Those darn Fundamentalists, what will they think of next?

[pengolodh_sc at yahoo.no]

--- In HPFGU-OTChatter at y..., "Amy Z" <aiz24 at h...> wrote:
> Scott wrote:
> > 
> > It had a page of other satanic symbols (which was rather 
> > hilarious). One of these was a pyramid with an eye on top. 
[snip]
> 
> I read somewhere that that was a Masonic symbol.  Lots of the
> Founding Fathers types were Masons--Jefferson I know, and a
> bunch of others too.  I also seem to recall that the Masons
> have been attacked in the past for being unChristian, though I
> have never heard of this in modern times, nor have I heard any
> complaints about this symbol being on our money.  Well, shoot.
> Now you've got me curious and I have to go look it up.

I doubt that there is anything particularly un-Christian or anti-
Christian about Masonic lodges.  My impression is that they try to 
make themselves be a sort of spiritual Knights Templar, a 
perpetuation of that one order.  That is at least the impression I 
get from the visible parts of the Free-masons' lodges here in Norway -
 most of their vestments seem to be modelled on the Knights Templar, 
and their banner (red Maltese Cross on white field) is near 
identical.  Of course, they can't be a real modern continuation of 
the Knights Templar, but they like to think that they are.  

With what little I know of the subject, I would not be surprised if 
part of the reason for previous attacks on free-masons for beeing un- 
or anti-Christian are rooted in the 14th-century accusations of Devil-
worship towards the order, and the feeling (justified or not) that 
the free-masons constitute a modern recreation of the Knights 
Templar.  Of course, the accusations of devil-worships were largely 
unfounded on anything but the desire of the French king to get his 
hands on the vast wealth the order, which at the time was based in 
France, possessed.  The Pope gladly obliged, in return for a 
significant share of the booty.

> Symbols are pretty fluid things.  I was a bit weirded out when
> I was in India and saw swastikas everywhere (e.g. on the bricks;
> I even saw one intertwined with a six-pointed star!), even
> though I knew perfectly well that they are ancient symbols of
> great power in India. 
>  
> Amy

You don't have to go that far to see swastikas used by other groups 
than followers of a certain late Austrian corporal.  During the 
consecration ceremony of King Harald in 1991 (Norway no longer has 
coronation for its kings), I noticed that one of the 13 bishops of 
the Church of Norway in attendance, was wearing a cope, which was 
yellow, and powdered with tiny swastikas.

Also, in Finland, the swastika has an ancient history, and as such 
could be found in the insiginia of the orders of chivalry awarded by 
the state for a considerable time following WWII.  AFAIK, to the 
Finns it never carried as much emotional baggage regarding nazism, as 
it did for others.  The Finnish role in WWII is a bit special, in any 
circumstance, as it was more a case of Finland joining Germany 
because Germany attacked USSR, than Finland attacking USSR because of 
any alliance with Germany.  Finland had its own score with USSR, from 
the winter-war of 1939-40.

Best regards
Christian Stubø