The relationship between the Enlightenment and liberalism and its role in shaping modern liberal democracy is well known. Far less well known is the very strong connection between the Enlightenment, it's proponents and Freemasonry.
"Our analysis reveals that:
(1) All famous leaders of the Enlightenment had connections to Freemasonry;
(2) The Enlightenment tenets overlap Freemasonry tenets, and, therefore they were supported and propagated by English, French, and American lodges;
(3) Freemasonry progressively turned into a transnational vehicle for liberal thinking, disseminating the concepts of property and freedom in Europe and across the Atlantic.
Also, we cannot ignore the striking coincidences that are claiming the appurtenance to the discussed organizational system and philosophy; very powerful personalities who have revolutionized the scientific and socio-political fields were Freemasons.
Although there are many authors who tried to direct their writings to the ideas of intrigue, conspiracy, world domination plans or mystical grounds, we have chosen to expose a positive, unbiased version of the facts. Thereby we consider that Freemasonry offered and continues to offer to its members a particular spiritual and moral perspective, which encourages the freedom of conscience and progressive thinking.
Today, the organization still works as a social network, reuniting important personalities from all over the world and channeling its efforts to charity. By making an analogy to the cohesion of the freemasons and their fierce allegiance to the liberal purposes during the Enlightenment, we can imagine the current strength of any of their deliberated actions. After all, the accomplishment of an ideal depends on the number and force of its partisan."
From : "Reason, Liberty and Science. The Contribution of Freemasonry to the Enlightenment" , Mădălina Calance, Doctoral School of Economics and Business Administration, University of Iasi
Somewhere, someone said, scapegoats are the ideal conspiracy theory driven whipping boys for all that we fail to put right, when everything appears to be going wrong.
“Everyone loves a witch hunt as long as it's someone else's witch being hunted.” ― Walter Kirn
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Re: Reason enough
Posted by Pete on September 1, 2018, 5:38 pm, in reply to "Reason enough"
One would avoid having the suspicion of conspiracy fall upon one's cause by eschewing obsessive secrecy and being open and transparent - all completely lacking in the dubious history of Freemasonry.
Previous Message
Somewhere, someone said, scapegoats are the ideal conspiracy theory driven whipping boys for all that we fail to put right, when everything appears to be going wrong.
“Everyone loves a witch hunt as long as it's someone else's witch being hunted.” ― Walter Kirn
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Re: Reason enough
Posted by Alex Caughey on September 1, 2018, 6:20 pm, in reply to "Re: Reason enough"
Well, John, the institutional church has been the erstwhile instructor in all matters secretive, especially now that the cover ups on clerical sexual abuse are being exposed, for the human race to contemplate dirty laundry in all its tragic manifestations of dirty secrets left to gather dust behind the curtains.
You already knew this... when attempting to play the blame game using a convenient scapegoat.
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Re: Reason enough
Posted by Pete on September 1, 2018, 6:59 pm, in reply to "Re: Reason enough"
The author of the article I quoted from states, "we have chosen to expose a positive, unbiased version of the facts." Hardly playing the blame game or using scapegoats. I do question why the significant connection between Freemasonry, the Enlightenment and Liberalism is something that is rarely discussed or mentioned. In order to understand where we are and how we got here one requires the COMPLETE account. The history books are oddly quiet regarding Freemasonry's considerable contribution to the ideas and events that have shaped the political landscape of much of the world particularly in the West. Why? To assert one is scapegoating Freemasonry for daring to question it and its role in the world is unusually defensive and inadequate.
Previous Message
Well, John, the institutional church has been the erstwhile instructor in all matters secretive, especially now that the cover ups on clerical sexual abuse are being exposed, for the human race to contemplate dirty laundry in all its tragic manifestations of dirty secrets left to gather dust behind the curtains.
