Is Masonry a religon?

It most certainly is not a religion. We require our members to have a belief in a supreme being. We all have our own beliefs and belong to different religions.  Belief in a supreme being is Magnetic North to our Moral Compass.  

I don't know if thats the best way to describe it.   Anyone else have a better way to describe it?

I had been wondering about that too.

I have been told that Lodges open and close with prayers and that Christian principles are found in Masonry - yet, on the other hand I hear that Masons come from all kinds of different religious backgrounds. I myself am not a Christian, but since I follow the Native American beliefs of my grandfather I certainly hold belief in the one I call Creator.

Having said that, I'm not sure about the Christianity aspect. I have nothing against Christian folks - my best friend is a Catholic ;-), yet, naturally I wonder about a lot of things as I am totally new to this and am at the very beginning of exploring Masonry.

Regards

Wolfman

Masonry is religous in nature but not a religon.  Freemasonry provides a set of moral tools based on the tools of mideval cathedral builders.   It's more of a phylosophy that can be applied to any religon.

The stories are based around the building of Solomons temple, which is why it may appear to be "Christian" but the story has its roots in the jewish faith and applies to Islam and other religons.

The moral principals of masonry however, have root in every faith and the restriction on membership "must believe in a supreme being" comes from the realizaiton that without belief in a higher power there can be no morality.

Tyler;

Thanks bud. That clears up a few things

Regards

Wolfman

Glad I could help clear that up =D