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The Ohio Ritualist’s Guide to World Religions: Research, Education and Integrat

The Ohio Ritualist’s Guide to World Religions: Research, Education and Integration of Religious Requirements for Ritual Work 1 Author: Alexander P. Herbert, RSS Version 1.6.1 Contents Purpose and Application .............................................................................................................................. 2 Introduction .................................................................................................................................................. 3 Recommended Selections from the Ritual .................................................................................................. 6 Possible Conflicts .......................................................................................................................................... 6 Candidate Interviews ................................................................................................................................... 7 Resolution through Dispensation ................................................................................................................ 8 Preserving the Harmony of the Lodge ......................................................................................................... 9 Researching Example Religions.................................................................................................................... 9 Research Summary.................................................................................................................................. 10 Christianity .............................................................................................................................................. 11 Judaism ................................................................................................................................................... 11 Noahidism ............................................................................................................................................... 11 Islam ........................................................................................................................................................ 12 Zoroastrianism ........................................................................................................................................ 13 Sikhism .................................................................................................................................................... 14 Hinduism ................................................................................................................................................. 15 Jainism..................................................................................................................................................... 15 Buddhism ................................................................................................................................................ 17 Ásatrú ...................................................................................................................................................... 18 Deism ...................................................................................................................................................... 19 References .................................................................................................................................................. 21 The Ohio Ritualist’s Guide to World Religions: Research, Education and Integration of Religious Requirements for Ritual Work 2 Purpose and Application The purpose of the Ohio Ritualist’s Guide to World Religions is neither to recommend nor approve any permanent changes to the approved Ritual of the Grand Lodge of Ohio, agreeable to the findings of the Grand Lodge Committee on Ritual. Rather, this document has been prepared and presented for educational purposes only. In application it references the relevant Sections of the Ohio Masonic Code and the existing process for requesting and obtaining Dispensations for individual cases. Reference of any portion of the Guide is optional. This document was developed based on the perspectives and personal experiences of interested individuals too numerous to list. Contributors include candidates and Brethren, present and past Lodge and Grand Lodge officers, and laity and clergy of many religious communities. Their contributions, openness, and patience are most appreciated. The Ohio Ritualist’s Guide to World Religions: Research, Education and Integration of Religious Requirements for Ritual Work 3 Introduction Freemasonry is not a religion; however, our Fraternity is certainly religious. All Freemasons have confirmed their belief in a Supreme Deity, though our individual beliefs and interpretations vary significantly. Uniting men of every sect and opinion is one of the foundational tenets of our institution. Great care is taken to prevent disharmony in our Lodges - religious discussions or debates are forbidden, and no religion is to be shown preference over others. Dr. James Anderson published the first edition of his Constitutions of the Free-Masons in 1723. This document was based heavily on the older Cooke Manuscript, or Gothic Constitutions, and has since been incorporated into the Constitution of the Grand Lodge of Ohio (Article XII). The first of these Ancient Charges reads: I. CONCERNING GOD AND RELIGION A Mason is obliged by his tenure to obey the moral law; and if he rightly understands the art, he will never be a stupid ATHEIST, nor an irreligious LIBERTINE. But though in ancient times Masons were charged in every country to be of the religion of that country or nation, whatever it was, yet it is now thought more expedient only to oblige them to that religion in which all men agree, leaving their particular opinions to themselves; that is, to be good men and true, or men of honor and honesty, by whatever denominations or persuasions they may be distinguished; whereby Masonry becomes the center of union, and