The Masonic Concept of God

[Skip Sampson]

This thread addresses the Masonic view of God, and though it is based primarily on documentation obtained from the Grand Lodge of Missouri, it applies to most, if not all, U.S. GL’s. It should be kept in mind that the GL in any Masonic jurisdiction speaks with authority on Masonic matters in that jurisdiction, and all subordinate lodges exist only with the concurrence of their GL. Too, Worshipful Masters of subordinate lodges normally promise to adhere to GL laws, by-laws, regulations, etc, as a part of their swearing-in ceremony. Therefore, what is addressed herein is what is actually taught, and Masons accept such teachings either directly as the GL does, or indirectly by their continued presence as Masons.

The Grand Architect of the Universe (GAOTU) – Being a religious organization, Freemasonry must have an idea of deity, which indeed it has:

Masons believe that there is one God and that people employ many different ways to seek and to express what they know of God. Masonry primarily uses the appellation, "Grand Architect of the Universe," and other nonsectarian titles, to address Deity. In this way, persons of different faiths may join together in prayer, concentrating on God, rather than differences among themselves. (MO GL Website)

Most U.S. GL’s carry the same or similar statements. For example:

The letter G is a symbol of geometry and also of Deity, by whatever name men call Him. (GA GL, Mentor’s Manual, 2010, pg. 31)

The Supreme Being. Masons believe that there is one God and that people employ many different ways to seek and to express what they know of, God. Masonry primarily uses the appellation, "Grand Architect of the Universe", and other non-sectarian titles, to address Deity. In this way, persons of different faiths may join together in prayer, concentrating on God, rather than differences among themselves. (KY GL, Book of Constitutions, 2007, pg. 64; nearly same comment in MN GL, Masonic Manual, 2009, pg. 16)

The MO GL expands upon their thinking with the “LETTER G” discussion in the FC degree (emphasis added):

You will recall the prominence given the letter G. It may be considered as having a double interpretation (1) as being the first letter of our name for that Deity in whose existence all Masons have professed belief; (2) as being the initial of Geometry, regarded as the basic science of Operative Masonry, now symbolizing to Speculative Masons the unchanging natural laws which govern the whole material universe. Together they symbolize that attribute of God revealed to us through Geometry: God as the great Intelligence of the universe. (MO GL, The Fellow Craft, pgs. 9 – 10)

The GL thus makes three statements of Masonic fact: 1) All Masons believe “that there is one God...”. 2) Allah, Vishnu, Jesus and Jehovah are all names of that ‘one god.’ 3) By their comment “our name” for “that Deity” they note that their name, the GAOTU, is just their name for the deity all Masons believe in.

To make sense of that all, we must first understand just what GAOTU really is:

G.A.O.T.U. A masonic abbreviation used as a symbol of the name of God, and signifying the Grand Architect of the Universe. It was adopted by the Freemasons in accordance with a similar practice among all the nations of antiquity of noting the Divine Name by a symbol. (Mackey, Symbolism of Freemasonry, 1869, pg. 337)

In short, whether the word ‘God’ is used or the acronym ‘GAOTU,’ the meaning is the same: it’s just a symbol for ‘god,’ and not the name of a particular view of ‘god.’ Since a symbol, obviously, stands for something, it starts to become clear that there is an entity behind these words, an entity which is known by different names to different people, all of which are acceptable. Mason Albert Pike describes such an entity:

The Supreme, Self-existent, Eternal, All-wise, All-powerful, Infinitely Good, Pitying, Beneficent, and Merciful Creator and Preserver of the Universe was the same, by whatever name he was called, to the intellectual and enlightened men of all nations. The name was nothing, if not a symbol and representative hieroglyph of his nature and attributes. The name Al represented his remoteness above men, his inaccessibility; Bal and Bala, his might; Alohim, his various potencies; Ihuh, existence and the generation of things. None of his names, among the Orientals, were the symbols of a divinely infinite love and tenderness, and all-embracing mercy. As Moloch or Malek he was but an omnipotent monarch, a tremendous and irresponsible Will; as Adonai, only an arbitrary Lord and Master; as Al Shadai, potent and a destroyer.” (Morals and Dogma, pg. 208)

When the MO GL states in its Handbook “Before its altar Christian, Jew, Mohammedan, Buddhist, and Confucian may kneel together,” it can do so because of the Masonic view that there is a single god behind their differing views, and it is that being which is the god of Masonry. The Missouri view is in full accord with Masons Albert Pike and Joseph F. Newton:

Masonry, around whose altars the Christian, the Hebrew, the Moslem, the Brahmin, the followers of Confucius and Zoroaster, can assemble as brethren and unite in prayer to the one God who is above all the Baalim, must needs leave it to each of its Initiates to look for the foundation of his faith and hope to the written scriptures of his own religion. (Morals and Dogma, pg. 226)

For Masonry knows, what so many forget, that religions are many, but Religion is one—perhaps we may say one thing, but that one thing includes everything—the life of God in the soul of man, and the duty and hope of man which proceed from His essential character. Therefore, it invites to its altar men of all faiths, knowing that, it they use different names for “the Nameless One of a hundred names,” they are yet praying to the one God and Father of all; (The Bible in Masonry, Holman Masonic Bible)

