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Recent content by Manwell

  1. M

    Freemasonry AS religion?

    You may ask about my higher education, but I don't see how that should be relevant to the discussion. I was replying to Elexir's comment about changing the term used for gnostics, so gnosticism is a distinctive doctrine or theory, but it's also the art, practice, or process, of KNOWING...
  2. M

    Freemasonry AS religion?

    Thanks for putting that in context, Elexir. I'd agree that context is fundamentally important, but that it can be universal as well. In this case, the Gnostics don't seem to care what they're called, so it is purely an academic discussion, although changing the term would have implications...
  3. M

    Freemasonry AS religion?

    That may be the case, Elixir. However, the term gnositicism literally means the act, practice, or process of knowing, since gnosis means knowing, and ism as a suffix means the act, practice, or process of. Scientism means the same thing, since science means knowing too, as in omniscience...
  4. M

    Freemasonry AS religion?

    You've identified at least one of the elephants in the church Mas. Religion is often more about looking virtuous than actually being so, at least with the more popular ones. The ones that don't demand too much of "followers".
  5. M

    Freemasonry AS religion?

    We're in agreement Elexir! It is impossible to take every single factor into account every time, but that doesn't mean it's not impossible to discount most factors using simple deduction - especially by perceiving the "bigger picture" first, before drilling down into the detail. Of course...
  6. M

    Freemasonry AS religion?

    Thanks for that considered reply, Elexir. The fundamental problem with fields of science is that they specialize in their field, and are discouraged from venturing into "foreign" territory, which includes bigger picture realms such as "Is this necessary?", "What are the flow on effects of...
  7. M

    Freemasonry AS religion?

    Thanks for that concise summary, Elexir. As I see it, the fundamental problem with how science works nowadays is that it invariably focuses on a phenomenon/problem in isolation - in other words - by excluding a myriad of factors that are outside the scope of inquiry. In that context, if other...
  8. M

    Freemasonry AS religion?

    I'd be interested to learn how the "scientific approach" works Elexir. Are you speaking from first hand experience?
  9. M

    Freemasonry AS religion?

    When it comes to comprehending the meaning of words, the best guide I've found is to study the etymology of them and apply that in context. Religion breaks down into Re - to do again and again, -lig- meaning to bind, and -ion as a suffix means the action of. In this context, Religion means the...
  10. M

    Conceit, Egotism, Pride -- Why?

    Not being a mason either, I'd guess the short answer is because they know from experience, but either can't put it into words, or they know they're unlikely to be comprehended - from experience, or it'd be seen as boasting if they tried. Ironically, ego or pride prevents access to all...
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