What exactly is freemasonry?

[Anonymous]

Why is there so many conspiracy theories about it? What does the Vatican Church have to do with it?

[NamerOfStars]

It's a fraternal organization (like the Elks and the Moose) that grew out of what was basically a trade union LONG before such things existed. They keep many of their rituals and aspects secret, but most of those secrets have been leaked (or so I've been told; I haven't gone looking). That secretiveness is why the Vatican (which does not have a Church in itself, but is a subgroup of a larger faith known as "Christianity") objects to it; since membership in a Masonic lodge requires only "belief in a supreme being", and this is somehow seen as antithetical to Christianity. How, exactly, this is the case has never been explained (that I've seen, at least) without falling back on rhetoric that wouldn't be out of place at an Anglican witch trial.

The truth, I think, is that the organization's secretiveness bothered the Vatican at some point in the past, and some doofus Pope decided to ban membership in it, and all the rest have kept up the charade (it's not just an old thing; Francis signed a declaration confirming membership is off-limits to Catholics just seven months ago). Yes, it's true that you don't know what's going on in there, but the same is true of a great many frat houses; there's no ban on those.

The other reason is that a great many political leaders all over the western world have been members, and so there's an implication that they secretly run the world, and make places for one another, only hiring and promoting from within the group. As someone who can see how the world is actually being run, I think that if that IS true, it's not a group any competent person has anything to fear from. Far more likely, it attracts the kind of people who'd seek volunteering and charitable activities and roles anyway, and seeing both the good that can be done and the need for it pushes them toward seeking power; the cause and effect of Freemasons running the world is pointed in the wrong direction.

That said, I'm sure the organization DOES have its share of power-hungry bastards; any group that's large enough does.

[Knightwatch27]

Allow me to provide a serious answer: The Freemasons were formed originally in the medieval age, in and around the 14th century as a guild of masons. During this time guilds were popular in the big cities of medieval Europe, providing specialized services in all things from masonry to banking, to cobbling to blacksmithing etc. The freemasons were however revived and reorganized in later centuries, particularly the 18th and 19th century into a secretive "club" of mixed faiths and nationalities all confessing faith in one "supreme being" but not that of any fixed Abrahamic or other religion, who do not admit women, and whose practices, rituals and initiations are largely unknown and kept thus. Therefore there has been many accusations of occult or satanic worship particularly from the church at many points. Their divisions over the world are called "lodges" and membership can only be granted to someone by another member (I was offered membership once). Freemasons today are quite wealthy and support medical research and charities, but still maintains secrecy regarding their inner workings.

[Rosexøxø]

It all started with a man named mason thought to be trapped in a jar 🏺 that dated back from the Trojan war period. No one knows if it came from the Tojans or the Aztecs due to loss in translations of scrolls.

Anyways. Mason was actually a poor boy, the son of a potter (pottery worker). From some rumor spread from nothing distinct, mason would rub a particular jar in hopes it would release a genie. Maybe this was some poor idea of traveling genies at the time and nomads who brought their wares in the towns. Mason was uneducated and what he mixed up from a tale, a group of people, and a lamp 🪔 he mistook for with the jar (vase). Others (his friends) had copied this tradition and it became an occult. With no real clue as to how, mason did get stuck in the jar and was cursed there many years without dying. Researchers have searched for this specific jar, but the name lives on in what we use for PRESERVES. It’s why we also have urns and all that jazz with the Egyptians.

With so many questions unanswered and such. It explains the reason for the theories. And that…

is how I spent the rest of my time finishing my tuna sandwich. 🥪 — Making this story up for the post.

[Dargil]

My weak understanding is that it started as a guild (union) resisting their enslavement of post-Reformation Christians who were non-observant Catholics constructing the Cathedrals if Europe and evolved into a subversive organization. Freemasonry goes back many generations in my family. I broke the lineage.

[CaptainSmartass]

Its all funny handshakes, favours and back handers, with the occasional charitable act.

Simples...

[TheRealPepperPotts]

When someone builds you some raised flowerbeds out of stone for free... : P

[Anonymous]

It's a fine and noble institution that donated heavily to charitable causes

[Jennz6]

It’s a fraternity that men join

[Jennz6]

@Brittanyroseee I saw a guy wearing a Masonic ring 💍

[BLP11520]

A cult started by a man named Pike

[Rosexøxø]

I used this one line to make up a poorly constructed and rushed story. But it was enjoyable nonetheless! As was this. Thank you 🫡😁💯