The Masonic God
Many anti-Masons claim that Masons are worshipping a false god. The accusation most frequently used is that Freemasonry worships the God known as GAOTU (Great Architect of The Universe). Some claim that we worship a god called Jahbulon. Others claim that we worship all the gods of the ancient civilizations. All of these charges are false. In the first place, Masons do not worship any god within the Lodge. Worship does not take place in the Lodge. Of course, prayers are made for guidance and for the sick, but each Masons is expected to direct those prayers to the God he serves.
It must be stated one more time. Freemasonry is not a religion. It IS a FRATERNITY. While personal religion is encouraged in the Lodge and the Holy Bible is referred to as "the guide to moral living," we do not have any system of conducting a worship service nor do we have a theology to explain what one must believe about God. There are no clergymen, no sacred writings (other than the Bible), and no religious instruction (or colleges).
Within minutes of the new candidate entering into the Lodge he is told that there will be nothing done that will conflict with any of his religious duties. It is expected that he will put his church and religion first before the Lodge. It has been claimed that some Masons make the Lodge their church. If that does happen, it is very unfortunate. While we may be able to help that man become a little better, we have not prepared his soul for Heaven, because we expected that this would be a matter between him and his house of worship.
Below I will present some of the false claims that have been made and attempt a response.
The Masonic god is a cosmic force
(Morals and Dogma - Page 707)This remark is not found on that page. It is made quite clear on page 706 that God is not just some cosmic force:
"God, therefore, in the Masonic creed, is Infinite Truth, Infinite Beauty, Infinite Goodness. He is the Holy of Holies, as Author of the Moral Law, as the Principle of Liberty, of Justice, and of Charity, Dispenser of Reward and Punishment. Such a God is not an abstract God; but an intelligent and free person, who has made us in His image, from Whom we receive the law that presides over our destiny, and whose judgement we await."
Does that sound like a cosmic force? I don't think so.
The Masonic god named G.A.O.T.U.
This subject is covered elsewhere on my website, but I will cover it briefly here. GAOTU (Great Architect of the Universe) is a term that was first coined by the great Reformer, John Calvin, and was later picked up by Masonry. It simply means that God, as Masons understand Him, was the great Creator of the Universe. How is that anti-Christian? This does not mean that He is limited to JUST being the Creator, because He is so much more.
One Anti-Mason wrote, "The god of Freemasonry, the Grand Architect of the Universe, is in reality a demonic god. The G.A.O.T.U., as it is abbreviated in Masonic writings, cannot be the God of the Bible and the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ." It is a shame that they don't have a thread of evidence to back up that claim. Since Masonry was originally focused on the building trades, it is natural to see God as a "builder" also.
The god known as Maphomet
Do Masons worship this Satanic looking god known as Baphomet? First of all, this god has no connection with the Masonic organization as such. The accusations concerning this god was leveled at the Knights Templars in the early 1300's by the Roman Catholic Church.
The Knights Templars had gained very strong political connections and had developed a very good banking system over the years. When the Holy Land Wars were over at the end of the 13th century most of Europe was on the verge of financial ruin. The Kings of Europe and the Pope had borrowed a lot of money from the Templars and wasn't able to pay it back. In order to get off the hook they devised a plan to get rid of the Templars. They accused them of doing a host of things that was considered to be sinful by the Church. On of the things they accused the Templars of was worshipping the Mahophet god when they were in the Holy Land. Supposedly the Templars had been influenced by the Middle Eastern people to adopt this new god.
Many of the Templars were rounded up and put in prison for their "crimes." In order to regain their freedoms they had to confess their crimes against the State and the Church. In order to get this confession from the Templars the Inquisition torturers were brought in to obtain this confession. The Templars were severely tortured until they repented. Most of the Knight died rather than deny they Christian faith, but a few, not able to bear the punishment, confessed to serving this false god known as Baphomet. There is no proof that these charges were accurate since they were all obtained under torture.
The lie has continued to be told down to the present time. It is portrayed on the cover of one of Jack Chick's books on Masonry. It shows a crowd of Masons dancing around the image of Baphomet. Jacks Chick has picked put on the lie told by Leo Taxil over 100 years ago and is keeping it alive. The story of Leo Taxil can be found elsewhere on this site.
http://www.masonicfax.com/luciferian.htm
Do Freemasons Believe in the gods of all Religions ?
The Anti-Masons like to quote Morals and Dogma to prove their point:
Masonry, around whose altars the Christian, the Hebrew, the Moslem, the Brahmin, the followers of Confucius and Zoraster, can assemble as brethren and unite in prayer to the one God who is above all the Baalim, must needs leave it to each of its Initiates to look for the foundation of his faith and hope to the written scriptures of his own religion.
It is important to point out here that all of the above religions are not gathered around an altar of worship. Pike is referring to the Masonic altar of obligation. Any prayer that goes on is between the Mason and his god. It is much the same principle as when our Congress is lead in prayer for guidance prior to each session. There are many religions represented but it is up to each person to call on his own god.
