INTOLERANCE

“Are you not, then, partial with yourselves, and make yourselves judges of evil thoughts?”

Jas. 2:4

Early in his Masonic career, a Freemason is instructed in the exercise of brotherly love and is told to regard the entire human species as one family. That family includes the high and the low, the rich and the poor who, created by an Almighty Father and inhabitants of the same planet, must help, support and protect each other. Throughout the remainder of his Masonic career, the Mason will receive innumerable additional instructions on the relationship of brotherly love to the concept of tolerance, especially the concept of religious tolerance.

Most people, including most Freemasons, generally consider themselves tolerant of other people’s religious beliefs. If asked that question at a town meeting, or in any other public place, many are not likely to hesitate to raise their hands in proof of their tolerant nature, if only to avoid appearing to their friends and neighbors as if were socially unacceptable. In fact, rather than just faking sincerity, most people probably actually believe they deserve to be labeled tolerant, especially if they’re a United States citizen.

Our nation’s constitutional protection of religious freedom is taught to American school children at a young age. Churches of several different denominations dot the landscape, as do synagogues and mosques. While our society may expect such fundamental devotions to the concept of religious tolerance to accurately represent how we act as citizens, the truth really depends on how religious tolerance is defined.

Wikipedia, an Internet dictionary, suggests that the word tolerance is a recent political term used as an antithesis to the word discrimination. That same source goes on to describe tolerance as a word most people would prefer to avoid using; a word that is obviously not universally liked, because it severely challenges us to understand that it means much more than simply accepting different opinions.

As an example of such distaste, a person with an excellent reputation for good character who had recently discovered the joys of a particular religion responded with a resounding “no” when asked whether or not the new religion brought a deeper sense of self. tolerance. “To be truly tolerant, as I understand the meaning of that word,” said that person, “I would force myself to be dishonest both with my religion and with the beliefs I hold true if I were to accept other religious views.”

Here, we have stumbled across another definition of tolerance, which unfortunately has enjoyed wide acceptance around the world: a definition that clearly implies that being religiously tolerant means not having strong beliefs about morality and God. The basic misunderstanding behind that definition is based on the misconception that one gives up anything other than ego and self-pride when tolerating other similar religious beliefs. Such is not the case, at least not from the perspective of Freemasonry.

When you tolerate other religious beliefs, you are not obligated to adopt those beliefs as your own. Nor is it required that you find any particular truth in those other beliefs. Although failure to do so may expose you as a very unwise and narrow person, unwilling to discover the tremendous value of diversity, that alone does not necessarily make you intolerant. To be tolerant, you simply must be willing to extend religious freedom to people of all religious traditions, even if you disagree, in whole or in part, with the teachings of those other religions.

The ritual selected by Freemasonry to impart wise and serious truths does not have a single source. He is not Christian, Jewish, Islamic or Hindu. However, it finds its source in each of those religions, as well as several others. Furthermore, its beauty is richly increased by wonderful philosophical schools of the past. Ancient Egypt provided symbolism such as from east to west, the divine nature of the Temple, the immortality of humanity, and the resurrection. Our Hebrew brothers added the symbolism of the one God, which was later reinforced by Muhammad and other Islamic writers. The Hindus led us to embrace the symbolism of the beauty of the world around us, so rich and utterly satisfying as to merit return visits after death in the manner of the reincarnation of souls. Pythagoras and Plato offered to Art the concept of the unity of humanity with God and nature. Among its many valuable spiritual contributions, Christianity taught the Craft to educate its members about the inner soul, the mind of man, and the freedom of all to choose good over evil, light over darkness. Consequently, the ritual of Freemasonry is the result of the synthesis of different beliefs and different points of view. Consequently, it is not surprising that the fraternity promotes religious tolerance and literally breathes it into the hearts and souls of its members.

In the Fellowcraft Degree, the candidate is instructed in the value of seriously seeking knowledge of the various liberal arts and sciences: grammar, rhetoric, logic, arithmetic, geometry, music, and astronomy. That instruction carries with it the implication that doctrinal adherence to conclusions that are subject to change should be avoided when what was previously unknown sheds new light on the matter. The tyranny of doctrine casts an ominous shadow over religious toleration, because unchanging doctrine has no room for new light.

When asked if the new archeological discoveries could bring a change to existing church doctrine, one prelate recently answered “no.” It is not difficult to understand the reason for that answer. Changing the fundamental facts inherent in any given doctrine could undermine a church’s credibility. Consequently, the best defense against such change was and remains intolerance. The result of such a stance was most graphically illustrated during that period of history known simply as “The Inquisition,” a period when prelates and kings roamed the civilized world in search of heretics to burn and torture. The Inquisition led to mass murders of Jews, Gypsies, and alleged witches, as well as others who were deemed not to have sincerely embraced the specific doctrine then in power.

Sadly, events like the Inquisition have permeated the history of man. In Rome, those who adhered to the principles of the early Christian religion were persecuted, tortured, and killed by what are now known as “pagans.” Later, after Emperor Constantine anointed Christianity as the approved state religion, the tables were turned. The pagans were persecuted by the Christians and the period of torture and death was revived. Catholics and Protestants continue to kill each other in certain parts of the world, despite each religion claiming to be centered on Christ. Certain Islamic sects hate each other and send death squads to eliminate the “enemy”.

Freemasonry teaches that every religious doctrine contains truth and error, and always will as long as the doctrine remains unchanged. Thus Freemasonry has a close affinity with Hermetic philosophy, the origin of which is attributed to Hermes Trimegistus. That philosophy is esoteric in nature and consists of mysteries that are expressed in symbols. Certain disciplines drawn from that philosophy have tried to become complete doctrines: Kabbalah, astrology and alchemy are just a few. When such an intellectualization of Hermetic philosophy tries to establish unequivocal concepts, it commits an abuse that is not adopted by philosophy itself, nor by Freemasonry.

In Freemasonry there are no theories; there is only experience, including the experience of interpreting symbols. Mystical experience is the root; the experience of acquiring knowledge can be considered the sap; and putting into practice the lessons learned from the interpretation of the symbols constitutes the wood. An important lesson in this regard can be derived from the rich symbolism found in the book of Revelations, also known as the Apocalypse of Saint John.

The key to understanding the Apocalypse is to practice it, using it as a series of spiritual exercises that awaken deeper levels of consciousness. The seven letters to the churches, the seven seals of the sealed book, the seven trumpets, and the seven bowls signify a course of spiritual study. To understand these studies, one must place oneself in a state of consciousness suitable for receiving revelations: concentration, inner silence, connection of consciousness with subconsciousness, followed by a summary of what has been learned. Such an effort at synthesis, so well established in the Masonic interpretation of symbols, is incompatible with intolerance. Rather, it is highlighted by a sense of change; an awareness that no man, philosophy or religion embodies the whole truth. All that is, or ever was, is not and will never be fully known.

For Freemasons throughout the world, the development of a tolerant state of conscience is fundamental to the promotion of brotherly love. One cannot love his brother if he hates his brother’s religious doctrine. One cannot help and support his brother if he comes to the conclusion that his brother’s pitiable condition is God’s will for him who practices false religious doctrine. And one cannot rejoice in the welfare and successes of his brother when he arrogantly believes that he walks in truth while his brother follows the path of darkness.

Tolerance, then, is more than simply tolerating someone else’s different religious beliefs: it requires embracing and loving difference.

History of Freemasonry – Tolerance, Brotherly Love and Freedom of Religion in the Fellowship Degree

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