[homer simpson]
But what if I were to shake your hand in this wise?
[/homer simpson]
Well, obviously, as joining the Masons is still grounds for excommunication. And they don’t excommunicate anyone on a whim.
I don’t quite follow you here. Are you saying that your faith in Christ is in line with Gnostic Christianity? Just a question for you.
But is it, still? I haven’t seen that conclusively demonstrated in this thread.
I think that if members weren’t expected to give each other business advantages, they wouldn’t find it necessary to make people swear that wasn’t their motivation.
It would be like making them swear they weren’t joining to get free punch ‘n’ pie, even though there was neither punch nor pie on the premises.
Ah, Neurotik, you miss the point, my confrere. “A man joining the Masonic Fraternity swears that he is not motivated by any consideration of business advantage.” Joining he thus swears. But later, he may change. We all do. It’s only human.
And note mswas’s words: “The secrets I am not allowed to divulge are my brother’s personal business”. Business here could mean business as in work, or business as in affairs. Or both. Or neither. Perhaps only Osiris knows?
What makes me suspect that the Craft may contain its fair share of lawyers?Besides all the architects and stone-masons, of course.
Not to mention doctors, dentists, teachers, mechanics, gardeners, laborers, members of the military, state governors, presidents of the USA, senators, congresscritters, and so on.
So how many of those four books have you actually read?
Or did you just lift them from here? Or here? Or here? Or one of the other dozen or so variations of that article on the Web?
Worse, you didn’t even bother to check whether those particular references are the ones that the articles cites for your examples. Thus Russell’s Witchcraft in the Middle Ages is only cited to support the claim that, ‘according to modern scholars several hundred thousand’ witches were executed between 1484 and 1750, a claim that incidentally ‘modern scholars’ now firmly reject. And for which of your examples is A True Account of the Most Considerable Occurrences evidence?
Hey, nice links. Thank you. However, if you want to disagree with me, feel free to do so in Catholic Church I pit you. (not catholic dopers, however.) as I have noted in post 53 of this thread that I am getting off topic. I have yet to see a response telling me why those deaths were necessary to the “Forces of Good”. Maybe you can.
It’s customary to respond to a post in the thread in which it was originally posted. You give the impression of trying to avoid dealing with the observation that you don’t seem to have command of your source material. I’m sure that’s not the case; this is your opportunity to demonstrate that you’re debating in good faith. I for one am anxious to see you do so.
Alright then. I have not read over the books I quoted. As believed I simply listed them I have however read the (fiction) book
The Last Jew along with college history books and have no doubt that the catholic church is a major religion. This is largely thanks to untold millions dead at the hands of good christians. I also see no more of a reason to doubt the textbooks I have read than I do to believe that the moon landing was faked.
Which I don’t. Now, I realize that this does not make me the most credible person to list points, but I found the apologists I read on pro-christian sites to be of even less credibility then I have with those who disbelieve my points.
Until you can actually support your assertions with reason and evidence, you will continue to lack credibility. “Well, they suck too!” is not usually considered evidentiary.
I that case I will actually look up the books mention and read them. That doesn’t make the claims any less true however.
Now, anyone still around who wants to post on topic? If so, I am sorry this took so long.
Not since 1983. http://www.clearlightcatholic.com/masonic/whataremasons.htm
Really? Oh well, then I appologize.
:smack:
However, even the 1983 document stated that active involvement in Freemasonry is still considered by the RCC incompatible with active participation in the Church. Only that apparently it’s now just an ordinary run-of-the-mill sin… :doubtful:
I am amazed Masonry can create so much excitment.
While we are careening off the OP so far, please take note of the phone number below. The Shrine Hospitals are the biggest chain of free hospitals in the US. I hope you never need them, but if you ever know a child in need give them a call.
Free treatment, free transport, no means test, no religion test, no test as to relationship with a Shriner.
Also we go little tiny cars.
OK, back to your arguments.
I had to pop back in to agree 100% with this post.
And funny hats. Don’t forget the funny hats.
And decent circuses.
To respond to LouisB, are you telling us that no favor is shown to a business associate who is a fellow Mason?