Does believing that Freemasons influence global politics make you a total whackjob

[UndertheOcean]

or is it possible to rationally reach such an opinion.

A friend is into Freemasons , and although he is rational on some other topics , I am tempted (despite my lack of interest in the subject) to jump to the conclusion that all this is probably bullshit.

Am I really small minded , or do I have to put effort into "researching" this topic before I form an opinion.

I think life is too short, what do you think ?

[nadinbrzezinski]

1. The masons are real, not in control by the way

but you want to know why people are afraid of them?

http://www.amazon.com/Great-Cat-Massacre-Episodes-Cultural/dp/0394729277

The Great Cat Massacre, a great book and will explain to you the REAL history of the Masons and why, to this day... they scare the living daylights out of too many people... they are one of the first organizations of the Enlightenment to use democracy (as far as you could get in the 18th century) and some Free Mason lodges saw women as equal members too.

[Hannah Bell]

2. imo, fwiw: i don't think freemasons as a group influence politics much today.

but i think they used to.

i've found researching the origins & political doings of the early lodges really interesting, actually.

it's not all nutty stuff.

since nadin is recommending books, i will too: here's one i found thought-provoking --

[PADemD]

17. Excellent and informative book about the history of Freemasonry!

After the first chapter, I couldn't put it down.

[defendandprotect]

3. SECRET SOCIETIES are a threat to democracy and to us all ....

you're just rational!!

:)

[Warren DeMontague]

5. I agree.

When NASA attacked the Star Folks Lunar Colony During The Moon Bombing, our Illuminati Lizard Overlords went too far.

[leeroysphitz]

26. I only wish you were joking, my friend. n/t

[Starry Messenger]

4. The "One World Order" CT stuff actually gets in the way of some interesting history.

The "secretive" nature of the group has led to some strange speculations, I guess. Most of their "secrets" are available on the internet to read now. It's a Western mystical order with some fascinating imagery and a synchretic philosophy. Several members were involved in Enlightenment revolutions of all sorts (political, scientific...) Nowadays they seem to exist more as a social club with a charitable mission.

[Warren DeMontague]

6. Write your question on a 3"x5" card and bury it in a wooden (NO METAL!) box in your back yard.

One of our underground agents will contact you.

[ZombieHorde]

7. I know a few Freemasons. One Freemason I know oversaw Portland Freemasons for a while.

He was also the head of a Portland OTO lodge.

They don't seem to be influencing much of anything.

[gateley]

8. Many of our early leaders were Freemasons -- and there are a lot of symbols

on our currency and buildings and designs in DC.

I also saw a "secret" film taken of a Mormon initiation ritual, and many of the actions and symbology came from the Freemasons, too (I have no idea of Joseph Smith was a Freemason)

Like others have said, these days I think it's just mostly a charitable organization. For one thing, there aren't that many masons left!

I'm going to check out the books recommended, I'd like to read some factual stuff about the organization.

Oh! I attended something that was held at the Scottish Rite Temple in Seattle and someone said to me, seriously, "did you know that in each of their temples they have an altar and the skeleton of a dead person in a hidden closet?" So the myths and mystery persist.

[azurnoir]

9. another book I did not see mentioned

http://www.archive.org/details/greatmessageline00rich

this is a book written by a Mason and IMO if Masonry still had some political pull today we would very likely be in better shape

[gateley]

10. Thanks! I'll add it to the list. Hell, I'll be an expert before too long!! nt

[dimbear]

11. You are quite correct about the Mormons. In the old days they

had Masonic paraphernalia displayed in their museum downtown. (SLC) Nowadays all that stuff is downplayed. Smith was a very enthusiastic Mason, their secret rituals owe a lot to the Masons.

There is an interesting theory that some of the Freemasonry rituals actually go all the way back to Mithraism, which it resembles in some ways. Specifically all the various stages of advancement, and so on.

[KG]

12. tho i have no doubt there are several small cabals that have undue influence in world affairs,

the masons aren't one of them.

they're just some guys that like to wear fez's and ride mini-bikes in small town parades.

oops. wrong guys. :P

[DailyGrind51]

13. They were pretty easy to round up and put into concentration camps by the S.S.,

so the extent of their "power" is somewhat questionable.

[hlthe2b]

14. You do realize you have to be a Freemason before you become:

one of these guys (Shriners):




Seem pretty harmless to me...;)

[Gaedel]

15. I remember reading

The book said that there were many Masonic lodges in British army regiments. There was a feeling in worldwide Freemasonry that the colonial Freemasons were trying to found a country based on "Masonic" principles of democracy. As a result, many of the Brit army regiments sent to put down the revolution just went through the motions and "threw the fight" so to speak to allow a "Masonic" nation to come into being as a great experimnt.

[eShirl]

16. Have you ever seen (or read) "The Man Who Would Be King?"

Sean Connery/Michael Caine http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Man_Who_Would_Be_King_%28film%29

The main characters are Masons and it's integral to the plot.

(based on the Rudyard Kipling story)

[gateley]

22. I was riveted by that movie - and when I saw it I had no idea who

the Freemasons were, so that part was kind of lost on me :7 I'd love to see it again.

[B Calm]

18. I know if you happen to be a Mason, it will influence the traffic cop into

giving you a warning instead of a ticket.

[NoPasaran]

19. I vote for whackjob

[Nikia]

20. I think that they have influence in many local communities

I don't know about geopolitics. Are most of the big business leaders and government leaders Masons?

[realisticphish]

21. It's nonsense

They don't influence politics any more than the fact that world leaders know each other personally does. I'm in a secret society... the "Order of the Arrow" in Boy Scouts. Secret handshake and everything. Yet, no one thinks that we would be a threat to world democracy.

Of course there are shady backroom dealings in politics, duh. But it's about cash, not about a little apron.

[AngryAmish]

23. shhhhhhhhh

[reformist2]

24. It's just the fancy name the Old Boys Club gives themselves.

[Puregonzo1188]

25. Yes, it does. Though I understand when people try rationalize Andrew Jackson's

war on the national bank.

[leeroysphitz]

27. The Freemasons are just the first layer to peel off this rotten onion.

Follow the money...

[Odin2005]

28. Yes, it does make you a total whackjob.

[pipi_k]

29. I don't know the answer to that question, but...

coincidentally the family learned last night that one of my stepdaughters' husbands just joined the Freemasons.

My stepdaughter (and her sisters) were all curious about the whole thing, asking questions that the SIL wouldn't answer, and they're getting more and more curious and he's sitting there getting more and more delight from the secretiveness of it and I'm watching it all and thinking how much like small children men are who involve themselves in these secret clubs.

Secret decoder ring. Secret password. Secret rituals.

They get older, but they never grow up.

Anyway, I'm not sure how other women are about wanting to know men's secrets, but I really couldn't give a shit. I'm sure that disappoints the guys who think it's fun to tease others (especially women) with the fact that they know something I don't.

Pffft....they can have their little secrets...I don't give a rat's ass....

[thelordofhell]

30. Tubal Cain

NewsRadio----Rosebowl

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HXvWinF_sk0

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ubo5EryciYI&NR=1&feature=fvwp

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VFHL4edFa2Q&NR=1&feature=fvwp