The Age of Enlightenment and Freemasonry

D. W. Brown · 01-27-2007, 01:25 PM

The age of Enlightenment was from approximately 1680 to the late 1700s and has strong ties with Antient and Modern Freemasonry. Lets discuss some of those ties.

cyberclown · 01-27-2007, 03:57 PM

I am ready to attend "lecture," Bro. Brown ...

*** being in full anticipation ***

Bro. Markus

D. W. Brown · 01-27-2007, 04:48 PM

DOH .. Ok guess that puts me up on the block first. Ok give me a day to collect my thoughts and some time away from the daily rat race of 3 kids and I'll post something to seed the conversation.

cyberclown · 01-27-2007, 05:38 PM

Oops, I guess I caught you there on the wrong foot, brother!

Let me contribute my 2 cents worth ...

Enlightenment: "[A] philosophical movement of the 18th century marked by a rejection of traditional social, religious, and political ideas and an emphasis on rationalism" (Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary, 10 ed., 2002, p. 384).
Rationalism: "1: reliance on reason as the basis for establishment of religious truth. 2a: a theory that reason is in itself a source of knowledge superior to and independent of sense perceptions. b: a view that reason and experience rather than the nonrational are the fundamental criteria in the solution of problems" (Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary, 10 ed., 2002, p. 967).

Okay, I guess so far that were not even MY 2 cents I have contributed ...

But it may become apparent from the above two definitions that the period of enlightenment in Europe was also a time when a shift occurred in society away from class-thinking towards an awareness of values--which we hold dear in Freemasonry (brethren on the level)--which have found (at least one) culmination in the French Revolution (1789-99) where the idea(s) of "liberte - egalite - fraternite" (liberty - equality - brotherhood) brought about long-awaited social change. (This is how I would summarize what I learnt back in school in Switzerland in the "good old days.")

How about these ideas for a start?

Bro. Markus

D. W. Brown · 02-04-2007, 04:08 PM

That is a great start.

I feel strong that not only do many of the concepts of Freemasonry but the basics of the political environment in the U.S. are rooted in the thinking of many of the members that drove the enlightenment period in Europe.

King Louis XIV in France around 1680 was still believed by many to be divine and even believed that with a single touch from him could cure forms of TB. Jump forward 100 years when Kings were but heads of state. This was a great leap in a short period of time. Many of the writers during that period have roots in masonry as well and even some of the stories that were told may be tied to some of the allegorical stories found in Freemasonry.

One of the stories that I'd like to debate whether they are tied to freemasonry is the story of the 3 imposters. There are many versions of this story and the real author, to my knowledge, has never been identified. My question is do we think there might be any tie between this story and the 3 ruffians in Freemasonry. I know this is a stretch but might make for some interesting conversations.

BrAPeterson · 02-05-2007, 09:33 AM

Brother Brown,

While I have never read this story of the three imposters until seeing it on your website today, it has always been my personal interpretation that the three ruffians represents the three forms of the Abrahamic faiths.

Hiram represents to me spiritual enlightenment, the three ruffians thereby represent the destroyers of spiritual enlightenment. There is more to it, such as the choice of weapon each uses, where they place their attack, etc. However, I feel that this may not be the best forum for further elaboration.

So, the question you propose is not such a stretch to some of us.

Thanks for posting the three imposters. It made for a very interesting read. There are parts that I have to agree with based on my own study of the three Abrahamic faiths, and there are parts that I feel were lacking in further explanation. Personally, I would have elaborated on the two versions of Jesus Christ. The Christianity before the Council of Nicea was quite different than the product resulting from it.

Fraternally,

Bro. Arthur

Widow's Son · 03-13-2007, 08:19 AM

Bro. Arthur,

I'd like to hear more about your ideas on the two versions of Jesus.

I'm just becoming active here on this forum, and this is one of the first sections I've read. "Co-incidentally" (not that there is such a thing as a coincidence in the grand scheme of things), earlier this morning I happened upon a short blog entry on Bro. Jay's Tidings from the West where he was disputing the opinion that the three great religions were the prime cause of violence in the world today. I posted there and pointed him to a blog entry titled "God doesn't take sides" I wrote on Burning Taper last year discussing just that point.

