SeattleMason0613
Registered User
I'm just looking for everyone opinion on the subject. I heard there was some bad blood between freemasonry and the society but haven't been able to dig up any info. Thoughts?
I like the idea of the open minded discussion of the various topics it advertises but might be to mystical for me. Thanks for the info...just wanted to make sure there wasn't any feud between it and masonry, before I look further into it.
I haven't heard of either connection or hard feelings. The Theosophical Society has centers in Pasadena, CA and Wheaton, IL. I've lived close to both but never entered either center. They appear to be separate societies based in each of those locations.
I like the idea of the open minded discussion of the various topics it advertises but might be to mystical for me.
In a nut shell, Theosophy teaches that, "there is a common thread that runs through all of the major religions". And the aim of the Theosophist is to identify that thread!
Do be cautious when reading Blavatsky, though. Her modern followers have moved beyond her, but she made a big point of extolling the "Aryan race" as the best iteration of humanity to date ...
A Theosophist has written a short (and apparently very fair) essay with a diagram of several of the American Theosophical groups:
http://www.theosophical.org/files/about/FamilyTreeTheosophy.pdf
1) To the best of my knowledge, belief in a VSL is not required. However, it does leave a bit of a gap. I suppose it is up to each individual to decide what that VSL is for them, even if it is unwritten.I have only looked at what I consider to be the basic tenets/beliefs of Theosophy, but I do not see anything at that level that would be incompatible with Freemasonry.
It did bring to mind some questions that I had not thought about in awhile:
1. What about someone who believes in a Supreme Being, but does not identify in any way with a specific religion and does not have or believe in any VSL?
2. Do all Grand Lodges require a belief in the "immortality of the Soul and a resurrection thereof to future life"?
1) To the best of my knowledge, belief in a VSL is not required. However, it does leave a bit of a gap. I suppose it is up to each individual to decide what that VSL is for them, even if it is unwritten.
2) I had never heard of ANY GL with that requirement.
Well, regarding the VSL, we're required to take the Obligation on A VSL, but that doesn't mean that one must believe in it. I could swear an oath with my hand resting on one of the Harry Potter books. To me, my oath is no less binding based on what I'm touching at the time.We are required to take the Obligations on our VSL, so if someone does not have one what would they do?
While it is not mentioned on the Grand Lodge of Louisiana Petition for Degrees it is one of the Landmarks adopted by the Grand Lodge and contained in the Handbook of Masonic Law:
LANDMARKS RECOGNIZED BY THE GRAND LODGE OF LOUISIANA (Adopted February 14, 1989)
18. A belief in the existence ofGod, in the immortality of the Soul and a resurrection thereof to future life.
We are required to take the Obligations on our VSL, so if someone does not have one what would they do?
While it is not mentioned on the Grand Lodge of Louisiana Petition for Degrees it is one of the Landmarks adopted by the Grand Lodge and contained in the Handbook of Masonic Law:
LANDMARKS RECOGNIZED BY THE GRAND LODGE OF LOUISIANA (Adopted February 14, 1989)
18. A belief in the existence of God, in the immortality of the Soul and a resurrection thereof to future life.
To circle back around to the Theosophy aspect, if we accept that all religions are telling the same story, then all religious books are essentially different translations of the same story.
At that point, what does it matter which book it is?