Definition of belief in a supreme being

MORE LIGHT

MO LIGHT

Subscribe to Masonsmart's Feed

Definition of belief in a supreme being

by John Jason Riordan
(Chatsworth, CA 91311)

Hi,
I am interested in joining. I know that belief in a supreme being is a requirement. I have no doubt that there is something out there that responds to our love, wants, needs, expectations, and that gives us power beyond measure when we give our lives over to a greater purpose. I am just not sure what this life form is. (god, nature, energy, whether or not it is a being outside of ourselves or even a personified intelligence). Would this unknowing perspective automatically disqualify me for membership?
Thanks,
Jason

Comments for
Definition of belief in a supreme being

Average Rating

Click here to add your own comments

May 14, 2011
Rating

God is
by: Tim

Hello Jason, and thank you for your question.

The fact that you acknowledge a power greater than yourself is evidence of your belief in a higher power. That you recognize that this power can not be defined is evidence of your awareness of your place in the Universe.

No person can truly define God. We give him names; we draw pretty pictures of what we think he might look like; we even refer to him in the masculine when in fact it would be absurd to think that an infinite power could be constrained to one half of a species. If in fact God is infinite, as we believe he is, then it becomes impossible to define or describe him in any real way. The very act of doing so is limiting.

Human beings use language as our primary means of communication. But, words are merely the representations of the thoughts and ideas that we wish to communicate. The concept of brotherly love can certainly not be constrained within the definition of the two words, and the expression of the idea will not be exactly the same for any two persons. But, words are what we have so we assign words to the abstract and in so doing we limit their power.

In my opinion, your "unknowing perspective" is a more realistic awareness of God's presence. I believe the only thing we can say with any certainty is that 'God is'. Anything more is hubris.

So in answer to your question, no, your inability to define the infinitude of the Supreme Being would not disqualify you for membership in the Masonic fraternity.

Fraternally,

Tim

May 16, 2011
Rating

unknowing perspective
by: Anonymous

Tim,
Thanks for taking the time to answer. I had a desire to recreate a personal higher power to make it easy to understand who I was praying to. You have reminded me that while the state of unknowing can be scary, EMBRACING the state of unknowing can be exhilirating and leave us wide open to receive an understanding in ways we may not have imagined. Maybe that 10% of the brain we use is actually blocking the 90% that we dont use lol. Anyway, I have read through your posts and I can see that you are a man of extraordinary perspective. You are a credit to humankind. Thanks again.
-Jason

May 30, 2011
Rating

Thank you,
by: Tim

Jason,
Thank you very much for your kind words.
I couldn't agree more. It is the very realization that we are incapable of truly comprehending infinity that can bring us both peace of mind and the exhilaration that comes with accepting anything as possible.

I very much appreciate your questioning perspective, and I hope you find that for which you search.

And, yes that pesky ten percent of our brain troubles me too. I can only trust that somewhere in there is the key to unlocking our true capabilities and that when we are ready to experience it, we will.

Fraternally,

Tim

Click here to add your own comments

Join in and write your own page! It's easy to do. How?
Simply click here to return to Answers 2 Your ?

footer for freemasonry page

Definition of belief in a supreme being

Comments for Definition of belief in a supreme being

Comments for
Definition of belief in a supreme being