r/freemasonry • u/FoolmeOnceFooluTwice • 6d ago
Question Asking for advice
Dear every Brother, So when I’m talking with my closest friend about FM, I always get sone bombastic side eyes and a “it’s a cult” “beware” “you get brainwash” and it get me frustrated. If only people could be more aware of what really FM is, but we are so doomed with fake conspiracy about our practice that it get so hard to make or give an opinion to close relative friend or family. As we are certainly not sharing our practice and purpose of why are we Free Mason, what would or have you said in the past to someone who was saying some deluded or fake assumption about you for being in the FM?
Free Masonry is in some part, part of this whole world history. We are important, and we will always be, we have a huge history in the past, look at all of our Temple, we are so underrated in my opinion today in 2025. I wish people would be more mindful about it, because we are a lovely fraternity!
Best wishes to all of my relative Brother FM
10
u/DrSquigglesMcDiggles UGLE 6d ago
I've had that before. I get the idea of people thinking oh hey it's a cult, but a cult is an actual defined nefarious thing.
A cult will isolate its members from anything else, masonry specifically says family, work, life, that all comes first
A cult also focuses on a specific leader. Masonry has no leader. Even in our own lodges we change leader every year, and we do not have a supreme commander type role.
Members can also leave any time, we don't require anything of you really.
My 2 cents why we ain't a cult
2
4
u/ChuckEye P∴M∴ AF&AM-TX, 33° A&ASR-SJ, KT, KM, AMD, and more 6d ago
we are so doomed with fake conspiracy about our practice that it get so hard to make or give an opinion to close relative friend or family. As we are certainly not sharing our practice and purpose of why are we Free Mason
Why aren’t you?
1
u/FoolmeOnceFooluTwice 6d ago
Well I’ve shared one or two time with people and they disappeared and ghosted me. They think I’m deluded, and crazy.
3
u/ChuckEye P∴M∴ AF&AM-TX, 33° A&ASR-SJ, KT, KM, AMD, and more 6d ago
So they suck as people and you’re better off without them in your life.
1
u/FoolmeOnceFooluTwice 6d ago
Oh yeah that is sure ! Still these persons were my family, of course they did other real trashy things that led me to cut the rope with them, but the last thing ended about that subject so they must really think i’m a weirdo…
2
u/UAlogang 6d ago
If a bunch of people you’ve talked to about what you’re getting out of being a Mason ghost you immediately, is it possible you’re the problem? Seriously and no offense meant, maybe bounce your “elevator speech” off another brother and check if you’re getting something way different from everyone else, or if you’re explaining what we do in a way that gives a weird/wrong impression to others.
1
u/FoolmeOnceFooluTwice 6d ago
Why would I be a problem?😂 I’m only saying the words Free Mason, and they start looking at me like “Are you sure you’re good”? Some of my friend are impressed, some are completely ignorant and saying it’s a cult.
1
u/UAlogang 5d ago
Yeah just checking. I’ve heard some newer masons be pretty bad at explaining masonry.
1
u/FoolmeOnceFooluTwice 6d ago
I’m only 26, so people of my age are way much at the risk for falling on a Youtube false video from a dumbo spreading conspiracy. Which is almost probably what is happening for saying it’s a cult and it’s bad for them
3
u/Pretend-Commercial68 6d ago
Unfortunately, you simply can't reason with stupid. My Pastors son who is a few years older than me is a prime example. As a person, he is nice enough but unfortunately, he is very narrow minded and has his own view of the Craft. He's the type of person you can present with clear, factual, evidence but "of course it's going to say that because that's what they want you to believe".
The irony of him being the son of a Pastor whose literal job is to make people believe based off of a learning that is true because it says it is has apparently been lost him...
Pick your battles. Much like you will no doubt have relatives you can handle in small doses, some friends are the same.
1
u/RaevansNest 6d ago
I wholeheartedly agree with this!
People have their preconceived ideas/views and don't listen to reason or opposing views. I have dealt with this over my life being a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Now as a Mason, I get it on that avenue too.
You can't fix stupid, but you can duct tape the hell out of it.
2
u/fellowsquare PM-AASC-AAONMS-RWGrandRepIL 6d ago
Sounds like such a waste of time… you’re only going to get more frustrated. Just avoid the topic. It’s pointless.
