What is the Christian official view and your own personal view on Freemasonry?
My late husband was one. I only saw the social side of it. Since becoming a Christian i now wonder about it all. Is it for or against Christ? Is it harmless or not?
(Do excuse me if this topic is in the wrong section. I was unsure).
It belongs, by decision of the CF staff, in the Conspiracy Theories forum. Hopefully, it will be switched there for you.
Freemasonry is a fraternity. It is not a religion, and it does not assert that every religion is equal. All of that is bunk, although sensationalist websites abound claiming something else dark and scary. Some churches approve and even encourage membership. Others oppose it, based upon claims made by anti-Masons. The only two genuine reasons a Christian ought to give it some thought relate to which denomination such a person belongs to.
1. Is it wrong to keep anything secret, even a simple password, or give an oath? Some churches say so; most do not. Obviously, many churches REQUIRE secrets to be kept, such as the seal of the confessional in Roman Catholicism by which a priest is bound not to reveal any sins confessed by anyone in the confessional booth. So I personally think this is an unpersuasive accusation.
2. Is it wrong to pray alongside another Christian who, however, belongs to a different Christian denomination (and, therefore, does not agree on all points of doctrine, big or small)? A few churches do take that POV and don't allow even a member to join in a prayer before meals at, say, a civic banquet where others around the table might belong to a different Christian church.
Neither of these is considered wrong by my Christian church and I cannot see any reason why they should. However, some churches have taken the positions described here, and if one is a member of one of those churches, I would think the right thing would be not to join a Masonic lodge.