All men have an imperfect view of the GAOTU, Masonry teaches. For this reason, the lodge uses ‘God’ only as a symbol of deity as he really is, thus leaving Masons with a choice, as H.W. Coil notes:

Men have to decide whether they want a God like the ancient Hebrew Jahweh, a partisan, tribal God, with whom they can talk and argue and from whom they can hide if necessary, or a boundless, eternal, universal, undenominational, and international, Divine Spirit, so vastly removed from the speck called man, that He cannot be known, named, or approached. (Coil’s Masonic Encyclopedia, 1st edition, pg. 516)

And it is the reality of this ‘god’ that Masonry is pointing men toward and is the ‘truth’ for which they are to find. It also explains why Masonry teaches that men of different religions can all gather around Masonry’s ‘sacred’ altar and bow in common prayer: they are, in reality, praying to the same god; they just don’t know it.

The individual Mason may protest that he does not support such a view. But since it is the view of the organization to which he belongs, he most certainly does support that view by his continued presence. He has made the choice offered to him by H. W. Coil.

The Exclusivity of Jesus Christ
One logical conclusion of the Masonic teaching on deity is that no one perception of ‘god’ can claim exclusivity in matters of salvation, in that all such views are flawed to one degree or another. Thus, the Biblical view that Jesus Christ is the only means of salvation cannot be accommodated within the Masonic structure. While Masonic ritual makes certain claims about how to be saved, and strongly implies that being a Mason is a safe route to that end, acceptance by faith in Jesus is not one of them. What is stressed over and over again is that a man becoming a Mason is forming a partnership with ‘god’ and that his works under the Lodge’s auspices are what will earn him a place in heaven.

Any religious belief depends upon an authority. For the Christian, that is the Bible, which specifically addresses the means of salvation and is very clear that heaven is only achieved through faith in Jesus. For the Mason, it is the Grand Lodge of his jurisdiction. Any Mason calling himself a Christian should consider carefully this entity call the GAOTU, and ask himself if he really should belong to a group teaching such a concept.

Comments invited. Cordially, Skip.

 

[Simpleman25]

Please keep in mind that the majority of this OP is opinion.

This is what the poster believes happens in a lodge.

Some of it he got right, but not all.

Also keep in mind the various lodges around the country that are strictly Christian. There are many I'm finding out.

There is no such thing as excluding Jesus Christ in lodge. If he resides in my mind body and soul, he is always there. If I'm sitting anywhere, surrounded by atheist or Moslems, Jesus is always there.

 

[OrdinaryClay]

Comments invited. Cordially, Skip.

Thanks for posting all the cited quotations. It demonstrates you are not simply offering opinion.

 

[americanvet]

[FONT=verdana, Arial, Helvetica]Those who oppose Freemasonry will claim that Masons worship a 'false God' whom they claim is GAOTU - the "Grand Architect of the Universe" (in some jurisdictions referred to as the "Great Architect of the Universe").
Nothing could be further from the truth!
Let us be quite clear: Freemasonry does NOT have a "god" of any kind. Freemasons however do profess a belief in a Supreme Being.
Perhaps we should repeat:
The organization - FREEMASONRY - has no "god", no religion, no theology, no dogma, no creed....
Freemasonry's members - FREEMASONS - upon petitioning for membership are required to profess a belief in a Supreme Being. They are not required or requested to elaborate any further on their beliefs except to make a positive affirmation that they have such a belief.
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica]The term "Great Architect of the Universe" (or "Grand Architect of the Universe") is used to permit a more generic worship to the Supreme Being of all present. All Masons understand this concept and when prayers are offered in their lodge, they understand that regardless of the person speaking the words or the manner of prayer of others present, the prayer is addressed to their Supreme Being.[/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica]To argue that Masons have a 'god' with the name GAOTU would be similar to arguing that a church where a prayer is addressed to "Most Holy and Glorious Lord God" had a false God with the name MHAGLG or when a prayer is offered in the name of 'Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ' that those worshipping there were praying to OLSJC.... It's bizarre in the extreme.[/FONT]

​

The question is often raised: to whom do Masons pray?
The answer is, quite simply, "To God".
Argumentatively, some will then respond, "Which God?" at which point we must wonder how many Gods THEY believe there are. From the perspective of Masons, there is one Supreme Being and that is to whom we pray.
It really is SO simple....

​

The term first appeared in Masonic usage in 1723 in a book called Anderson's Constitutions which was, ostensibly, a listing of the rules by which the Grand Lodge of England were governed. It seems that the phrase was probably taken from John Calvin whose teachings formed the basis for Presbyterian and Reformed theology as Anderson was a Presbyterian Minister.


Source: GAOTU

[/FONT]

 

[americanvet]

There is a requirement for in most Masonic organizations for the members to profess a belief in a supreme being. However, there is NOT any push for Christian Masons to accept any other religion as valid for salvation.

There is only one God.

 

[duane washum]

Thanks for posting all the cited quotations. It demonstrates you are not simply offering opinion.

Excellent observation. You will rarely see a Mason refer to Grand Lodge documentation.