I will quote from John J. Robinson's book The Pilgrim Path:
Freemasonry isn't trying to have one God for everyone, but rather is seeking a means by which all men who believe in a monotheistic God can join together. "God" in the Masonic sense refers to God as perceived and worshipped by the individual Mason. No man is asked to alter his beliefs to meet some Masonic standard, and that is entirely appropriate for a fraternal body that has no desire to be a separate religion. (page 76)
Here is another question:
When a Hindu prays to Vishnu or Shiva, is he really praying to Jesus? When a Muslim prays to Allah, is she really praying to Jehovah? When Buddhists, Jehovah's Witnesses, and Mormons pray, are they really praying to the same God the Christian prays to?
The answer to that question, in my opinion, is NO. Being a Mason does not entail serving someone else's god. While the True and Living God may be attempting to shine His light of Truth into the hearts of all men there are without a doubt some religions who have lost sight of the One and Only Living God who said "I am that I am."
Albert Pike had this to say about the subject of gods:
All the Gods of the Heathen are false idols; because, being but men's attributes and passions enlarged and personified, the are wholly unreal and have no existences." (The Meaning of Masonry, pages 56-57)
Does Masonry conflict with the God of the Bible? Here is what John Weldon (an Anti-Mason) said about it:
At whatever level Masonry approaches God, however, its theology presents irresolvable conflicts for the Christian. If the Christian God is merely an inferior and false concept, then Masonry denies that the God of the Bible is the one true God. Further, if Masonry points Christians to an unknowable "Almighty Parent" beyond all religion, then it encourages Masons to worship a false god, and this is idolatry. This violates the first commandment in which God warned His people, "You shall have no other gods before Me" (see Exod. 20:4-6; Deut. 13:1-5).
First of all, Masonry does not believe that the Christian God is an "inferior and false concept." Freemasonry has aligned itself with Christian principles and primarily with Protestants (although has been more accepting of Catholicism in recent decades) since the Enlightenment. Secondly, the concept of an "Almighty Parent" could only be understood Masonically as God being the "parent" of all mankind (in the sense that he is the Creator of all man-kind). Masons do not believe that all people are His spiritual children. This would entail a plan of salvation, which the Lodge leaves to each of its members to work out with God.
False Claims About How Freemasons View God
1. Masons Reject The True God:
A. John Weldon made the following claim. He said that Albert Pike denies the Biblical God. "He argues that 'if our conceptions of God are those of the ignorant, narrow-minded, and vindictive Israelite...we feel that it is an affront and an indignity to {God}' (Morals and Dogma page 223)
Mr. Weldon changed the context after the word "Israelite" What he left out were these words:
Then we think worse of God, and have a lower, meaner, and more limited view of His nature, than the faculties which He has bestowed are capable of grasping. The highest view we can form is nearest to the truth. If we acquiesce in any lower one, we acquiesce in an untruth.
Pike goes on in the same paragraph and says:
When we examine our conceptions of His character, if we can conceive of a loftier, nobler, higher, more beneficent, glorious, and magnificent character, then this latter is to us the true conception of Deity; for nothing can be imagined more excellent than He.
In short, Pike was saying that the Jews had a limited view of God and His nature. He alludes to the fact that Christ was brought us a different view of God.
READ THIS AND THEN DECIDE THE MASONIC CONCEPT OF GOD
1. To be a member of the Lodge a member must express a belief in God.
2. In the obligation the candidate makes a promise before Almighty God.
3. During the very first degree the candidate is directed toward the Holy Bible which
is to be his rule and guide.
4. During the three degrees of Freemasonry he learns about God's Temple.
5. If he continues on to the higher degrees he learns more about God. If he joins the
York Rite Organization he will learn about how God worked through the
Jewish nation to bring light to the world. He learns about the importance of
knowing and honoring the name of God. If he continues on to the Knights
Templar Degree he must declare a belief in the Christ of the Bible and be
willing to protect Christianity.
6. If he continues on to the Scottish Rite Degrees he will learn more about God's
Temple in Jerusalem and many lessons drawn from its building and re-building.
In one of the degrees there are lessons drawn from the Book of Revelation.
Does it look to you as though Freemasonry is pushing a pagan system down the throats of its members? While not a religion, Freemasonry is firmly built upon the truth and moral teachings of the Holy Bible.
A Mason's God, is the God of his religion. God in the Masonic sense refers to God as perceived and worshiped by the inidividual Mason. No man is asked to change his beliefs to meet some Masonic standard. This is appropriate for a fraternal body that has no desire to be a separate religion.
Freemasonry makes only one religious statement: that there is a God who created the Universe. By this, it draws a line between religious believers and godless people. It does not concern itself with the lines between religions, because it is itself not a religion, and the various temples and churches are better equipped to define theology.