Can Religion & Politics be Amicably Discussed in Lodge?
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Here is a question that came in as a comment on YouTube
I've heard that in some lodges there are two things masons don't talk about, religion and politics. Is there a reason for this? It would make sense that these two things, though they are touchy subjects, if discussed amicably, could lead to enlightening conversation.
- Hunter
Firstly this is a great question because it constructively challenges our rules. After all, as Masons, shouldn't we be able to discuss hard-hitting topics with the Masonic values giving us the respective guardrails to do this amicably and with brotherly love?
Let’s start with understanding where this ‘rule’ comes from. This will provide the foundation and better context as to why we do abstain from religious or political discussion in Lodge.
In my jurisdiction’s ritual and also in the Taylors ritual, this rule originates from part of a charge (speech) delivered at the end of the Initiation ceremony. The line is “by abstaining from every topic of religious or political discussion”.
In the charge, this phrase comes from a section that defines what the “excellences of character” of a Freemason are. There are three, with the third being Obedience. The rule to abstain from political or religious discussion forms part of the verse that explains what the different things are, that we as Masons must be Obedient to in order to have that “Excellence of Character.”
It’s giving us the exact standards of behaviour to adhere, while providing a strict definition of excellent. To become a Freemason, you have to be a “good man”, but that’s the entry requirements. Thereafter, you are expected to become an Excellent Man.
Now we have the foundation of the rule, why still are these discussions prohibited, even if as Men of Excellent character we could have them amicably?
To better understand this, we need to wind back to an early part of the Ceremony of Initiation, but before I explain that, we have to consider what is happening in the profane world, or the day to day society we live in.
Have you noticed that in today’s socio-politcal landscape, identity politices is are the very core of everything that’s happening. We now have to content with multiple identities. Just go and consume any news and you will see each piece creating a divide of identity. Gender pronouns anyone?
Today’s society is divided, and it’s divisions are divided, which are further divided. Dividing, dividing, dividing. We have a laundry list of identities in the modern and profane world. It honestly feels like madness.
But there is an antidote to all this division. It’s one that Freemasonry has provided for centuries and it’s actually very simple and comes from the Craft’s core objective to promote harmony amongst men (society).
Freemasonry strips away all of these different identities and looks at what we all have in common, not what makes us different. This is one of the most significant parts of the symbolism of being properly prepared for Initiation.
The ceremonies, ancient usages, accepted customs and landarks of Freemasonry take the view that all men are equal, meeting on the level and parting on the square. That individuals across every level of society are one and the same, there is no difference in freemasonry in terms of equality between a King and a Pauper.
Freemasonry takes the view that a man is not esteemed of his worldly possessions, or station in life. All men enter the lodge on the same level (hence, meeting on the level), we are all properly prepared in the same way, and enter through that portal exactly the same.
Now that we have understanding the foundation of why the rule exists, but why are “amicable” discussions still prohibited and couldn’t they do more good than harm?
Well, if we bring discussions of religion or politics into lodge; we suddenly then create identities among the brethren. He’s a Democrat, He’s a Christian, He’s Muslim, He’s a Libertarian. These identities then divide us, not just by differences of opinion but by giving each person an external identity in a society that is has, through the initiation stripped us of all these external identites and whose purpose is to unite us by what we have in common.
We can agree that in nearly any other circle, a healthy and amicable discussion of politics or religion can be beneficial — but what we know about human beings, is that we aren’t perfect.
Our ceremonies tells us this too, that we need to remove our superfluous knobs and excrescences from our character (rude material) in order to become a better version of ourselves, and in order to achieve perfection. However, there is also the allegory of that once we as Apprentices have refined our character as much as we can, we are only preparing us for the hands of the more expert workmen.
Here is where I’ll let you in on a little secret. The term “more expert workmen” has multiple and layered meanings. One of them is that, there is always a more expert brother to refine you, but the ultimate expert and master craftsman, the only one who can make us perfect is The Great Architect of The Universe. But, we can’t achieve that perfection here on Earth. Hence why the Volume of the Sacred Law is one of the Three Great Lights that directs our steps to the Great Architect. We are directed toward who we each believe is the Creator, so He, can provide that perfection.
That being said, if we are there to improve as a person, while knowing we are all fallible, why would we want to introduce either of the two very subjects that on the balance of probabilities will just bring out the worst in each of us? Why, tempt fait, when we as Masons are really here to bring out the best in each other.
Well, the final and most important reason is, there is a time and place for those discussions of politics and religion. But, when the goal, objective and our efforts are directed to be focusing on “building the (metaphoric) temple” — we have to ask, is a Masonic lodge or really any meeting of Masons, the right time or place to have such discussions?
Of course not. It would be like wanting to discuss religion of politics during the middle of the World Cup Final (or the SuperBowl for the American audience).
Lodge and any meeting of Masons is supposed to be sacred space, where everything in the profane world can be shut out. Just like that once the whistle has gone for kick-off of a football match, the world stands still and for 90 minutes it doesn’ matter.
When and where can you go and leave behind the world, shut it out, leave all your pain & suffering behind and just be present in a sacred and solem space for even a short period of time.
That’s the beauty of Freemasonry, because at least when you go to Lodge, you will always walk away on the winning team, and boast in the trophies of your fraternities accomplishments since time in memmorial. The same can’t be said for Tottenham Fans like myself.