Comments on: Occult America: The Secret History of How Mysticism Shaped Our Nation http://boingboing.net/2009/09/08/occult-america-the-s.html Brain candy for Happy Mutants Sat, 18 May 2013 16:24:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4.1 By: David Pescovitz http://boingboing.net/2009/09/08/occult-america-the-s.html#comment-583942 David Pescovitz Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-583942 MARKFREI, My post has nothing to do with Hancock. Hancock didn't write the book about the occult history of America or the piece I excerpt. Maybe you didn't read my post before commenting? MARKFREI, My post has nothing to do with Hancock. Hancock didn’t write the book about the occult history of America or the piece I excerpt. Maybe you didn’t read my post before commenting?

]]> By: robulus http://boingboing.net/2009/09/08/occult-america-the-s.html#comment-583461 robulus Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-583461 <blockquote>America's social and spiritual radicals were becoming joined, and the partnership would never fade</blockquote> Is that a good thing?

America’s social and spiritual radicals were becoming joined, and the partnership would never fade

Is that a good thing?

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2009/09/08/occult-america-the-s.html#comment-604208 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-604208 I was asked to join a Masonic lodge once but when I told them I was Catholic I was told I wasn't qualified and sent on my way. I was asked to join a Masonic lodge once but when I told them I was Catholic I was told I wasn’t qualified and sent on my way.

]]> By: Takuan http://boingboing.net/2009/09/08/occult-america-the-s.html#comment-584252 Takuan Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-584252 http://www.cnn.com/2009/POLITICS/09/09/homeland.security.headquarters/index.html http://www.cnn.com/2009/POLITICS/09/09/homeland.security.headquarters/index.html

]]> By: markfrei http://boingboing.net/2009/09/08/occult-america-the-s.html#comment-583741 markfrei Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-583741 Considering all the offensive nonsense this guy has written about the Maya, how can I take anything he writes seriously? While I'm sure there is an interesting history to the subject matter of American occultism, past performance of this author gives me *no* faith that he can write without massive sensationalistic distortions of the truth. I recommend people do their own research elsewhere. Considering all the offensive nonsense this guy has written about the Maya, how can I take anything he writes seriously?

While I’m sure there is an interesting history to the subject matter of American occultism, past performance of this author gives me *no* faith that he can write without massive sensationalistic distortions of the truth.

I recommend people do their own research elsewhere.

]]> By: markfrei http://boingboing.net/2009/09/08/occult-america-the-s.html#comment-583742 markfrei Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-583742 I should be clear that I'm talking about Hancock. I should be clear that I’m talking about Hancock.

]]> By: ASIFA-Hollywood Animation Archive http://boingboing.net/2009/09/08/occult-america-the-s.html#comment-583494 ASIFA-Hollywood Animation Archive Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-583494 I guess the "Age of Reason" had its share of snake oil too. I guess the “Age of Reason” had its share of snake oil too.

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2009/09/08/occult-america-the-s.html#comment-1079115 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1079115 Tolkien was a devout Catholic and Catholic could not be Freemasons; silly Hobbit! Tolkien was a devout Catholic and Catholic could not be Freemasons; silly Hobbit!

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2009/09/08/occult-america-the-s.html#comment-583505 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-583505 For those who might like to know more about this topic. I suggest a series of Documentaries Secret Mysteries of America's Beginnings Volume 1-3 For those who might like to know more about this topic.

I suggest a series of Documentaries

Secret Mysteries of America’s Beginnings Volume 1-3

]]> By: usonian http://boingboing.net/2009/09/08/occult-america-the-s.html#comment-583774 usonian Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-583774 @#4, #8, the concept of a supreme being is so central to the rituals and obligations of mainstream Freemasonry that dropping it as a requirement would sort of defeat the purpose of the fraternity's existence. That is not to say that those who believe in a supreme being are necessarily better people than atheists; I totally understand the frustration expressed by so many atheists over the supreme being requirement. But it's not just a checkbox on the application form, so to speak; it's really central to <i>everything</i>, and removing it would fundamentally change the character of things. All that being said, I don't want to give the impression that Freemasonry is all about worship, because it's not; it's about trying to live up to an absolute truth. The completely vague and nonspecific requirement of belief in a supreme being leaves it up to the individual, but fosters a common understanding that Masons should try to hold ourselves to a higher standard. According to their <a href="http://translate.google.com/translate?js=y&prev=_t&hl=en&ie=UTF-8&u=http%3A%2F%2Fns6745.ovh.net%2F~godf%2F%3Fq%3Dnode%2F22&sl=fr&tl=en&history_state0=">FAQ</a>, the Grand Orient de France espouses freedom of conscience, which allows atheists to join. I don't know how their degrees differ, but they must be fairly different in some places as a result. @#4, #8, the concept of a supreme being is so central to the rituals and obligations of mainstream Freemasonry that dropping it as a requirement would sort of defeat the purpose of the fraternity’s existence.

That is not to say that those who believe in a supreme being are necessarily better people than atheists; I totally understand the frustration expressed by so many atheists over the supreme being requirement. But it’s not just a checkbox on the application form, so to speak; it’s really central to everything, and removing it would fundamentally change the character of things.

All that being said, I don’t want to give the impression that Freemasonry is all about worship, because it’s not; it’s about trying to live up to an absolute truth. The completely vague and nonspecific requirement of belief in a supreme being leaves it up to the individual, but fosters a common understanding that Masons should try to hold ourselves to a higher standard.

According to their FAQ, the Grand Orient de France espouses freedom of conscience, which allows atheists to join. I don’t know how their degrees differ, but they must be fairly different in some places as a result.

