This really stuck out to me. For a number of reasons. It struck a nerve and I am very happy to see this being said. I had not really made the connection with the significant amount of times a man must give his consent to be raised as a master mason, but this topic has been eating at me since I first created my Facebook account about one month ago. I created it SOLELY as a means of networking and staying connected with my brothers and current events within masonry, and I am already ready to delete my account. I thought, surely if I restrict my contacts to Masonic members only, I will avoid the highly spoken about negative side of Facebook. But as I sit here today, with only brothers for Facebook friends, I am worn down from the negativity that Facebook has brought into my life.
I am glad that you enjoyed the essay, and that it had some meaning for you. I appreciate your kind words about it very much!
In yesterday's Live Open Thread for those with a paid subscription to Emeth, we actually talked about your exact point re: Facebook. In case you are interested, my comment was:
I think that much of the current division in our society, and the negativity we all feel are directly the result of the attention economy. Those posts that get the most attention on Social Media are those that are negative, and which encourage division among people. That is how Social Media companies get eyeballs on the content, which directly translate into advertising dollars. As a result, those companies are directly incentivised to tweak their algorithms to serve us content that speaks to our baser natures.
Likewise, in order to survive given the advertising model, news organizations must work to pull eyeballs away from social media. This results in stories written as 'click bait,' as the news organization is directly incentivised not to impartially report the news, but rather to ensure that stories are written that will result in 'clicks.' Negative stories that again seek to divide, and speak to our baser natures.
I have largely given up on Social Media. While it used to be a superb way for my Lodge to advertise upcoming events, and get the word out about Freemasonry, that sort of posts don't get much exposure anymore, as the algorithms depress their views by promoting content that generates an emotional reaction.
As for the news, I find that there are good solid alternatives to the attention economy. Emeth here stands as an example. A great many solid journalists have migrated away from large and trusted news organizations to Substack and platforms similar to it such as Ghost. On these platforms, as they are free of advertising and algorithms, the journalist is directly incentivised to provide solid news, for he or she is paid directly by readers. There is zero incentive to write negative, divisive things in order to get more 'clicks.'
When I do watch the news, I find that I must watch one famous conservative station, and one famous liberal station. I figure that by doing so, I can actually discover what is actually news by seeing where the reporting diverges on any given topic.
In any event, for what it is worth, I find that I have a much better outlook on life, and especially on other people, when I avoid the noise that is Social Media.
Thank you for your reply, I’ll be honest until that last post I simply had a free subscription. I find myself opening your emails all the time and eagerly reading the latest discussion topics ideas and thoughts that you have put out. I am now, a paid subscriber. And I look forward to the live discussions and in person discussions in the future. I am a very new Mason and as such I find myself very hungry for education and knowledge of all things masonic. But I have noticed a lack there of at almost every meeting that I’ve been to. So the first time that I heard you speak on the working tools podcast about how education should be one of the first things that we address in our stated meetings and our gatherings, it tuned me in. I was also very inspired by the brief yet very informative lesson that the grand chaplain gave at Silverdale Lodge a month or so ago. It was short and sweet but it provided a little bit of a deep dive into an otherwise commonly overlooked statement. I feel like throughout the degrees there are literally thousands of these. Extremely deep rich veins of truths and knowledge that are pretty much overlooked regularly. I plan to use that same format to begin to deliver little “did you know” type presentations at my lodge.
Morality is simply the logical application of social skills necessary to live in a complex social community. Ostracism is the traditional prehistoric tribal way to deal with immoral acts. It usually results in a slow death. Humans do not survive well alone.
I believe that it is possible for person to be moral and live a moral life without god. There are people who are among the most moral persons I have ever met who are Agnostic or Atheist. My Dad is at the top of that list. He did have a VERY religious (strict literal interpretation, creationist) up bringing. His life's work as a science focused geologist just did not align with his parents beliefs.
That begs the question, where did he get his moral compass? He lived a conservative life style, the only excess he indulged in was work. He was not a Mason - but lived and acted in "masonic" ways. And where did I get mine? My mother was protestant and took me church and Sunday school. I joined DeMolay as soon as became aware of it, and became a Mason at age 23. I am not an overtly religious person. Masonry provides the religious context that I am most comfortable with - the Supreme Architect!
I have in a limited way become familiar with several religions. All of them teach the same basic moral lessons, with different trappings, that Masonry inculcates: Be Kind, Live in Peace, Help one another, Do Not Cheat, Be True to Your Word... Those admonishments we hear- if we listen - at the end of every meeting, and in the obligations we take upon the Volumes of Sacred Laws at Masonry's alter.
