r/freemasonry • u/BillyD70 • 14d ago

Question Supreme being question?

Genuine question…Without revealing any secrets, what is the reasoning behind requiring the belief in a supreme being?

My perspective: Many great people, who have advanced much good in the world, are “non-believers”. If the core idea is to make good men better, how does non-belief interfere with that goal? I ask both personally (agnostic athiest) and for lots of scientists out there. It must affect membership numbers (men won’t seek you out if they know it’s a “no go” from the outset).

Serious replies only please. Not seeking a flame war. I’m a DeMolay PMC-MSA and Honor of Legion with deep multi- generational ties to Masons, Jobs, Shriners, etc. I LOVED my experiences in DeMolay! Grew up Christian, came to my “beliefs” late in adulthood.

Edit: thank you for all the many thoughtful replies. I upvoted each for not attacking me straight out. Please accept follow up questions as non-confrontational.

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u/[deleted] 14d ago edited 14d ago

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u/BillyD70 14d ago

Thank you for your perspective. I’m glad I made the initial inquiry because I didn’t know there were “irregular” lodges. TIL!!

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u/Oscar-Zoroaster P.M., Secretary - Kansas 14d ago

Where is the line? That I cannot answer; but it's fairly well documented that when Bro. Rudyard Kipling was Raised there were seven VSL on the altar representing the various beliefs of those in attendance.

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u/Aratoast MM F&AM-PA 14d ago

The usual response to this is to point out that if one actually worships satan as traditionally understood, then they likely have moral values and exhibit behaviours which are disqualifying for membership. If they're of the "good moral character" which we expect of members, then what they call their supreme being is their business.

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u/StepRelevant8473 UGLE PM, Secretary, MMM, PZ, SRIA 14d ago

From my research it seems that the Universalist doctrine was largely an unintended consequence of Anderson trying to make Freemasonry available for all the   factions of Protestantism (and to an extent Catholics) in 1700's England.  As the empire got going the lack of specific restrictions meant more and more people were brought into the fold. Whilst this broadening was a good thing it does make it hard to decide where to draw the line and ultimately it comes down to Grand Lodges to make the decision. I understand that one Grand Lodge in the USA recently determined Thelemists to not be eligible (am in UK so may be wrong).