I'm a little puzzled

[rickharris]

I generally keep away from religious discussions as it is so easy to upset people BUT

for my mind the bible was written 1500 years ago some considerable time after the events it says it records. I know there is other corroborating record for some events including Jesus's existence. BUT still is a history book written 1500 years ago still relevant?

Example - DON'T EAT PORK perhaps sensible then as pork spoils easily but today? why not eat it.

There is a lot of contradictory information in the Bible especially in the old testament. How does one reconcile these things - A benevolent God - Kings tells us that God sent a She bear to kill all the population of a village because the children made fun of one of his prophets. Benevolent??

We know there are 10 commandments? Actually there are a lot more listed in the bible. Why do we edit out the rest.

for my money most people pick out what they like/want and forget the rest.

Yes I have read it all - twice. old and new testament. although some years ago now. It contains what distilled is mainly common sense but is that a reason to support everything it says even if you could. Far to many people use the fact they they believe that their God is on their side as an excuse for their actions, I think that you need a bit more concrete support for some things.

Far too many people think that their God is the right God and everyone else is by default wrong - sounds like a recipe for disaster based on a book that in the old testament advocated war as a first class way to resolve differences.

At best out of date At worst a work of fiction.

Any one read Dan Browns latest?? It is based on masonic biblical beliefs.

[Major Tom]

We know there are 10 commandments? Actually there are a lot more listed in the bible. Why do we edit out the rest.

As a sidenote, there are 10 commandments - in Hebrew there are different words to note the commandments (from the 10 commandments) vs all the other commandments in the Pentateuch.
However, these 10 commandments appear twice in the Pentateuch, with interesting differences between them.
Additionally, there are different views regarding which are the 10 as the Bible can be interpreted in all kinds of ways. Jews have one set of commandments, Catholics a different one, and Protestants (mostly) have a third one.

Major T.

[rickharris]

Although Exodus 34 contains ten imperative statements, the passages in Exodus 20 and Deuteronomy 5 contain fourteen or fifteen

[Major Tom]

Although Exodus 34 contains ten imperative statements, the passages in Exodus 20 and Deuteronomy 5 contain fourteen or fifteen

Obviously depending on how you count them. As the Bible clearly says there are only 10 (e.g. on Det 4:12), people group them together - just differently. For example, Catholics "have" two "though shall not covet" commandments, one for property and one for wives.
As to Exodus 34, I counted 17 of them, take a look there....

Major T.

[Phonedave]

Any one read Dan Browns latest?? It is based on masonic biblical beliefs.

Masons do not have Biblical beliefs.

The only requirement of being a Mason is a belief in a higher power, whatever that power may be. God, Vishnu, Buddah, the Flying Spaghetti Monster, or The Evolutionary Forces of Nature.

The reason for this requirement is not religious in nature either. It is because when you become a mason, you take certain oaths (not evil oaths either, oaths to be a good upstanding person, to not wrong, cheat, or defraud a brother, and to keep secret the identifying signs and words of the order) The logic is, if you don't believe in anything of greater power than yourself, whatever you take your oath upon will be non-binding. Sort of like swearing on your childrens life, when you have no kids.

Masons refer to "God" as "The Supreme Architect of the Universe" - that makes it universal, to fit each persons individual beliefs.

New Jersey had its first Masonic Open House this last Saturday. All lodges in the State were open to the public. There were presentations and Q&A sessions. I explained this very subject to a number of people.



As far as Dan Brown is concerned. His book, at times, is pretty close. However, one thing he (and most writers) fail to mention is that there is no one overall worldwide Masonic ruling group. The Roatry has Rotary International, which sets rules and guidelines for ever single Rotary club across the Globe. Masonary has no such body.

Many lodges in the UK and under the United Grand Lodge of Engalnd - many in non-UK countries are as well. Reminanats of Englands emipre. However there are many that are NOT under the UGE. In the United States, each State is under the jurisdiction of an independent State level Grand Lodge. Most Grand Lodges have what is called mutual recognition. Where we all regocnize each other as "legitimate" Masons. However because of the lack of an overarching body, certain differences crop up.

In The Lost Symbol Dan Brown mentions a "reflection room" that all Masonic Lodges have. Not true. Some do, some don't. Some use it for different purposes. He also mentions that Mal'akh remembers having a sword pressed against his chest when he was initiated. Again, in some jurisdictions, maybe. In others it is different.

It amuses me, because people will read a book like The Lost Symbol or see a TV show on Masonary and claim "I know exactly what happens". When in fact it is different from place to place.

-dave

[Elefino]

The only requirement of being a Mason is a belief in a higher power, whatever that power may be. God, Vishnu, Buddah, the Flying Spaghetti Monster, or The Evolutionary Forces of Nature.

Eh. . I think I'll stick with the Raccoons.

[rickharris]

I guess I did the masons and Dan Brown an injustice in my paraphrase - thanks for the insight. I like the comment that the Masons are not a secret society but rather a society with secrets.

[Phonedave]

The only requirement of being a Mason is a belief in a higher power, whatever that power may be. God, Vishnu, Buddah, the Flying Spaghetti Monster, or The Evolutionary Forces of Nature.

Eh. . I think I'll stick with the Raccoons.

I used to watch the Honeymooners all the time when I was a kid.

The head of the Raccoon's was the "Grand High Exlated Mystic Ruler"

But everytime they said it, they said it fast, and I remeber as a kid wondering just who the "Grand High Exalted Mr. Grooler" was.

-dave