You already knew this... when attempting to play the blame game using a convenient scapegoat.
end
Re: Reason enough
Posted by Alex Caughey on September 1, 2018, 11:57 pm, in reply to "Re: Reason enough"
When an author, or authors of an article state "we have chosen to expose a positive, unbiased version of the facts " I immediately assume that they are propagating an agenda. The author of your captioned article also specialises in the study of conspiracy theories.
Blaming the Jews, or the Freemasons, or The Gypsies, or World Government, or The United Nations is the predictable response of those determined to argue that there is a secretive plot to undermine Christian civilisation.
Conspiracy theories may well sit well with those who believe that sound reasoning must needs be include blaming those who are "different."
Hitler's final solution to Germany's economic ills also included attaching blame on those who fitted in with his conspiratorial theorising.
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Re: Reason enough
Posted by Pete on September 2, 2018, 6:07 am, in reply to "Re: Reason enough"
The authors and perpetrators of the French and Communist revolutions no doubt had their own version of the "final solution" based on their own conspiratorial constructions about the Church, monarchy, bourgeoisie, etc. Once again the history books and contemporary narratives are considerably muted in recounting the resultant murderous violence and inhumanity, particularly in comparison to the attention given to Nazi atrocities.
As the saying goes "History is written by the victors" and often this is at the cost of the full truth. A certain way of avoiding examining history truthfully and objectively would be to continually make recourse to "victim status" appropriating any examination or criticism with discrimination, intolerance and persecution. History books, media and movies have impressed the horrors of the Nazi regime so deeply on our psyches that there is an inevitable suspicion of anti-Semitism at the slightest hint of criticism of Jewish persons or Judaism.
In present times the discrimination, intolerance, persecution narrative is routinely invoked by those looking for the advancement of their own status and interests e.g. homosexuals, multiculturalists, Muslims, feminists. Critics are instantly and vehemently denounced as racists, misogynists, homophobes, populists. Reality and truthfulness can be greatly obfuscated in the environment of hypersensitivity to causing offence and being discriminatory.
Human misdeeds are not justification for avoiding or denying truth. In ideological battles it is tempting to draw attention to misdeeds as evidence the "others" ideas are completely wrong and invalid. There are those hostile to the Catholic Church and disbelieving of it's teaching that emphasise the misdeeds of inquisitions, crusades, clerical sexual abuse and coverups as if these were evidence of the invalidity of its Creed.
The search for truth should not be overshadowed by simplistic and emotive narratives based on the actual and perceived persecutions of one particular group. The misdeeds of history are sure to be perpetuated when ANY group is given license to distort it, including Freemasons!
Previous Message
When an author, or authors of an article state "we have chosen to expose a positive, unbiased version of the facts " I immediately assume that they are propagating an agenda. The author of your captioned article also specialises in the study of conspiracy theories.
Blaming the Jews, or the Freemasons, or The Gypsies, or World Government, or The United Nations is the predictable response of those determined to argue that there is a secretive plot to undermine Christian civilisation.
Conspiracy theories may well sit well with those who believe that sound reasoning must needs be include blaming those who are "different."
Hitler's final solution to Germany's economic ills also included attaching blame on those who fitted in with his conspiratorial theorising.
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Re: Reason enough
Posted by Alex Caughey on September 2, 2018, 6:30 am, in reply to "Re: Reason enough"
PDH has been repeating the same conspiracy theories here and elsewhere for many years.
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Re: Reason enough
Posted by Pete on September 2, 2018, 10:20 am, in reply to "Re: Reason enough"
Wielding derogatory, dismissive and often meaningless labels upon anyone who disagrees with us is pretty popular these days too...
Previous Message
PDH has been repeating the same conspiracy theories here and elsewhere for many years.
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Re: Reason enough
Posted by Pete on September 2, 2018, 11:24 am, in reply to "Re: Reason enough"
"Therefore the Church’s negative judgment in regard to Masonic association remains unchanged since their principles have always been considered irreconcilable with the doctrine of the Church and therefore membership in them remains forbidden. The faithful who enrol in Masonic associations are in a state of grave sin and may not receive Holy Communion."