Virtual Masonic Lodge Launches in the Digital Age
A virtual Masonic lodge numbered 404 has been launched. It has drawn criticism, religious opposition and internal debate over the validity of the digital format.
English · Original discussion in Spanish · Published
Virtual Guasonic Lodge Launches in the Digital Age
The first entirely digital Guasonic lodge has been inaugurated in an online discussion space. Under the name "Lux in Tenebris Virtualis" and the number 404 – the error code for content not found – its founder aims to create a space for reflection in an online environment saturated with noise. The initiative, however, has not been free of controversy.
From the outset, the proposal met with criticism of various kinds. On one hand, the incomprehension of those who see Freemasonry as a fancy-dress game for retirees. On the other, opposition from religious quarters who view the order as a heresy. But the most significant debate arose within Freemasonry itself: a member of the community who identified himself with Guasonic symbols went so far as to propose the founder's expulsion for daring to move the work into a virtual format. The lodge's promoter replied that the purpose of Freemasonry is the search for truth, adaptable to new media, and that the rigour of the lodge lies not in its physical space but in the integrity of its members.
The discussion leaves an uncomfortable question hanging: can an institution that has always revolved around secrecy and personal contact survive in the virtual world? For now, lodge 404 exists. What it cannot find is consensus.
The first entirely digital Guasonic lodge has been inaugurated in an online discussion space. Under the name "Lux in Tenebris Virtualis" and the number 404 – the error code for content not found – its founder aims to create a space for reflection in an online environment saturated with noise. The initiative, however, has not been free of controversy.
From the outset, the proposal met with criticism of various kinds. On one hand, the incomprehension of those who see Freemasonry as a fancy-dress game for retirees. On the other, opposition from religious quarters who view the order as a heresy. But the most significant debate arose within Freemasonry itself: a member of the community who identified himself with Guasonic symbols went so far as to propose the founder's expulsion for daring to move the work into a virtual format. The lodge's promoter replied that the purpose of Freemasonry is the search for truth, adaptable to new media, and that the rigour of the lodge lies not in its physical space but in the integrity of its members.
The discussion leaves an uncomfortable question hanging: can an institution that has always revolved around secrecy and personal contact survive in the virtual world? For now, lodge 404 exists. What it cannot find is consensus.
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Summary of a discussion on Burbuja.info - Foro de economía, actualidad y política., translated from Spanish and reviewed before publication. Read the full discussion (26 replies).
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