It might be informative, but I don't see where it 'debunks' anything. I've looked through it and organized some comments by the general category he used.
The Basis Assumption
I dont see where that statement is made in the EMFJ website. It is more of an assumption made by the critic than a statement by the ex-Masons. Moreover, the critic goes on to note that:This pretty much defeats their initial argument. Too, it is neither deceptive nor misleading to quote from one jurisdictions ritual when that quote is also found in other GLs rituals. Had the charge been true, the critic should have pointed out where the Nevada material was inconsistent with other GLs.
Who Can I Believe?
Requires no comment as it addresses its view of Masonrys critics without dwelling on the men involved in EMFJ. If these men are so evil, why is direct proof of it not in existence?
How can you quickly know that the foundational teachings of Freemasonry are false?"
Untrue; it makes no such claim. It does make this claim though:Comically, the critic notes this immediately after his charge:Thus, the critic agrees with the EMFJ view. Anyone who thinks that the God of the Jews is the same god of the Muslim simply doesnt understand either religions views.
Death, Burial and Resurrection in the Masonic Lodge
That is true; here is the main conclusion:One only need read the Master Mason ritual in any GL jurisdiction to see that this is exactly what is taking place. The candidate, blindfolded, is bonked on the head with a mallet, dropped to the ground in a shroud and plays a corpse while the play goes on. He is then resurrected to his new Masonic life. Afterwards, he is told in many jurisdictions that he is to emulate Hiram Abif.
More interesting, the Master Mason lodge is referred to as the Holy of Holies, the earthly home of God in Solomons Temple. The claim is to put a divine stamp on all that happens in the MM degree, which is quite an arrogant claim.
Finally, several GL's and other masonic writers proudly note that Masonry derives from 'mystery religions' which are, of course, pagan.
The critic may dispute the conclusion all he wishes, but he cannot deny the facts of the matter. It may be that he's never read the U.S. rituals and that might be the source of his errors. Bear in mind that the EMFJ paper is fully referenced and the writer directly experienced the event.
Why Would a Pastor Condone, or Defend Freemasonry?
He does not provide the context for his charge. Here is what the pamphlet actually says:Notice that Masons are described as the most cohesive group of infiltrators. The main point is that churches are always under attack of one sort or another by false teachings, and that Masons are part of this. As before, the writer backs up his charges and speaks from a first-person point of view. The critic may not like the conclusions, but they cannot be rejected out of hand in view of the testimonies to just that effect. Churches have been torn apart due to examinations of Freemasonry and the Masonic response to that examination.
I once gave a presentation to my church on false gods, which included the GAOTU. The pastor told me later that the Masons in the church said if I ever spoke again on the subject, theyd all leave. Notice their intent was to stop all discussion of the matter, not to present their side of things. Its that kind of behavior that has occurred in churches and to which the article refers.
Testimony of a Former Worshipful Master
This needs no comment as the critic pretty much agrees with most of what the writer has to say.
Why does Freemasonry call its god the Great Architect of the Universe?
Note sure what criticism of EMFJ actually exists in this part of the website, but they conclude with this:As a Christian, it would bother me greatly that the Moslem was praying to Allah for his salvation, or that the Jew had rejected Jesus. And the reason for this is Biblical:If you accept the Bible as the authority for your religious beliefs, you cannot ignore the one great truth about Christian salvation: it is only through Jesus Christ. That the critic rejects that view is totally Masonic, and is something the EMFJ website is trying to get across everywhere it can. To let nonChristians continue in worship without presenting the gospel once, is to do them no service. We either speak the truth or turn our backs on it. We believe that Freemasonry teaches its members to do the latter.
Ake's website is not alone in its paucity of facts and generosity of charges. In another such website noted on this forum where I am mentioned, the single charge levied is that I think Masons give too little. Unfortunately for that website, I never made that statement. What I did do is point out that the description of charitable giving by Masons included large amounts of giving by nonMasons and the result of investments; thus, to lump it all under Masonic charity was misleading at best. It's been my experience that such websites are not interested in the facts, only the conclusions and do not bother to do any logical analysis. They are just homes for talking points and little more. Cordially, Skip.
