alurdumaaniyy:
I read with interest your comments on my original explanaiton of Freemasonry and you are quite correct in noting that they were and are highly subjective in Nature. I must however stand by them.
Part of the problem that leads to much misunderstanding of Masonry is that their exist many lodges that practive and belive things which are not Masonic in nature and are therefore NOT truly Masonic. These lodges are called Clandestine Lodges
To try to exlain them in terms tha muslim might understand is a bit difficult however, I will attept to do so. Think of the Ammaddiyyah (that heretical sect of muslims originating In India in the 19th centruy who do not accept the fact that Mohammad was the last Prophet that Allah gave to mankind. Of perhaps the Nation of Islam in the United States. the so clled Black Muslims which pracitce many of the teachings of mainstream Islam but relegate other of its teachings to a secondary postion.
While it is not precisely true both of these examples are near enough that I belive you might get the idea of the nature and relationship of Clandestine Lodges to True Freemasonry.
The morality which Freemasonry teaches that I spoke about in my original comments is that which is based upon the Ten Commandments which Allah gave to Musa and is the same as are found in boththe Christian Bible and the Quran. While I would agree that morality is something which depends upon cutlural mores which often differ from one culture to the other. The morality which True Freemasonry
teaches is that which is found in the Islamic, Jewish, Christian culture. ALl True Masonic Lodges, by that Imean those lodges which desigante themselves as beeing FREE AND ACCEPTED MASONIC LODGES are required to accept these moral teachings. If a Lodge or Individual Mason does not teach them, uphold them and practicve them you may be sure that that Lodge is a Clandestine one and has no bearing on the lodges I orginally spoke of a year ago.
As I said, originally, Freemasonry is NOT a religious organizaiton, however it does have elements of religion about it. One of the chief requirements of becoming a Freemason is a belief in a Higher Power. Masons do not calim tis belief MUST be monotheistic in nature but the fact is that the majorityof Masons in the world are monotheists. Either Christians of Jews. I am unaware and have never heard of the French Lodges dropping this requirement. If they have they are in violation of Masonic rules and regulations are are therefore Clandestine Lodges and No true Mason willhave anything to do with them
I agree with you that Freemasonry has had a significant role in the development of Western secular thought. This is because of the nature of the people which Masonry attracts. Of all the Presidents of the United States of America 16 have been Freemasons. This includes George Washington, who took the oath of office to become the president while holdong the bible which came from his Lodge of Freemasonry. How much or how little Freemasonry played on the develpoment of secular thought in Western culture is a matter of speculation in my opinion. That it undoubtedly did play some role is not.
I would be more inclined to think that the role of 18th century European Enlightenment Thought played the greater role in this devlelopment. But I do agree that Freemasonry did undoubtedly hepp shape secular thought in Western Culturel in some aspects.
Finally, it is simply not the case that women are allowed or ever have been allowed to become Freemasons. There is a separate organizaion that is related to but is not Freemasonry called Eastern Star which women may join if they wish. But Eastern Star is NOT Freeemasonry and to the best of my knowledge it only exists in the United States.
If a Lodge does accept Women as Freemasons then I can say with no hesitation that Lodge is a Clandestine one and is NOT Masonic.
I am not disputing your assertion that Masonry is the inheretor of Neo-Platonic Philosphy. However, I wold point out to you that Masonry was started (As I siad in my original explanation in Elizabethan England at the time of Shakespeare and spread through ot Europe for the reason I wrote about. Since much of European Thought and Philosophy in Elizabethan times and in the Middle Ages was based upon the teachings of the Greek Philosophers which the Europeans rediscovered and and brought back to Europe during and after the Crusades (Islam, after all, kept these writings safe for the world after the Roman Empire fell) and were disemminated to Europe by the Roman Catholic Chuirch wo whome all education was entrusted during the Middle Ages (Dark Ages) of Europe.
I would however haer to say that the inflluence of 18th Century Enlightenment theoryplayed a greated role in the philosophical development of masonry and Western secular thought rather than Neo-Platonism. I do agree that some Neo-Platonic idedas are founding Masonry, I disagree with how much influence it had on both Western secularism and modern Masonic thought.
Finally, brother, I wish to complment you on your analysis of my original statements. I found them very good. You have a keen and probing mind. I look forward to reading any additional comments you might care to make.
Allah Hafiz der akhi:
Khalid Al Islam