]]> By: WINGMAN http://boingboing.net/2009/09/08/occult-america-the-s.html#comment-835428 WINGMAN Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-835428 It sounds a little funny about you post. I am a mason and have been for 35 yrs. Ive never heard a person being turned down for religious beliefs. Were you free born??? It sounds a little funny about you post. I am a mason and have been for 35 yrs. Ive never heard a person being turned down for religious beliefs. Were you free born???

]]> By: MajorD http://boingboing.net/2009/09/08/occult-america-the-s.html#comment-584070 MajorD Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-584070 Many jurisdictions don't have the requirement to be "whole". I've read about it historically, but I've never encountered it. Probably a holdover from "operative" times, when Masons really were stonemasons. Many jurisdictions don’t have the requirement to be “whole”. I’ve read about it historically, but I’ve never encountered it. Probably a holdover from “operative” times, when Masons really were stonemasons.

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2009/09/08/occult-america-the-s.html#comment-583563 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-583563 While it may have been beneficial to advance tolerance of differing faiths, Freemasons must, I'm told, swear to a belief in a (I assume singular) higher being or some such supernatural éminence grise. It is perhaps too much to ask of the times that non-belief be accorded a similar tolerance, but one has to wonder why this was (and continues to be) so. While it may have been beneficial to advance tolerance of differing faiths, Freemasons must, I’m told, swear to a belief in a (I assume singular) higher being or some such supernatural éminence grise. It is perhaps too much to ask of the times that non-belief be accorded a similar tolerance, but one has to wonder why this was (and continues to be) so.

]]> By: ASIFA-Hollywood Animation Archive http://boingboing.net/2009/09/08/occult-america-the-s.html#comment-583852 ASIFA-Hollywood Animation Archive Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-583852 I think I need Dr. (eu)Gene Scott to read this book to me a paragraph at a time while urging me to "Git onna phones!" I think I need Dr. (eu)Gene Scott to read this book to me a paragraph at a time while urging me to “Git onna phones!”

]]> By: WalterBillington http://boingboing.net/2009/09/08/occult-america-the-s.html#comment-583628 WalterBillington Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-583628 I have always loved the eye surveying from the pyramid. This is proof JRR Tolkein was a freemason. I have always loved the eye surveying from the pyramid. This is proof JRR Tolkein was a freemason.

]]> By: arkizzle / Moderator http://boingboing.net/2009/09/08/occult-america-the-s.html#comment-583641 arkizzle / Moderator Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-583641 Walter, Or (if going on no other evidence, at all) that he really wasn't. Walter,

Or (if going on no other evidence, at all) that he really wasn’t.

]]> By: Pantograph http://boingboing.net/2009/09/08/occult-america-the-s.html#comment-583643 Pantograph Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-583643 @#4 Traditional Masonic lodges are male only, and require belief in a higher being, but there are lodges, at least here in Europe, that have dropped both requirements. Still, I wouldn't want to join. I might end up spending my free nights talking shop with middle aged businessfolk when all I joined for was the satanic abuse and world domination. @#4

Traditional Masonic lodges are male only, and require belief in a higher being, but there are lodges, at least here in Europe, that have dropped both requirements. Still, I wouldn’t want to join. I might end up spending my free nights talking shop with middle aged businessfolk when all I joined for was the satanic abuse and world domination.

]]> By: strumpet windsock http://boingboing.net/2009/09/08/occult-america-the-s.html#comment-586974 strumpet windsock Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-586974 A researcher recently investigated the many occult symbols build into the Manitoba Legislature: http://www.sric-canada.org/Legislature.htm http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manitoba_Legislative_Building A researcher recently investigated the many occult symbols build into the Manitoba Legislature:

http://www.sric-canada.org/Legislature.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manitoba_Legislative_Building

]]> By: Moriarty http://boingboing.net/2009/09/08/occult-america-the-s.html#comment-583656 Moriarty Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-583656 @#4, yeah, it does seem it was too much to ask. Although it seems the "higher being" in many cases was just the benign but non-interfering clockmaker of Deism. These were children of the Enlightenment who "worshipped" by promoting humanism and the exploration of natural laws, and would probably be smeared as atheists in today's political discourse. @#4, yeah, it does seem it was too much to ask. Although it seems the “higher being” in many cases was just the benign but non-interfering clockmaker of Deism. These were children of the Enlightenment who “worshipped” by promoting humanism and the exploration of natural laws, and would probably be smeared as atheists in today’s political discourse.

]]> By: gpeare http://boingboing.net/2009/09/08/occult-america-the-s.html#comment-583922 gpeare Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-583922 Scholarly readers with serious coin in their pockets will also want to read Arthur Versluis' Esoteric Origins of the American Renaissance http://tinyurl.com/nvayuo Scholarly readers with serious coin in their pockets will also want to read Arthur Versluis’ Esoteric Origins of the American Renaissance

http://tinyurl.com/nvayuo

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2009/09/08/occult-america-the-s.html#comment-583934 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-583934 What about the requirement to be 'whole'? Only the able-bodied need apply. Only men, only believers. It's a trifecta of anti-equality violations! Still, the American new-age mysticism that is so widespread is a fascinating artifact in a country that has a dominant belief in Christianity. Heck, some denominations outright decry mysticism as 'the devil's work'! What about the requirement to be ‘whole’? Only the able-bodied need apply. Only men, only believers. It’s a trifecta of anti-equality violations!

Still, the American new-age mysticism that is so widespread is a fascinating artifact in a country that has a dominant belief in Christianity. Heck, some denominations outright decry mysticism as ‘the devil’s work’!

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2009/09/08/occult-america-the-s.html#comment-584191 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-584191 @markfrei -do you have some examples of his "offensive nonsense"? @markfrei -do you have some examples of his “offensive nonsense”?

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