Freemasonry Through the Eyes of Anglican Clergy: Insights from Implicit Religion?
Issued Date: 1 Oct 2012
Abstract
The nature of the relationship between the Christian Churches and Freemasonry has been controversial in England since the latter emerged in an organized form with the formation of the Grand Lodge of England in 1717. Unlike some other Christian Churches, the Church of England has never consistently pronounced against Freemasonry, although a range of views are evident as illustrated by the General Synod Debate in 1987. In part the debate concerns the extent to which Freemasonry itself functions as an alternative religion. The present study approaches Freemasonry from the perspective of 518 Archdeacons, Area Deans and Rural Deans in the Church of England, and explores the connection between their conceptions of Freemasonry and Ninian Smart’s (1989, 1996) seven recognizable components of religion articulated as: the ritual or practical dimension, the doctrinal or philosophical dimension, the mythic or narrative dimension, the experiential or emotional dimension, the ethical or legal dimension, the organizational or social dimension, and the material or artistic dimension. The significance of the results is then discussed with regard to implicit religion and perceived relationships between Freemasonry and the Church of England.
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References
apSiôn, T. 2010. “Implicit Religion and Ordinary Prayer.” Implicit Religion 13(3): 275–294.
apSiôn, T., L. J. Francis, and C. Windsor. 2011. “How Anglican Clergy Perceive Freemasonry: A Complementary System, an Incompatible Enemy, or a Harmless Eccentricity.” Journal of Contemporary Religion 26: 225–242. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/13537903.2011.573336
Bailey, E.I. 1997. Implicit Religion in Contemporary Society.Kampen: KokPharos Publishing House.
Bailey, E.I. 1998. Implicit Religion: an introduction. London: Middlesex University Press.
Bailey, E.I. 2002.The Secular Quest for Meaning in Life: Denton Papers in Implicit Religion. Lampeter: Edwin Mellen Press.
General Synod. 1987. Report of Proceedings. Volume 18, no. 2. London: Church House Publishing.
Glock, C.Y. 1962. “On the Study of Religious Commitment.”Religious Education: Research Supplement 42: 96–110.
Glock, C.Y. and R. Stark. 1965. Religion and Society in Tension. Chicago, IL: Rand McNally.
Lord, K. 2006. “Implicit Religion: Definition and Application.” Implicit Religion 9: 205–219.
Maranell, G.M. 1967. “An Examination of Some Religious and Political Attitude Correlates of Bigotry.”Social Forces 45: 356–362.
Stark, R. and C. Y. Glock. 1968. American Piety: The Nature of Religious Commitment. Berkeley: University of California Press.
Smart, N. 1978. “What is Religion?” In New Movements in Religious Education, edited byN. Smart and D. Horder, 13–22. London: Temple Smith.
Smart, N. 1989.The World’s Religions. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Smart, N. 1996.Dimensions of the Sacred. London: Harper Collins.
Randall, K. 2005. Evangelicals et cetera: Conflict and Conviction in the Church of England’s Parties. Aldershot: Ashgate.
Wilson, J.F. 1980. “Voluntary Associations and Civil Religion: The Case of Freemasonry. Review of Religious Research 22: 125–136. http://dx.doi.org/10.2307/3510655
Windsor, C. 2005. Freemasonry and the Ministry. Penzance: Concilium Publications.
apSiôn, T., L. J. Francis, and C. Windsor. 2011. “How Anglican Clergy Perceive Freemasonry: A Complementary System, an Incompatible Enemy, or a Harmless Eccentricity.” Journal of Contemporary Religion 26: 225–242. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/13537903.2011.573336
Bailey, E.I. 1997. Implicit Religion in Contemporary Society.Kampen: KokPharos Publishing House.
Bailey, E.I. 1998. Implicit Religion: an introduction. London: Middlesex University Press.
Bailey, E.I. 2002.The Secular Quest for Meaning in Life: Denton Papers in Implicit Religion. Lampeter: Edwin Mellen Press.
General Synod. 1987. Report of Proceedings. Volume 18, no. 2. London: Church House Publishing.
Glock, C.Y. 1962. “On the Study of Religious Commitment.”Religious Education: Research Supplement 42: 96–110.
Glock, C.Y. and R. Stark. 1965. Religion and Society in Tension. Chicago, IL: Rand McNally.
Lord, K. 2006. “Implicit Religion: Definition and Application.” Implicit Religion 9: 205–219.
Maranell, G.M. 1967. “An Examination of Some Religious and Political Attitude Correlates of Bigotry.”Social Forces 45: 356–362.
Stark, R. and C. Y. Glock. 1968. American Piety: The Nature of Religious Commitment. Berkeley: University of California Press.
Smart, N. 1978. “What is Religion?” In New Movements in Religious Education, edited byN. Smart and D. Horder, 13–22. London: Temple Smith.
Smart, N. 1989.The World’s Religions. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Smart, N. 1996.Dimensions of the Sacred. London: Harper Collins.
Randall, K. 2005. Evangelicals et cetera: Conflict and Conviction in the Church of England’s Parties. Aldershot: Ashgate.
Wilson, J.F. 1980. “Voluntary Associations and Civil Religion: The Case of Freemasonry. Review of Religious Research 22: 125–136. http://dx.doi.org/10.2307/3510655
Windsor, C. 2005. Freemasonry and the Ministry. Penzance: Concilium Publications.
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