the means of conciliating true friendship among persons that must have remained at a perpetual distance. It is important to note that “stupid” is not used as a base insult. The archaic root of the word “stupid” is the same as the word “stupor”. It describes someone who sees but cannot perceive the world around him. The requirement that all candidates express a belief in a Supreme Being flows down into the Ohio Masonic Code. The requirements of candidates, and the responsibilities of our Lodges to them, are established in the Ohio Masonic Code in Chapter 25. Section 25.01(a)(3) requires that any candidate be able to respond of his own accord, at his reception into the Lodge, that, in times of difficulty and danger, he trusts in God. This is further enumerated in the requirements for formal recognition as a regular Grand Lodge. The Conference Of Grand Masters Of Masons In North America (COGMNA) requires adherence to the Ancient Landmarks – specifically, a Belief in God, the Volume of Sacred Law as an indispensable part of the Furniture of the Lodge, and the prohibition of the discussion of politics and religion. Section 10.01(d)(1) of the Ohio Masonic Code requires the acknowledgement of a belief in God, the Father of all men. These requirements demonstrate the necessary importance of religious belief, but the specific language maintained by the Grand Lodge of Ohio also hints at an underlying issue in our growth as a Fraternity. Dr. Anderson’s first Charge was very controversial when it was first published. The Gothic Constitutions upon which it was based admonished that it behoveth [Freemasons] first, principally, to God and his holy church, and all-halows [i.e. the saints]. Being written between the late 14th and early 15th centuries, they reflected that Christianity was the only acceptable religion in England at this time. Dr. Anderson expanded this to reflect the more open-minded philosophy the Enlightenment era. The Ohio Ritualist’s Guide to World Religions: Research, Education and Integration of Religious Requirements for Ritual Work 4 The controversy at the time of publication was whether this was truly an opening of Freemasonry to all religions of the world, or just an update to encompass both Catholics and Protestants. The Cooke Manuscript itself dates to around 1450, when Catholicism was really the only option in western Europe. The Protestant Reformation wouldn’t begin until around 1517 with Martin Luther and his Ninety-Five Thesis. Europe spent the next 200 years tearing itself apart over who was right and who was wrong. On the outset of these wars, Freemasonry was attempting to be something of a neutral ground, where those vehement (and sometimes violent) disagreements would be left outside the Lodge so that only harmony would exist within. Opening to all religions was seen by some of Dr. Anderson’s contemporaries as a step too far. However, the philosophy of his Constitutions of the Free-Masons have since prevailed and have been adopted by most (but not all) of regular Freemasonry. This is again reflected in the Ohio Masonic Code. Section 25.01(b) requires that no religious test shall ever be required of any petitioner for the benefits of Masonry other than a steadfast belief in the existence and perfection of God. Our Officers Manual also reminds us that: The universal nature of Freemasonry should never, under any circumstances, be forgotten or ignored, even if every member present is of the same religious belief. And that: Respect for our members’ and Candidates’ religious beliefs means just that - and we both protect harmony and promote Brotherly love by guarding against insensitivity to the feelings of our Brethren. However, traces of our ancient traditions still remain. Section 10.01(d)(7) requires that all foreign Grand Lodges make the Sacred Book of the Divine Law, chief among the Three Lights of Masonry, indispensably present in the Lodges while at work. Despite this general and more universally-worded requirement for others, the Ritual of the Grand Lodge of Ohio itself refers in most (if not all) instances specifically to the Holy Bible. The questions propounded to our Candidates prior to their Initiation have updated to remove specific references to God as revealed in the Holy Bible, but not until 2008. Our modern age is a multicultural one, and world religions are now widely dispersed. Communities of different faiths have been established in all corners of the country and our world is in constant motion. Businessmen relocate for new opportunities. Students travel abroad. Families flee adversity to the relative safety and freedom that our country provides. Just as the United States is a melting pot of uncounted cultures, so too is modern Freemasonry. The philosophical focus of our Ritual is on the experience of the candidate. The initiate should enjoy his Degree and, while it may be at times uncomfortable by design, the experience should never be distressing. Our Officers Manual explains that, One function of the Ritual is to impress upon each Candidate the lessons and principles of the Fraternity and to provide a shared, common experience for men who may be from very different religious, ethnic or social backgrounds. It should accord the candidate a genuine moral and solemn experience, while providing him a vision of a new life as a member of the Fraternity. The Ohio Ritualist’s Guide to World Religions: Research, Education and Integration of Religious Requirements for Ritual Work 5 It goes on to admonish that the interest and value of a man’s entire Masonic career may be contingent upon the gracious consideration and solemn treatment accorded him as a candidate. Every group – religious, social, occupational, familial, etc. – naturally forms its own culture of beliefs, traditions, and expectations. Explicit expectations are written down and easily available. One example of an explicit expectation within Freemasonry is the concept of “breaking the light” during a Lodge meeting, which is explained in our Officer’s Manual. Implicit expectations, commonly known as “unwritten rules” or taboos, are understood uploads/Religion/ freemasonry-guide-to-religion.pdf