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Debate Score:7
Arguments:4
Total Votes:7
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 Is Freemasonry a religion in and of itself? (4)

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MrObvious(45) pic



Is Freemasonry a religion in and of itself?

Many who belong to Freemasonry claim that it is not a religion. Some who have left Freemasonry left because they felt it was a religion and that it conflicted with their worldview.

 

They call God the Great Architect of the Universe (GAOTU) and pray to him. Some have said that you cannot pray to Allah, Jesus, Krishna or any other god during official ceremonies. You cannot be an atheist and be a mason.

Do you believe that Freemasonry is a religion?

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2 points

No, because you can be any religion and a freemason. You just have to believe in some higher power. They won't allow you to name the higher power, because they're not into that. Believe in whatever you want. As long as it is something and not nothing.

MrObvious(45) Disputed
3 points

Which would make it a universalist religion, a religion that accepts all as equally relevant and all paths lead to the same destination.

Side: Religion

I agree with your take on this. The Universalist believes everything and all religions can belong.

Side: Religion
1 point

Freemasonry is a religion.

Religion is defined as;

noun

the belief in and worship of a superhuman controlling power, esp. a personal God or gods : ideas about the relationship between science and religion.

• details of belief as taught or discussed

• a particular system of faith and worship

• a pursuit or interest to which someone ascribes supreme importance

In Freemasonry they have their own literature, they pray to GOATU, the believe he is a deity, they have their own method of teaching and instruction, they worship GOATU. I believe by the very definition of religion, Masonry is a form of religion. Maybe in the beginning of Freemasonry it wasn't this way, but the Freemasonry of today appears to be a religion, more specifically a universalist religion.

Side: Religion