All three of the Abrahamic religions have two beliefs in common:

1. We are right.
2. God is on our side.

Armed with that mindset, one can see the thinking behind the Three Ruffians actions.

Your thoughts?

Widow's Son
BurningTaper.com

BrAPeterson · 03-13-2007, 09:50 AM

Widow's Son,

First allow me to make a request. Please give me a name to use in conversation. I find it hard to converse with someone who uses an impersonal Tag Line such as Widow's Son. It is nothing personal, just a preference on my part.

Now, what you are asking me to explain may take quite a bit of words to accomplish. Therefore, please excuse this post if it runs on a bit.

Before one can understand where I am getting my thoughts on Jesus, one must understand a little of my religio-philisophical state of mind.

It is my belief that all of us are imbued, at birth, with a spark of divinity. As the Divine encompasses all things, this divine spark manefests itself in everyway. The divine can be compassionate as well as cruel, so we have compassionate as well as cruel people, the divine can be constructive as well as destructive, so we have the same in people. There are an infinite number of possibilities here with corresponding aspects in mankind. These are what some know as earthly passions. In reality they are only passions when out of balance. Then one trait becomes dominant, and can worsen ones spiritual evolution. Hence we endeavor to subdue them. The more out of balance they are the more difficult it is to bring them back into balance.

Now on rare occasions one is born who, either by learning or natural ability, is in a natural state of balance. All divine forces within them are at a perfect balance. The result is inner peace. These individuals can be easily spotted because, having found peace, they advocate it.

In my opinion Jesus Christ was one such individual. In his teachings he preaches peace above all else. He does not teach to condemn anyone for anything. He states that the way to our father is through him. He never says he is him. Our father is the great divine. It is everything in perfect balance.
It is by moving ourselves to emulate such balance that we can become one with it.

This can be seen as the true teachings of Christ by the historical record of pre-constantine Christians. They did not kill others for not believing them, they died instead, because of what they believed. They did not knock door-to-door selling their faith, people flocked to them because of it. They did not condemn you because you believed something else. They sought to emulate Christ!

They also did not have a bible! They had the accounts of the apostles handed down orally from generation to generation. Eventually they would even be put to parchment by someone, but who knows who for sure?

If Jesus wanted his teachings in writing, why wouldn't he have put them there himself? He was a Rabbi which is to say he had the knowledge of writing. He also had access to scribes. I personally feel that it is because what he taught could only be learned correctly directly from master to apprentice. One can not find balance in a book. He must be taught from someone else who has accomplished it directly.

Now that is my view of Jesus. It is the same view I have about others like Buddha, Ghandi, etc. Men with a spirit in perfect balance who dispite persecution, maintained and advocated peace.

Now what Emperor Constantine created was a faith that was part Christianity, part Pagan, and designed to subdue a populace. The growing Christian movement represented a large populace that had previously been neglected by the empire. Therefore we see no loyalty between them and their Emperor's

Now if Constantine could find a way to embrace the Christians without disaffecting the various Pagan faiths, he would have the Empire entirely under his thumb. So, we have the Council of Nicea.

A bible and religion is created which while containing the written accounts of Jesus Christ (modified and censored of anything that would make him less of a deity) and also honors the cherished rites of the Pagans.

I hope that sheds some light on your question.

Fraternally,

Bro. Arthur Peterson

These are my views and mine alone. They represent no collective opinion of any Masonic organisation. You are welcome to diagree, agree, or remain indifferent.

D. W. Brown · 03-16-2007, 03:17 PM

I look forward to reading this when I get home and can sit down and welcome WS (Widow's Son)..

Raphael · 09-30-2007, 06:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by D. W. Brown

I look forward to reading this when I get home and can sit down and welcome WS (Widow's Son)..

Hello brother Brown.
I see twins.

The Widow's Son and CHiram Abif.
Yes I agree with Widow's Son ... there are no coincidences ... "all has already been written".
Will the real architect / ARKetect please stand up.

