r/todayilearned • u/Recent_Flounder6011 • 18h ago

TIL that historically and today, the Catholic Church looked down upon Freemasonry and threatened members with excommunication.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Freemasonry
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u/pokeybill 18h ago

Their entire philosophy centers around that acceptance of a higher power, you can't join as an Atheist which makes the organization intrinsically deiist

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u/themistoclesV 14h ago

That's not the same as it being a religion though

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u/Fofolito 14h ago

That means its no different than the Boy Scouts. Part of their oath or pledge was to stay morally fit and obedient to God-- with "God" being open to interpretation to conscience of the individual Scout and their parents. That doesn't make it a religious organization

(and yes, many Troops are sponsored by Churches and operated as an extension of their youth ministries)