Do masons build?

[Albion]

It doesn't seem to bother Washington.

http://news.nationalgeographic.com/...090915-05-george-washington-freemason_big.jpg

Wearing a Girl Scout sash might have, however.

 

[Albion]

Ah, you know full well what Biblical Christianity is. It is my Christianity versus your Christianity.

A lot of people would say that how one LIVES and BEHAVES is a more important part of being a Christian than saying "I'm a 'Biblical Christian' and you're not." (with apologies to Chevy Chase )

 

[pyramid33]

Wearing a Girl Scout sash might have, however.

Really?

 

[pyramid33]

A lot of people would say that how one LIVES and BEHAVES is a more important part of being a Christian than saying "I'm a 'Biblical Christian' and you're not." (with apologies to Chevy Chase )

So not swearing oaths.

 

[pyramid33]

Absolutely. This is why there are different church groups. It's like the Baptist saying they are Biblical and the Methodist are not. They are both Christian groups who happen to view parts of the Bible different. Just like the Masons here see no conflict with their faith and the lodge. I would not want someone in my lodge who thought it was against their faith to be there.

Does your lodge come first or your faith?

 

[smaneck]

So not swearing oaths.

Or maybe the rest of Matthew 5:

"38 “You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’[f] 39 But I tell you not to resist an evil person. But whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also. 40 If anyone wants to sue you and take away your tunic, let him have your cloak also. 41 And whoever compels you to go one mile, go with him two. 42 Give to him who asks you, and from him who wants to borrow from you do not turn away."

When Christians do that then we can worry about whether or not they are doing Matthew 5:33-37.

 

[pyramid33]

Or maybe the rest of Matthew 5:

"38 “You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’[f] 39 But I tell you not to resist an evil person. But whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also. 40 If anyone wants to sue you and take away your tunic, let him have your cloak also. 41 And whoever compels you to go one mile, go with him two. 42 Give to him who asks you, and from him who wants to borrow from you do not turn away."

When Christians do that then we can worry about whether or not they are doing Matthew 5:33-37.

Do Bahai's believe in the resurrection of Christ as Masons do?

 

[Albion]

So not swearing oaths.

Is that your determiner of whether a person is living as Christ taught us to live?

 

[pyramid33]

Is that your determiner of whether a person is living as Christ taught us to live?

A person? The gospel says dont swear. Matthew 5:34

Can't be for the gospel and against it.

God is the way, the truth and the life.

 

[Albion]

A person? The gospel says dont swear. Matthew 5:34

So you never do...right? Christ did, you know, so that might give anyone who thinks this is a cut and dried matter some second thoughts.

I don't remember you saying, when this came up before, that you won't swear in court if called as a juror or witness, won't swear if joining the military, or in any other situation. Would you?

 

[americanvet]

Does your lodge come first or your faith?

No.

 

[smaneck]

Do Bahai's believe in the resurrection of Christ as Masons do?

Not all Masons do believe in the resurrection of Christ. You don't have to be a Christian to be a Mason you just have to believe in God. As for what I believe, I believe personally, I'm rather persuaded by James M. Robinson's scholarship on this issue. I'm not just a Baha'i, I'm an academic.

 

[Simpleman25]

A lot of people would say that how one LIVES and BEHAVES is a more important part of being a Christian than saying "I'm a 'Biblical Christian' and you're not." (with apologies to Chevy Chase )

FINALLY! Someone with a sense of humor.

 

[smaneck]

I don't remember you saying, when this came up before, that you won't swear in court if called as a juror or witness, won't swear if joining the military, or in any other situation. Would you?

What I want to know is if he gives to every beggar and borrower like Matthew 5:42 says?

 

[Skip Sampson]

He relies to much on GL documents, believing them to be the final word.

The GL is the authority for their jurisdiction, and they have direct control over their subordinate lodges. What they teach is Masonic 'truth' in their jurisdictions.

My lodge for example openly states that only Christians will be allowed to join. Other masons on this forum don't have that guideline in their lodge. What does skip do? Call me a liar.

That is untrue. I believe you when you say that your lodge violates your GL guidelines on membership. I do not believe you when you say a candidate memorizes his obligation before undergoing the EA degree.

Albion and I have offered it to him.

No, you haven't.

Yet skip thinks we are somehow in cahoots.

No, I think you are using the same tactics of deception to achieve a common goal.

Fact is only time we've talked is here in an open forum.

Not sure that is true, unless you consider your Freemasonry social group on this site 'open.'

He's still wondering why I believe emfj and e511 are cults. I've explained it in great detail nnumerous times.

No, you haven't. Feel free to provide the link to such explanations. Cordially, Skip.

 

[Skip Sampson]

The Freemasons is a secret society.

That is untrue. They tell us it is more a 'society with secrets.'

Yeah, but it doesn't sound to me like there is that much uniformity.

