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Science, as we and our ancient brethren have always understood it, is the pursuit of knowledge and of an understanding of the way our universe works. To the man of faith, that is pretty much equivalent to, "...understanding the nature of the Great Architect's work...". I don't see that as a...

I would have thought that such ad hominem was beneath you, Bryan. More to the point, you clearly have no idea about my understanding of science. Most offensive of all though, is your suggestion that you know what I "worship" and what I don't. That is completely out of line.

Yeah, the Fuente 858 is a great value and one of my favorites (along with the Hemingway Classic), but as I so infrequently indulge, I've settled on the Partagas 1845 Gigante. Defintely worth the extra two or three dollars. Make sure you have an hour or more to enjoy this one.

So does the command to commit genocide count as violence?

The question was "what", not "how much". Your suggestion that as much violence has been committed in the name of science as there has in the name of religion is absurd on it's face. Yes, it is not accurate to say that religion "causes" violence, but to suggest that it is not a frequent catalyst...

You're painting with a very broad brush, there, WRT both "secular philosophy" and religion.

What does science, and the admittedly shaky grasp of it that most folks (progressives and conservatives alike) possess, have to do with the discussion of religion and violence? Surely you don't mean to suggest that science "causes violence".

Excuse me? I believe that the point I was making was precisely that they are not the same, hence the inconsistencies in doctrine from one group to the next.

Not directly, no. Fear and ignorance frequently give rise to violence, but then again, they also give rise to superstition. From a certain perspective, superstition and religion are indistinguishable. To the fearful and ignorant, cultural trappings like religion are differentiators that...

Good question, and one which illustrates one of the most glaring inconsistencies in Christian doctrine - one can, or can not, enter the kingdom of heaven by virtue of this or that act (good works, going to confession, profession of faith, etc.). I do not mean to disparage anyone's religious...

Overall, I like the video and it's message, but I really wish that we'd stop trying to sell Masonry as a "charitable organization". It is not. It was never intended to be that.

Well..., yeah. But in my experience, its the brothers whose path is part of the "JCI family" who have a hard time grasping that anyone not of that path could do such a thing.

Excellent question. My answer is another question... How can one reflect on the content of the "G" lecture, and not appreciate that importance?

Not in the least. If you had taken the time to actually read and understand my posts, that much would be clear. To repeat myself yet again, matters of faith are not in question here. You assertions that words with differing meanings "all mean the same thing", on the other hand, is. How you...

You are still missing the point. We have stipulated that each of us is entitled to his beliefs, and that no Mason should take issue with another's belief. Spiritual truth is what we believe it is. The accuracy of this or that translation of a particular piece of literature, on the other hand...

I think the confusion arises from the frequent use of passages from Judeo-Christian scripture in our various rituals. It is little wonder then, that many, if not most, Masons in this part of the world make the assumption that the word "god" means the same thing for all. Incorrect, but certainly...

Sorry, but that just is not true. Even the most cursory trip through Google's suggestions for "bible translation errors" will make that plain. There are, as one would expect in a volume with such a long history, a great many errors in any given contemporary version of the xtian bible. But let's...

You may, but only for yourself.

If you spend the time and effort to really look, you will find that this is patently untrue.

"Freemasonry cannot be at all compatible with Christianity as far as it is a secret organization, acting and teaching in mystery and secret and deifying rationalism..." Yeah. "Secret" is one thing, but making a god out of our god-given capacity for reason..., that's just unacceptable. Of...