honors! (at least 7)
Cheers!
Under the Shadow of Thy Wings
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norwichman
Master Mason
Posts: 195
Registered: Jul 2005 |
Posted November 15th, 2006 06:04 PM IP
Dave
Could you post this in The Esoteric section of TFM (The Freemason.com Forum).
Very interesting and well written.
Thank you.
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BroGregg
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Posted December 14th, 2006 02:45 PM IP
Great paper Dave, the wisdom it contains will no doubt come in handy next time i am faced by one who contends that FM is a religion. Thanks.
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Everyything
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Posted December 14th, 2006 07:08 PM IP
Quote:
Masonry teaches, and has preserved in their purity the cardinal tenets of the old primitive faith, which underlie and are the foundation of all religions…Masonry is the universal morality which is suitable to the inhabitants of every clime, to the man of every creed.” |
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Freemason Discussion Group :: Freemasonry :: Research Papers :: Is Masonry a religion? |
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