 

[OrdinaryClay]

[FONT=verdana, Arial, Helvetica]
Let us be quite clear: Freemasonry does NOT have a "god" of any kind. [/FONT]

Why do they perform rituals?

 

[Albion]

Why do they perform rituals?

Well, duh. When the Serviceman takes down the flag and folds it, that's a ritual. When the graduates process across the stage to receive their diplomas, that's a ritual. Don't be so afraid of ordinary words.

 

[OrdinaryClay]

Well, duh. When the Serviceman takes down the flag and folds it, that's a ritual. When the graduates process across the stage to receive their diplomas, that's a ritual. Don't be so afraid of ordinary words.

You didn't answer my question.

 

[Albion]

You didn't answer my question.

Yes, I did. A ritual, according to the dictionary, is the body of ceremonies used by a fraternal organization.

Almost every organization has established ceremonies in order to demonstrate or assert its values. I gave you two such examples.

 

[znr]

Masons sacrifice babies and drink blood, and Karen Black is their leader. No, correction, was.

 

[Skip Sampson]

From the perspective of Masons, there is one Supreme Being and that is to whom we pray.

Thank you for supporting my view. As you've implied, both the Muslim praying to Allah and the Jew praying to Jehovah are actually praying to the same deity. <staff edit>.

BTW, the Mormon and the Buddhist Mason would not agree with you on that, as both acknowledge many gods. Cordially, Skip.

 

[Skip Sampson]

Yes, I did. A ritual, according to the dictionary, is the body of ceremonies used by a fraternal organization. Almost every organization has established ceremonies in order to demonstrate or assert its values. I gave you two such examples.

Actually, you didn't. Your definition confines rituals to fraternal organizations. Neither of the examples you used were such organizations. Cordially, Skip.

 

[americanvet]

Post deleted by Americanvet because it violated forum rules.

 

[Skip Sampson]

Post deleted by Americanvet because it violated forum rules.

Fwiw, I took no insult by the post, and can certainly use all the prayer I can get. Cordially, Skip.

 

[Albion]

No fabrication needed; the truth is all that's required. I believe it to be a fair statement that such treatment denigrates the Bible.

All that considered, I believe that it's safe to say that "denigrate" is prejudicial and incorrect.

 

[Albion]

That is why a Catholic cannot be a Mason and continue to be in good standing with the Church.

Actually, all the Catholic Masons that I know are still in good standing in their Catholic churches. And the reason that the RCC has opposed Masonry is because Masonry has historically supported national independence movements, democracy, and constitutionalism. The Papacy, being an absolutist monarchy that once was able to make and break kings, was fighting a losing battle against modernity.

 

[Albion]

That's not accurate.

Yeh, it is. But you have to know some history

Freemasonry is incompatible with the Catholic faith. Freemasonry teaches a naturalistic religion that espouses indifferentism

Actually, Freemasonry teaches NO particular religion and it emphatically does not teach "indifferentism." Don't you realize that the Papacy could not just come out and say that "Our ox is being gored by the growth of democracy. We have to show some guts if we're to keep our power in a changing world." No, some cockamamie theological excuse had to be invented when the official proclamation was made.

Masonry is a parallel religion to Christianity. The <New Catholic Encyclopedia> states, "Freemasonry displays all the elements of religion, and as such it becomes a rival to the religion of the Gospel. It includes temples and altars, prayers, a moral code, worship, vestments, feast days, the promise of reward and punishment in the afterlife, a hierarchy, and initiative and burial rites" (vol. 6, p. 137).

Naturally, the "Catholic Encyclopedia" is going to keep to the party line.

Masonry is also a secret society.

So is the Knights of Columbus, the Roman Catholic Church's version of Masonry...and Opus Dei, and many other Catholic societies. And all that's secret about Masonry is a few passwords and handshakes. What does the average person know about the doings of these Catholic secret societies? Virtually nothing!

 

[catholichomeschooler]

Yeh, it is. But you have to know some history


Actually, Freemasonry teaches NO particular religion and it emphatically does not teach "indifferentism." Don't you realize that the Papacy could not just come out and say that "Our ox is being gored by the growth of democracy. We have to show some guts if we're to keep our power in a changing world." No, some cockamamie theological excuse had to be invented when the official proclamation was made.


Naturally, the "Catholic Encyclopedia" is going to keep to the party line.


So is the Knights of Columbus, the Roman Catholic Church's version of Masonry...and Opus Dei, and many other Catholic societies. And all that's secret about Masonry is a few passwords and handshakes. What does the average person know about the doings of these Catholic secret societies? Virtually nothing!

The Catholic Church teaches that a Catholic cannot be a Freemason and remain in good standing with the Church.


As a non Catholic, you are free to form your own opinion.

 

[duane washum]

Actually, that same problem lies with all mainstream churches, and the fault lies directly at the feet of any and all Christian churches who tolerate dual membership which allows a person to be both a member of a congregation, and a member of the lodge.

I don't blame the "Christian Masons" so much for this as I do the churches themselves, for it is the churches that are allowing people to become members of their congregations while they still embrace the heretical teachings of other organizations they are a part of.