This really stuck out to me. For a number of reasons. It struck a nerve and I am very happy to see this being said. I had not really made the connection with the significant amount of times a man must give his consent to be raised as a master mason, but this topic has been eating at me since I first created my Facebook account about one month ago. I created it SOLELY as a means of networking and staying connected with my brothers and current events within masonry, and I am already ready to delete my account. I thought, surely if I restrict my contacts to Masonic members only, I will avoid the highly spoken about negative side of Facebook. But as I sit here today, with only brothers for Facebook friends, I am worn down from the negativity that Facebook has brought into my life.
I am glad that you enjoyed the essay, and that it had some meaning for you. I appreciate your kind words about it very much!
In yesterday's Live Open Thread for those with a paid subscription to Emeth, we actually talked about your exact point re: Facebook. In case you are interested, my comment was:
I think that much of the current division in our society, and the negativity we all feel are directly the result of the attention economy. Those posts that get the most attention on Social Media are those that are negative, and which encourage division among people. That is how Social Media companies get eyeballs on the content, which directly translate into advertising dollars. As a result, those companies are directly incentivised to tweak their algorithms to serve us content that speaks to our baser natures.
Likewise, in order to survive given the advertising model, news organizations must work to pull eyeballs away from social media. This results in stories written as 'click bait,' as the news organization is directly incentivised not to impartially report the news, but rather to ensure that stories are written that will result in 'clicks.' Negative stories that again seek to divide, and speak to our baser natures.
I have largely given up on Social Media. While it used to be a superb way for my Lodge to advertise upcoming events, and get the word out about Freemasonry, that sort of posts don't get much exposure anymore, as the algorithms depress their views by promoting content that generates an emotional reaction.
As for the news, I find that there are good solid alternatives to the attention economy. Emeth here stands as an example. A great many solid journalists have migrated away from large and trusted news organizations to Substack and platforms similar to it such as Ghost. On these platforms, as they are free of advertising and algorithms, the journalist is directly incentivised to provide solid news, for he or she is paid directly by readers. There is zero incentive to write negative, divisive things in order to get more 'clicks.'
When I do watch the news, I find that I must watch one famous conservative station, and one famous liberal station. I figure that by doing so, I can actually discover what is actually news by seeing where the reporting diverges on any given topic.
In any event, for what it is worth, I find that I have a much better outlook on life, and especially on other people, when I avoid the noise that is Social Media.
Thank you for your reply, I’ll be honest until that last post I simply had a free subscription. I find myself opening your emails all the time and eagerly reading the latest discussion topics ideas and thoughts that you have put out. I am now, a paid subscriber. And I look forward to the live discussions and in person discussions in the future. I am a very new Mason and as such I find myself very hungry for education and knowledge of all things masonic. But I have noticed a lack there of at almost every meeting that I’ve been to. So the first time that I heard you speak on the working tools podcast about how education should be one of the first things that we address in our stated meetings and our gatherings, it tuned me in. I was also very inspired by the brief yet very informative lesson that the grand chaplain gave at Silverdale Lodge a month or so ago. It was short and sweet but it provided a little bit of a deep dive into an otherwise commonly overlooked statement. I feel like throughout the degrees there are literally thousands of these. Extremely deep rich veins of truths and knowledge that are pretty much overlooked regularly. I plan to use that same format to begin to deliver little “did you know” type presentations at my lodge.
The philosophy of liberty.
Basically based upon the idea of self ownership.
The golden rule.
Neither requires divine command.
Morality is simply the logical application of social skills necessary to live in a complex social community. Ostracism is the traditional prehistoric tribal way to deal with immoral acts. It usually results in a slow death. Humans do not survive well alone.
I believe that it is possible for person to be moral and live a moral life without god. There are people who are among the most moral persons I have ever met who are Agnostic or Atheist. My Dad is at the top of that list. He did have a VERY religious (strict literal interpretation, creationist) up bringing. His life's work as a science focused geologist just did not align with his parents beliefs.
That begs the question, where did he get his moral compass? He lived a conservative life style, the only excess he indulged in was work. He was not a Mason - but lived and acted in "masonic" ways. And where did I get mine? My mother was protestant and took me church and Sunday school. I joined DeMolay as soon as became aware of it, and became a Mason at age 23. I am not an overtly religious person. Masonry provides the religious context that I am most comfortable with - the Supreme Architect!
I have in a limited way become familiar with several religions. All of them teach the same basic moral lessons, with different trappings, that Masonry inculcates: Be Kind, Live in Peace, Help one another, Do Not Cheat, Be True to Your Word... Those admonishments we hear- if we listen - at the end of every meeting, and in the obligations we take upon the Volumes of Sacred Laws at Masonry's alter.
This morning I stumbled across this tangentially relevant essay - for your consideration:
How a Huguenot Philosopher Realized That Atheists Could Be Virtuous
https://getpocket.com/explore/item/how-a-huguenot-philosopher-realised-that-atheists-could-be-virtuous?utm_source=pocket-newtab-en-us