Actually, there is quite a bit of uniformity in the degrees, though differences do exist. Some jurisdictions make more or less of the ritual optional to shorten things, and there are shortened degrees that can be used. They are certainly not lockstep; however, 'uniform' is applicable.

And if this information is so freely given as you suggest, doesn't that give lie to your assertion that candidates have no idea what they are swearing to until they are standing there naked and blindfolded?

No, it doesn't. As I mentioned in an earlier post, many entering the EA degree choose not to do the research to learn what will happen. Certainly it is out there, but they want to treat it as a mystery. At no time, Simpleman25's comments notwithstanding, are they shown the EA ritual and obligations beforehand.

Naah

Interesting to see that you don't hold him to the same standards you hold me. I'll put that down to experience.

Now is Freemasonry a cult?

No.

But since I have no reason to think Simpleman is a liar, I would presume they do so at his Lodge.

And you'd be wrong.

Isn't picking and choosing fun?

I wouldn't know, but I'll bow to your experience in the matter. Your comment on catfish shows that you really have no clue. Cordially, Skip.

 

[Skip Sampson]

I never asked if you spent any money on your "ministry." I asked what you did with the income...

Untrue. You didn't ask me what I did with it; rather you claimed I spent none of it. What makes you think my ministry has income?

You can't just stockpile contributions for no purpose as I understand tax-free organizations.")

And upon what facts do you conclude I stockpile anything?

Then some have been issued for you.

Untrue.

It would have taken you fewer keystrokes just to answer, rather than avoiding an answer.

More useful to point out how lacking your research skills are, though. More amusing as well.

You have a tax-exempted, federally recognized organization that amounts to you alone, and you don't consider that to be taxpayer-supported?

That's right. I receive no taxpayer-support.

I was giving you the opportunity to settle the matter rather than simply make accusations, as you do, and refuse all answers.

I guess you must have missed my post #493, or forget it as you typed that comment.

It whether or not it's the same as the church in Fayetteville by that name.

Asked and answered.

And considering the stream of insults and accusations you closed your post with, I'm interpreting that to mean you've ended the dialogue.

Not at all. Your posts are serving to 'remove all doubt' about you, Pray continue. Cordially, Skip.

 

[smaneck]

I wouldn't know, but I'll bow to your experience in the matter. Your comment on catfish shows that you really have no clue. Cordially, Skip.

Oh, indeed I do. I actually read the Bible.

Here is what is says about homosexuality:

Leviticus18:22 Thou shalt not lie with mankind, as with womankind: it is abomination

And here is what is says about eating catfish:

Leviticus 11:12

12 Whatever in the water does not have fins or scales—that shall be an abomination to you.

Catfish have no scales, therefore they are an abomination. I just had an abomination for lunch.

Eating catfish and homosexuality, same difference.

Do you like catfish Skip?

 

[Simpleman25]

Is anyone else getting dizzy from skips comments?

He's claiming that he knows exactly what happens in my home lodge!

Then he refuses to answer questions and blames it on the other poster.

This is why I believe he's in a cult. His posts follow along the same path on every forum he's on. He plays off that he knows freemasonry based on GL guides. Yet he's been proven wrong time and time again.

All he does is continuously spin the topic till the other person gets bored and leaves. That way he can claim some hollow victory.

That begs the question, why do I engage him on forums? Some naive person might actually believe his drivel. I can't in good conscience let that happen.

 

[Albion]

Is anyone else getting dizzy from skips comments?

Not exactly, but as I read them I'm noticing that he's not saying much of anything and certainly nothing that requires a response. .

He's claiming that he knows exactly what happens in my home lodge!

Then he refuses to answer questions and blames it on the other poster.

This is why I believe he's in a cult. His posts follow along the same path on every forum he's on. He plays off that he knows freemasonry based on GL guides. Yet he's been proven wrong time and time again.

In case anyone wonders, that's why I inquired into his own organization.

Most people who write and speak against Masonry (or Christianity or Zionism or Capitalism or whatever movement is supposed to hold the planet in its grip at the moment) simpl writes and speaks on the subject wherever an audience can be found. They do not form one-man tax-exempt charitable corporations and then not take any money from them in order to fund their efforts.

Unfortunately, I wasn't able to get enough information from him on that. And then there's more to it than just "Cornerstone Ministries," isn't there? You had written, "He's still wondering why I believe emfj and e511 are cults." I know you mentioned these before, but I don't remember where that was right now. "Ex-Masons for Jesus," as I recall it, is just a group founded by a former Mason who was bitter over having been expelled for repeatedly violating Masonic rules; as I recall, he did not leave Masonry because he "found Christ" or discovered anything about Masonry that was in conflict with Christianity. Yet that is the deceptive message that the name of the organization would suggest to the unwary reader.

That begs the question, why do I engage him on forums? Some naive person might actually believe his drivel. I can't in good conscience let that happen.

I agree that debating nothing at all isn't a good idea, and we don't seem to have any new questions about Masonry to help anyone with at this time.