Gnostic Reflections in Freemasonry
By Timothy W. Hogan
PM, KT, 32* KCCH, S.I.I.,
District Lecturer for the GL of Colorado
Freemasonry is a system of initiation that draws its symbolism from a variety of sources and traditions. Masonic historians are quick point out some of the connections between Freemasonry and the cathedral builders, the Knights Templar, the Royal Society, Hermetic tradition, alchemists and qabbalists, however the connection between Freemasonry and the Gnostic schools is often overlooked- even though it is perhaps the most prevalent. Gnosticism is a school of thought originally developed in the ancient pagan world and championed by philosophers like Pythagoras, and later instrumental in the development of early Christianity, in which an initiate can attain a Gnosis- or direct knowledge of the divine. In fact, the word “Gnosis” means “knowledge” in Greek, and it was a divine knowledge that could be achieved through the study of nature, personal initiation, and divine revelation. As a result, schools of initiation were set up by the Gnostics in order to engage in study and initiation, and to attain connection with the path of Sophia- the Greek word for “wisdom”. In fact, this is where the word “philosophy” comes from- as it is from the Greek words “Philo”- meaning “to love”, and “Sophia”, being the goddess of wisdom. The term philosophy is believed to have been coined by Pythagoras, and some have associated Pythagoras’ school with a form of Pagan Gnosticism. Gnosticism therefore showed the connection between God and Nature, and contributed to the esoteric sciences of alchemy and sacred geometry. The “G” emphasized in Freemasonry may therefore have other implications! It has also been argued by many researchers that Gnosticism was a new label for the pagan philosophies and doctrines found in Hermeticism, which had just been rewrapped in new packaging. Indeed, Hermeticism and Gnosticism share many fundamental details, and the influence of Hermetic thought and Hermes in particular could be a whole separate article. Therefore we will just explore Gnostic connections in this article.
Tags: Gnosticism
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July 12th, 2009 at 6:22 pm
Interesting article. The masonic “G” may be said to possibly represent gnosis? That damn G is certainly multi-purpose isn’t it? lol.
I remember some guy on the Discovery Channel (O.K., it may not represent the absolute height of solid research at times) stating that he believed that the confessions the Templars apparently gave under torture admitting to worship “Baphomet” actually was a code for Sophia.
He thought that owing to the Templar’s long duration within the sphere of Muslim influence that they used the Atbash Cipher to conceal their true object of worship, being Gnostics, even as a result of torture.
Looking it up now it seems that it a Dr. Hugh Schonfield was one such proponent of this theory.
Don’t know what your thoughts are on that.
Also, despite the many, many reasons to think of the Kolbrin as a total fraud; with its purported connections with the Céile Dé (only from the various factions promoting the book really) it does take a very crypto-Gnostic view, a kind of parallel biblical account in many ways. The spirit world is constantly directing man on earth, said earth is an earth mother/Gaia goddess figure, earth is a testing ground fraught with the temptations of flesh to be overcome by concentration on the spiritual, the physical world in a sense is an illusion, etc. Woman was even created from the side of man with blood, previously only having existed as a spirit being, she was made flesh with the blood of man.
It makes for an entertaining read Tolkien style at any rate.
July 12th, 2009 at 11:43 pm
I’ve always thought that Gnosis was the best explanation for G. For one, for it to represent God, in most languages “G” would not work, e.g. “D” Deo or Dieu, etc. And two, Gnosis is the most obscure explanation that some Masons have come up with, which makes it more likely. And three (the most obvious): Gnosticism is what they are about, literally, philosophically, and esoterically, in every respect - as the article admits.
Re: Baphomet
Not really sure. But the most original explanation, mentioned briefly in my book, was from an Illuminati member. Archeologist Carl Gotthold Lenz believed it represented the Goddess of Paphos (Aphrodite or Venus). The origin of Baphomet, he thought, was a corruption of Paphos-meta: Paphometa. This would correlate with Sophia, too. So maybe the guy you mentioned has a point. And perhaps he should consult the works of Lenz.