| Freemasonry
and Religion
Our purpose as Freemasons is not that of a religion. Freemasonry lacks the
basic elements of religion. Freemasonry is not a religion nor is it a substitute for religion.
- Freemasonry advocates no sectarian faith or practice.
- We seek no converts.
- We solicit no new members.
- We raise no money for religious purposes.
- We have no dogma or theology. Religious discussion is
forbidden in a masonic lodge thereby eliminating the chance for any masonic
dogma to form.
- It offers no sacraments and does not claim to lead to salvation by
works, by secret knowledge, or by any other means. The secrets of
Freemasonry are concerned with the modes of recognition only and not with
the means of salvation.
- By any definition of religion accepted by our critics, we
cannot qualify as a religion.
- Freemasonry supports religion. Freemasonry is far from indifferent
to religion. Without interfering in religious practice, it expects each
member to follow his own faith.
A man does not subscribe to a new religion, much less to an anti-Christian
religion when he becomes a Freemason, any more than when he joins any
political party or the YMCA. There is nothing in Freemasonry that is
opposed to the religion he brings with him into the masonic lodge.
Freemasonry does not assert nor does it teach that one religion is as good
as another. Freemasonry admits men of all religions. Freemasons believe in
religious freedom and that the relationship between the individual and his
God is personal, private and sacred.
We do not apply a theological test to a candidate. We do ask a man if he
believes in God and that is the only religious test. Belief in God is
faith; belief about God is theology. As Freemasons we are interested in
faith only and not in theology. Religion is not permitted to be discussed
at masonic meetings.
Freemasonry is a completely tolerant organization. When Freemasonry accepts
a Christian, or a Jew, or a Buddhist, or a Mohammedan, it does not accept
him as such, but accepts him as a man, worthy to be received into the
masonic fraternity.
Freemasonry stands for the values that are supreme in the life of the
church and expects each member to follow his own faith and to place his
duty to God above all other duties. We are sure that a member who is true
to the principles he learns in Freemasonry will be a better church member
because of it.
This statement is based on the Statement on Freemasonry and Religion as prepared by the Masonic Information Center of North America.
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