For more information, see:
Related Topics:
"As there is no worse lie than a
truth misunderstood by those who hear it, so reasonable arguments, challenges to
magnanimity, and appeals to sympathy or justice, are folly when we are dealing with human
crocodiles and boa-constrictors."
William James (1842–1910),
U.S. psychologist, philosopher.
Is Debate Possible ...???
...with someone who is so inflexible, whose ideas are so foreign, and who appears to be totally wrong?
Over the years, Masons have tried to engage in debates with those who believe Masonry is satanic, part of some huge conspiracy, or want to gain notoriety. The results are often less than satisfactory and the Mason may well come away feeling beaten -- not because his facts were wrong or his presentation weak but because he simply wasn't prepared for the range of seemingly ridiculous claims.
Author Deborah Lipstadt writing in "Denying The Holocaust" notes that she steadfastly refuses to share the forum (of whatever type: television program, radio talk show, college debate, whatever) with the 'Holocaust Deniers' because the existence of the Holocaust was simply not a matter of debate. She states that to appear with them would "...give them a legitimacy and stature that they in no way deserve. It would elevate their antisemitic ideology - which is what Holocaust denial is - to the level of responsible historiography - which it is not."
The same holds true for the anti-Masonic debate. There can be no argument that
 | Masonry is not a religion |
| Masonry does not seek world domination |
| Masonry is not a tool of Satan |
yet we often feel the need to debate with those who would espouse those lies!
And Masons in these situations are always at a disadvantage. They'll be forthright and direct while their opponent will be practiced and smooth. The Mason will be a 'virgin' in this type of endeavor; his antagonist will have practiced this type of thing many, many times before. Whether it's 'witnessing' to Mormons or preaching the New World Order conspiracy, the Mason will consistently find himself at a disadvantage.
Instead of debating, this site encourages the following:
| Constant learning about Masonry and its principles |
| Behavior in one's life so as to be above reproach |
| Not allowing a the lies of anti-Masons to go unchallenged - because the lie repeated often enough can become for some, the truth! |
"Hatred, for the man who is not
engaged in it,
is a little like the odor of garlic for one who hasn’t eaten any."
Jean Rostand (1894–1977),
French biologist, writer.
Just
click on "Prince, the Search Dog" to find things on our site. He's on every page
and he'll take you directly to our search form where you can see if we've
written about whatever it is you're interested in. Prince has a great memory; he
always remembers where things are!