I will not really give my own opinion yet, I’m more curious of others.
Though I will say that my opinion falls along the lines that since the definition of Cult applies to Christianity and every other religion in its beginnings, it is a useless term.
But we all know what definition of “Cult” I mean in this question.
I am just curious is Freemasonry a cult? Or is it a benevolent organization for old geezers?
Or is it something in between?
Thanks for the link, so what’s YOUR take on it? 
But to correct, “The Master”. Masonry only consists of 3 degrees, 4 technically.
After the GLoE first was formed and Masonry went public, there was a differing opinion on where the degrees should end, the Irish wanted the Mark Master to be a part of the Blue Lodge, this was later not accepted totally.
The 33 degrees only relates to the additional 30 degrees from the Scottish Rite, which wasn’t formed until the mid-1800s abouts. And it is only a primarily American Rite, indeed I doubt many Englishmen would even know of it.
In my opinion, considering that there are technically only 3 degrees of Masonry anyways, the idea of Jahbulon playing any part seems silly.
That’s just me though
Huh? I know a guy who’s a 32nd degree Mason. I don’t know much about what he does as a Mason though. The best reaction I got out of him is when I showed him some Mason chick tracts (for a laugh obviously) he told me that the tract was wildly inaccurate but wouldn’t elaborate on anything.
Is it a cult? Seems more like a club with quasi religious overtones.
Opps I must have dozed off when I read your post and missed where you explained about the extra degrees.
Nevermind.
To clarify, the reason I state that there are technically only 3 degrees in Masonry, is because, there are.
The 32nd-33rd degrees are the last degrees apart of the Scottish Rite, which is an apendant body you must be a Mason to join.
The reason the 4th degree is seperated from all the rest of the apendant bodies (the 4th is apart of York or Scottish Rites), is because it actually used to be taught to Masons, and not as a part of another group. It was altered when things went public back in 1717.
To further emphasize this point, the Duke of Kent I believe is the current Grand Master in England, and he is only a 3rd degree Mason.
Calling someone a 32nd Degree Mason is just saying someone’s in the Scottish rite as well. If he were at the 13th degree of the York Rite he’d be a Templar.
Since you posted this in Great Debates and not IMHO, why don’t you just go ahead and give us your opinion on the matter? Also, would you mind telling us the definition of “cult” that we all supposedly know?
Let’s put it this way: Does Freemasonry do the things we usually associate with “cults” such as the Unification Church, the Church of Scientology and the Hare Krishnas? Does it aggressively try to recruit new members? Does it “brainwash” its members? Does it demand of them absolute loyalty in areas of life most people do not consider the legitimate business of any church? Does it require its members to give the church lots and lots of money, or go out and sell flowers on street corners to raise funds? So far as I know, the Masons have never done any of these things. They do control all the world’s governments, churches and major corporations through robot clones of the ostensible leaders, but that makes them a conspiracy, not a cult. So there.
Cult, n [Fr. culte, L. cultus, from colere, to cultivate, worship.]
1. worship; reverential honor; religious devotion. [Obs.]
2. the system of outward forms and ceremonies used in worship; religious rites and formalities.
3. devoted attachment to, or extravagant admiration for, a person, principle, etc., especially when regarded as a fad; as, the cult of nudism.
4. a group of followers; sect.
(Webster’s New Twentieth Century Dictionary Unabridged, second edition. c. 1977 and 1975 by William Collins+World Publishing Co., Inc.)
I think that cult doesn’t apply to Freemasonry being that it for one is not a religion. But also because its forms are not outward (implication of soliciting or observable by others). Also Masonry does not constitute anything of religious rites or formalities. I think it is Ironic most religions (Catholicism for instance), consider Masonry a cult when really 3 definitions of cult are directly related towards describing what the Catholic Church is, and no definition of Cult can truly describe masonry except maybe sense 4 or 3.
Not a cult, but every May 17th, they kill a white kitten.
Uh, are we trying to establish whether Masonry’s a cult so we can decide whether it should be banned, or what?
Anyway, in my limited knowledge of Masonry, the more cultish aspects have to do with some members using the society for their own ends; I’m thinking of the P2 scandal in Italy a few years ago. Otherwise, not a cult.
Tangent: How does an average fellow join the Masons?
Daoloth I’m sure if you’re interested enough you’ll find a way.
Not to be flip but the standard answer is “ask a Mason.”
They don’t actively recruit but basically you just get another Mason to sponsor you.
It’s pretty much just a social club with some overlay of faith. They have ecumenical prayers, but they don’t endorse or follow any specific religion. there are lots of Jewish members.
This seems to be a good time to draw attention to my signature.
In other news, the York and Scottish Rites are largely American groups (like the Shrine) and so a thirty-second degree holder (like myself) just gets odd looks in nonAmerican Lodges.
Masonry only has three degrees, the rest are for fun more or less.
my experience extends only to the Military Masonry (specifically Price Hall)
but to me it looked way more like a Good 'ol boy program. People that were “in” and had superiors in their units (military) that were also masons seemed to get things easier just by slapping a grip (peculiar handshake) on a fellow mason in the area necesary to get required favor and saying something like “Mah Bruthah I need…” and things did tend to get done rather quickly (if a bit shady)
Lots of Jewish Masons? Really, hmm I didn’t know that. I’ve known a lot of Masons and not one to my knowledge was Jewish. Then again, there’s not a lot of Jewish folks where I live. Also, I couldn’t really care less what religion a person is or even if they are religious at all.
Man that’s great, I learned something today! I was afraid I’d wasted all this time and bandwidth on …nevermind.
Off to do some research, we obsessive compulsives gotta dig deeper. 