Considering history's infancy was imbued with the Oral Traditions, in fact 99% of our time before inventing an alphabet and hence writing was spent chatting either in daylight, darkness, or by the light of the silvery MOON.
Can you suggest how our minds might evolve based on this fact alone?
I can.
How important are the Oral Traditions if 99% of humanities collective past was spent talking ... communicating a truth ... ?
How important?
Well today the scholars and experts suggest the first 7 years of a potential 100 year life span is critical in how the child's mind is affected. Those 7 years amount to only about 7% of the journey ... what does 99% of a evolution suggest?

So in a HIStory fraught with confusing self-serving lies (WMD = weapons of mass delusion) and parables ... I ponder the importance of why it was mentioned CHiram was a widows son.

Does the tale mention a father?
Was CHiram born before or after his father died?
If he was born before his father died ... who is the father?

This could be a reference to the fact that in Judaism, it is only important that the mother be a Jew...all offspring by default become adherents.

Or if CHiram was born after his father died...this could imply 3 possible alternative interpretations.

1/ CHiram was conceived and then his father died before his birth...

2/ CHiram's mother gave birth out of wedlock, where is daddy?
... ie. that would make one of the co-builders of Solomon's Temple in effect a 'bastard', or and the most likely ARKetype implied by the parable is ...

3/ CHiram was born of an immaculate conception.

I also wonder why Manly Palmer Hall (who I believe was a 33 degree Freemason) is one of the few to refer to Hiram as CHiram.
I want and need to know ... for my research.
It is critical.
Can I suggest that CHiram is a personification of something I found in Science that is critical in maintaining the current illusion we embrace?

Has this forum encountered prophets not seeking the profits?
Ever heard of the mystics Jacob Bohme or Hildegard de Bingen ...?
These people are among those whose council I seek.

Is it a coincidence that John the Baptist died in 32 AD and Jesus Christ followed him within the year, dying in 33 AD.
What are the top 2 degrees in Freemasonry?

In the book The Hiram Key, the two authors (one is a Mason), speculate that John the Baptist symbolized the pillar of righteousness called JACHIN and Jesus represented the pillar of strength called BOAZ.

32 and 33

Add them together like a PI-thagorean would and you end up with 2.
3 + 2 + 3 + 3 = 11 = 1 + 1 = 2

Are not the 2 pillars of Freemasonry the 32 and 33 levels?

Please note the three 3s plus a 2.
What if I see a pattern?
9 + 1 + 1

Two Pillars and the Twin Towers.

Coincidence?
I think not ... everything has been etched in stone...and the patterns are revealed on each of the 9 levels of INTER-connectivity of the CUBE.
This 'formula' I have connected with speaks of an underlying 'Universal Structure'.

http://kachina2012.wordpress.com/200...e-myth-of-911/

Interesting that the 3 ruffians are equated with the Abrahamic religions.
The great inspired mythologist who helped awaken me, JC, no not Jesus, Joseph Campbell referred to these religions as WAR mythologies.
Unlike the esoteric eastern religions.
There is a notable distinction made by JC between west and east.

TIME to move forward gentlemen, and solve some of these 'mysteries of the ages.'
I am having the time of my life as I awaken.
All I want to do is share the experience.

The Age of Enlightenment vs. The Dark Ages.
WHITE Light vs. BLACK Light
Sons of Light vs. Sons of Darkness
White JACHIN and a Black BOAZ

Seeing a pattern here?
I did.
Will blow you away.
Everything DOES in fact (as we know it) exist between these TWO PILLARS that are seen as WHITE and BLACK ...
The thread below ... my first one here at The BLUE Lodge explains in VERY simple terms how Science and Religion have been reconciled.

Either Science and Religion are unaware they have been reconciled OR it speaks of a deeper conspiracy being perpetrated on an unaware humanity behind closed doors.

"ALL HAS BEEN WRITTEN" suggests Jachin and Boaz

namaste

CHi

p.s. Is it a coincidence my second post here at TBL be about 2 pillars?
No coincidences ... remember?