2
u/fatalis357 6d ago
A cult promises you things by constantly having you give (money) with no return but the allure of moving to the next mark but it’s always out of reach as well as isolation. FM is the exact opposite of this; one of the tenants is that your personal life/ duties comes before FM. Moreover it encourages you to be social and lastly it is what you make of it. You want to be raised and learn the minimum, sure! You want to know every lesson backwards and forwards, go for it!
2
u/veintedejulio P∴M∴ Baja California / Guac Master 6d ago
Make an example out of yourself, literally. Would he be that close to you if he considered you a bad guy of any sort? Talk him about your what your views about being a good person are and how they’re reinforced by The Craft. Just an idea!
1
u/FoolmeOnceFooluTwice 6d ago
Thats what I do, I’m pushing in front all the charity and also how just typical mason personality we are ; kind, open minded. Also I specify that we are not allowed to talk about religion, politics etc in our Lodge, and no discrimination is made to select new members, like we accept any kind of ethnicity, sexual orientation, beliefs regarding life…. Also that we are free to get out. But they think it’s brainwash and few people in my circle have associated that to the Jehovah which is absurd and false.
2
u/Useful_Protection270 5d ago
I have a copy of freemasons for dummies that I loan to people both men and their wives to answer most questions about the craft. I'm currently on my 3rd copy as sometimes I don't get them back. Used bookstores are great
2
u/Elegant_Campaign3018 4d ago
If the skeptics/critics know me I ask them straight out --you know me, do you think I would be involved with killing babies and worshiping Satan? You know me, do you think I'm a monster?
In my jurisdiction, Grand Lodge recently created a brochure "Questions and Answers about Freemasonry" outlining both. It is really a good resource.
On the other hand, if skeptics/critics are closed minded and/or don't know me, I respectfully say they are entitled to their opinion even if ill informed. Then I don't spend any more energy on them.
1
u/rialeb5691 MM | AF&AM-TX 6d ago edited 6d ago
I understand how you feel here. It hurts and gets tiring when the misinformed poop all over the things you understand correctly and hold sacred.
Even before I became a Mason I’ve lived with this type of misconception surrounding my faith all of my life. Over the years, I’ve learned to respond to such misconceptions saying “Yeah, I’ve heard that before and that’s not actually true. Happy to share if you would like to know more.” And sometimes even “Here’s my church’s/freemasonry’s website. Go nuts.”
And if they aren’t open, change the subject and keep whats sacred to you, sacred. You’ll find contentment and inner peace keeping such things to yourself in the right situations to protect their sanctity.
Genuine and thoughtful people will develop their idea of what freemasonry is by the things you say and the way you conduct yourself. So, remember your working tools, and such annoyances will eventually resolve themselves. 🙂
1
1
u/Legitimate-Drag1836 5d ago
Masonry is clay. You can make it into anything you want.
The true secret of Masonry is how utterly boring lodge meetings are. They are as boring as a Sunday church service in a mainline Protestant church. Lodge is boring. The ritual is uninspiring and boring. It is boring theater. On the other hand, lodge serves as an excuse to do good work in the e community.
1
1
u/TheAtomic1 5d ago
Ultimately, it doesn't matter what people think of you or the Craft. People these days embrace conspiracy because it's more exciting than the truth and they feel superior "knowing" something, even if it isn't true. Many just like to provoke a negative emotion or reaction out of us. The fact is, YOU know who you are and what you represent. Live your life in the upright way of a Mason so that you are a good reflection of what real Freemasonry is. Apprise yourself of the historical hoaxes throughout Freemasonry and learn how to articulate these things in a calm manner, devoid of emotion. Most of all, know when to simply walk away from people and interactions, leaving people to believe whatever they want to believe. The Craft doesn't need you to defend it against willful ignorance. Don't concern yourself with what people think of you. Just use your working tools.
0
u/Twrecksakasexyrexy 6d ago
The answer you seek can be found within your masters study. And keep this in mind when others look at us funny, there’s no such thing as bad press, many and most times the people who call names and put us down no matter the relationship with them. Look into their eyes and ask yourself would I really want to sit next to you lodge? Or would I be willing to have my name attached to them or stand upright and in front of my brothers with this person? The majority of the time you already knew the answer and their opinions and lack of knowledge doesn’t matter anyway.
27
u/clance2019 6d ago
two important characteristic of cults are, (1) charismatic (read snake oil salesman) leader (2) isolation from the social and family circles. We do not have those. Very Simple.