Hi,

I am little confused about why Rick says in his TRT World interview that the Freemasons are not a cult. According to him, there must be veneration / worship of the leader and demonising of those who leave etc for it to be a cult. My father and former father-in-law had both been Freemasons. My father-in-law had left to become a Christian and their household spoke of it as being satanic. Even so, he would not talk about the what happens behind their closed doored meetings or anything. According to my father, my father did not progress very far and is no longer part of the group, however, he speaks very highly of it as if it is something like a community service group that does a lot of good things for the community. He also refuses to talk about what happens within the organisation stating he can't because he made an oath and its wrong to break an oath. My question is, how and why they are so indoctrinated and will not speak about it even though they have nothing more to do with it and, in my father-in-law's case, considers it to be evil and black magic? Surely something has happened behind those doors that has caused them to fear talking. Have they been threatened or brainwashed? I don't get how an organisation that is so secretive about what they do and has such control over former members is not a cult.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 01/06/2025 08:15AM by True Person.

See [www.culteducation.com]

This explains defining a destructive cult.

See also [www.culteducation.com]

This further explains the essential core characteristics of a destructive cult.

"Certain psychological themes which recur in these various historical contexts also arise in the study of cults. Cults can be identified by three characteristics:

1. a charismatic leader who increasingly becomes an object of worship as the general principles that may have originally sustained the group lose their power;

2. a process I call coercive persuasion or thought reform;

3.economic, sexual, and other exploitation of group members by the leader and the ruling coterie."

I have seen no evidence that the Freemasons have any of these three core characteristics.

There is no dictatorial leader who is an object of worship.

There is no evidence of thought reform being used to coerce and control Freemasons.

There is no evidence that Freemasons sytematically hurt their members as mandated by the organization, e.g. criminal indictments, criminal convictions, personal injury lawsuits, etc.

Ok, thanks. It was a long time ago that I spoke to my former father-in-law about it and my memory is a little hazy. I am not sure, but I might have recalled wrong. It could have actually been his wife that that said it was evil and black magic and he just wouldn't say anything. He was a very submissive man to his wife so he wouldn't disagree with her about anything.

The whole thing reeks of cult vibes. What I get the biggest kick out is that they started as a group of stone masons in the Middle Ages. It reminds me of Heaven's Gate and a bunch of people belonging to some random industry or craft that evolved into some full-fledged cult.


The idea was that at some point, some "higher" members of the Stone Mason group started to influence the others and make it more about the spiritual teachings rather than just discussing your trade. In other words, someone started taking these guys for a ride. It's like making a group for Architects or Bridge Engineers, and then someone starts to slip in some spiritual mumbo jumbo... and before you know it, they seal off the space and start making tall-tale claims and being all elitist and hush-hush.


So, while not a cult directly by the standards proposed above, there is this:


Criticisms and Controversies


Secrecy and Elitism

Freemasons operate with significant secrecy, including secret handshakes, rituals, and symbols. This secrecy has led to public suspicion and accusations of elitism or hidden agendas.


Critics argue that their exclusivity creates barriers to transparency, fostering mistrust.


Alleged Influence in Politics and Society

Freemasonry is often accused of exerting undue influence in politics, legal systems, and business. While these claims are largely unproven, they contribute to a perception of hidden power dynamics.


Conspiracy theories suggest they aim to create a "New World Order," though evidence supporting this is dubious.


Religious Tensions

Some religious groups, especially the Catholic Church, view Freemasonry as incompatible with their teachings.


Accusations of syncretism, relativism, or anti-Christian elements in Masonic teachings have led to bans and condemnation by various religious authorities.


Obligations and Oaths

Critics claim that Masonic oaths are overly binding, often requiring members to swear loyalty and secrecy under dramatic symbolic penalties.


This can resemble the controlling dynamics of cult-like groups, where allegiance to the organization supersedes personal autonomy.


Misuse of Power

There have been allegations of Freemasons favoring members in legal or professional contexts, undermining principles of meritocracy and fairness.


Some critics suggest that members may protect each other from accountability, particularly in criminal or ethical violations.

Exclusion of Women and Non-Believers


Traditional Masonic lodges exclude women and often require belief in a "Supreme Being," which critics argue is discriminatory.


These exclusions contrast with modern egalitarian principles, reinforcing the notion of exclusivity.


Cult-Like Aspects


Ritualistic Practices

Freemasonry is heavily ritualized, with initiations, symbolic gestures, and secret ceremonies that some liken to religious or cult rituals.


The use of allegory and symbolism can create an air of mystique, which may feel manipulative to outsiders.


Hierarchical Structure

The hierarchical nature of Freemasonry, with ascending degrees and titles, mirrors structures seen in cults. This hierarchy can lead members to feel pressure to "rise" through the ranks.


Critics argue that such systems can foster dependency on the organization for social status and self-worth.


Obligation of Loyalty and Secrecy

Members are expected to maintain absolute loyalty and secrecy, which can isolate them from non-members or encourage a duality in their public and private personas.


Control Through Allegiance

The secrecy and loyalty demanded by Freemasonry may lead to accusations of control over members' lives, especially when members feel obligated to prioritize Masonic activities or networks over other relationships.


Esoteric Teachings

The organization often presents its teachings in a mystical or esoteric framework, which some argue is unnecessarily opaque, fostering dependence on higher-ranking members for understanding.


The fact is that many cults function in a bubble or vacuum. So much of anything controversial is immediately swept under the rug or deflected with claims of bigotry and threats of religious freedom.

I personally don't feel they are a major threat socially and appreciate that they keep to themselves and don't make a big deal of preaching or distributing literature. But a cult they are, to me.

RUN