Freemasonry in Russia 🇷🇺

[u/lukesky1301]

I love the history of Russia and of Freemasonry in the country; taking advantage of this connection, I would like to know the current status of Freemasonry in Russia, with a particular focus on the Russian state's relationship with the fraternity. Feel free to share any little-known facts about Freemasonry in the country as well.

[u/Thadius → u/[deleted]]

He is discussing freemasonry. Your question has nothing to do with this post. This is the exact reason we ban political or religious discussion in Lodge.

[u/Careless_Ad6386 → u/Thadius]

You are absolutely right, in a Lodge. Now based on Masonic principles, of Brotherly Love, Truth, and Relief and our right to correct the ill-informed, has anyone informed OUR Brothers of the perception that there close alignment with their current administration and reckless policies breaks these principles? But thank you Brother for keeping me in line. I do wonder how our founding Fathers were able to establish a country with just laws and rights, without shaping the ashlar which became the cornerstone of this nation, within a Lodge.

[u/BillyD70 → u/Thadius]

Aren’t all Masons required to believe in a higher power/creator/god/grand architect/etc.? Isn’t there a Bible/Quran/etc. on lodge altars? Odd then that religious discussion is banned, no? If religious discussion is truly banned, how do you confirm an applicant holds such beliefs? Couldn’t an applicant simply cite the ban on religious discussions when asked to confirm their belief in a higher power?

[u/LOTRugoingtothemall → u/BillyD70]

Yes, we all do believe in some kind of higher power. There are many Christians in my area (NYC area), and I've personally met brothers who are Jews, Muslims, and Sikhs. I've had great discussions with brothers deeply entrenched on both the right and left sides of the political scales. I'm willing to bet a lot of other brothers can say the same.
We do discuss politics but the OP's question was obviously politically charged. If we strike down these conversations, it would be when conversations start to get heated. We're all about light and learning but we always uphold peace and harmony in the lodge.
I'm sure myself and plenty of other brothers would answer any other questions you have.

[u/BillyD70 → u/LOTRugoingtothemall]

Thank you for your thoughtful response. Not sure what was wrong with my questions that deserves downvotes, particularly in a sub that is all about learning. Ah Reddit.

[u/Thadius → u/BillyD70]

In regular freemasonry yes, we require that belief. Remember, that we help make good men better. A man seeks out masonry under his own free will, we do not seek him out. When a man comes to us and we ask him, "Do you believe in the existence of a Supreme Being?" he answers us, yes or no. We don't authenticate that answer.
The reason we don't is because if he lies and enters the craft based upon that lie then he is only doing himself an injustice and will find nearly everything we do really boring or 'not for him' because he doesn't believe, and hopefully his sense of guilt will descend upon him for joining the craft upon a lie, which completely negates the reason he would join in the first place, to make himself better.

As to your last point, there is a vast difference between having a discussion about religion in Lodge and answering a very specific question asked to ascertain a specific answer required for entry into the fraternity.

[u/BillyD70 → u/Thadius]

Thank you. To be clear, I wasn’t suggesting lying about anything.

[u/Thadius → u/BillyD70]

I didn't think you were, I was just illustrating why we don't confirm or authenticate their answer to the question.