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Interesting, when I have spoken to masonic friends and asked then what they do they sound like a rotary club, raising money and doing good and charitable works but when asked what the foundation of the masonic order is, its history and why its rites are secret I get no meaningful reply.

Not that I could even join to find out being an atheist. :roll:

So not quiet an all encompassing fraternity.

Being an atheist does not prevent you from joining.
Your personal belief is immaterial to being a member.

Really, I was told that belief in a supreme being is a pre-requisite for joining.

This is true however that is a supreme being of your choice.

Could be anything...

Trouble is, I choose not to.

Just what I thought.

:lol: :lol:

Actually thinking about it,

Being an atheist means you do not believe in any deity whatsoever.
So actually you can't join because you will not be able to believe in any supreme being regardless of what that might be simply because you believe there is no such thing.

Exactly!

Faith in no faith.

Keep it simple I say.

What Christel says (almost), you don't have to believe in a deity of any sort. The whole point, as was discussed earlier, religion is banned.

The masons are (I believe) the biggest donators to charity in the country. Of course it's not advertised, but thats the way its done.
Every event organised, whether its ladies nights, horse racing, beetle drives, bingo, whatever is all done for charity.

My dad is a mason, and a friend of mine was asking about it as he was considering whether to join. Dad was quite open about discussing what they do and how to join etc, but there are some areas that simply aren't discussed to non-members.

People always get the impression that there is something sinister going on behind closed doors...

Just remember what a mason actually is (stone mason for example). Not much religious about that is there....

All the money goes to charity because Freemasonry is a registered charity.

Registered Charity no. 1058497

Registered Charity No. 281942

Registered Charity No. 207360

etc etc

They also donate to other Masonic and non Masonic charities.

Just Google like I did.