The Secret Teachings of the Masonic Lodge [Paperback]

John F. Ankerberg (Author), John F. Weldon (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 8, 1990

Is Masonry nothing more than a harmless brotherhood, a club for men' Or is there more behind the camaraderie' This in-depth book probes the secret teachings and oaths, revealing how Masonry conflicts with the very foundations of Christianity.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

JOHN ANKERBERG (B.A., University of Illinois; M.A., and M.Div., Trinity Evangelical School; D.Min., Bethel Theological Seminary) is the president and founder of The Ankerberg Theological Research Institute and the producer and host of the nationally televised John Ankerberg Show. He is the author, co-author and/or editor of 76 books, including Middle East Meltdown, The Da Vinci Code Controversy and Ready with An Answer for the Tough Questions About God. John and his wife, Darlene, have one daughter and reside in Chattanooga, Tennessee.

JOHN WELDON (Ph.D., Pacific College of Graduate Studies; D.Min., Luther Rice Seminary) is co-author of many books including The Secret Teachings of the Masonic Lodge, Myth Of Safe Sex: The Tragic Consequences of Violating God's Plan, Playing with Fire, Psychic Healing, and One World: Bible Prophecy and the New World Order. He currently resides in Hawaii.

Product Details

• Paperback: 336 pages
• Publisher: Moody Publishers; New Edition edition (April 8, 1990)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0802476953
• ISBN-13: 978-0802476951
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.5 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 2.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (28 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #413,707 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Missing the Mark, April 16, 2009

By 

Jo Ann George (Clearlake, CA United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Secret Teachings of the Masonic Lodge (Paperback)

Both authors have so grossly misrepresented the Masonic Lodge--missing the mark at every turn--that I found their illicit teachings profoundly disturbing. My husband is a Mason and, when I asked him to read this book and comment on it, he reluctantly did so. After a while, however, his reluctance turned to repulsion. "This is supposed to be non-fiction?" he asked me about a third of the way through Secret Teachings of the Masonic Lodge--I understood his cynicism and anger right away.

Of all the good, kind, gentle, loving, caring, and Godly men we know as a married couple in our own community, many of them belong to the Lodge. Many of my husband's Lodge Brothers attend church, volunteer their time and energy to help others, lovingly care for their own families, and fulfill their civic duties by making the personal decision to join the Lodge in the first place.

In today's social climate of worldly thinking and hurting others to get ahead in life, it does my heart good to know that my husband is a Christian man who has decided to put other human beings before himself and help out whenever possible; he is a good man who's becoming a better man as a direct result of joining this Fraternity of like-minded men.

I am so very thankful for the Masonic Lodge. I just wish John Ankerberg and John Weldon had thought to ask at least one Mason about his personal experiences with Freemasonry before writing this blind fantasy about a subject they obviously do not understand.

Thank you.

14 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Don't believe everything that you read, March 1, 2006

By 

R. Ward "MOHAHA" (Lake City, FL) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Secret Teachings of the Masonic Lodge (Paperback)

I know that reviews concerning this book are both pro and con depending upon which side of the Masonic fence that you fall.

As a factual work, this book falls far short of the test of truthfulness. Many of the facts concerning Freemasonry are incorrect. I can only assume that the authors have no direct knowledge of Freemasonry and, therefore, use inaccuracy and make any statement that they deem sufficient to fit their needs.

Regardless of where one falls in the debate, like it or not, most Masons are Christians. Also, for all of you not familiar with Masonry, Masonry is most certainly NOT a religion. As both a Mason and a Christian, I can assure you that there is NOTHING in Masonry that precludes a belief in either Jesus or God. Additionally, there is NOTHING in Masonry that promotes a belief in the occult or the devil.

One thing that Masonry does promote is learning and open-mindedness - which is something that I wish that this book would point out. It is also a trait that I wish some of the reviewer's of this book would develop.

This book promotes itself as a factual analysis but it is nothing more than 2 authors perpetuating a myth for their own enrichment.

28 of 44 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars A crock from the very first page, March 27, 2005

By 

David Jenks "dsjjfg" (Elk Grove, CA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Secret Teachings of the Masonic Lodge (Paperback)

I never cease to be amazed at the tripe written by the uneducated. Mr. Ankerberg has obviously never witnessed a Masonic initiation, and I suspect has never asked a Mason what is involved.

Amazingly, the very first page describes the content of what an 'initiate' (incorrect term) swears: 'Each new member swears...to remain loyal to the Lodge and its teachings. The teachings instruct each new candidate how he is to serve and the rewards he can expect.' The only fact preventing this from being labelled a lie is that there is no evidence within the pages I perused here at the Amazon site that he has any experience in Masonry. How can he speak truthfully on a topic about which he has no direct knowledge or experience?

Turn to the back cover, second paragraph: 'The philosophies used in the Masonic rituals all point to a world view that includes God as a benevolent but unapproachable father who holds all men as his children, regardless of their beliefs.' Where does Mr. Ankerberg get the idea that Masons consider God 'unapproachable'? Perhaps this is merely his opinion, put forth as supposed fact. The fact is that he is wrong. While I am familiar with Christianity's professed ownership of the idea of a person calling himself or herself a child of God, whether or not that is an accurate statement is purely contextual -- Some of us [non-Christians] consider ourselves to be creations of God, and thus, God's children.

I would continue, but the more I read, the more frustrated I become at the arrogance and presumption of this man, who shouts from his soapbox, never opening his ears to words which may prove him wrong.

Want true and reliable information about Masonry? Ask a Mason. He'll know better, and he's sworn to be an honest man.