Belief In A Supreme Being & A Future Existence

The Role of Belief in Mississippi Masonry

In Mississippi Masonry, every applicant must profess a belief in a Supreme Being and a future existence. However, there is no official doctrine or list of required beliefs. Mississippi Masonry never asks its members to explain or define their faith, as doing so would conflict with its strict prohibition against political and sectarian discussion. While Masons are encouraged to be active in their communities, including participation in politics and religious life, such topics are not to be discussed within Masonic lodges. This is to preserve the peace and harmony that must prevail in every Masonic gathering. Masonry emphasizes unity over division.

The only requirement is that each applicant affirms a trust in a Supreme Being and a belief in a future existence. The nature and specifics of those beliefs are left to each individual to determine for himself.

Why Is Belief Required?

A man becomes a Mason by taking a solemn obligation to live ethically and uphold Masonic values, including aiding those in need. This obligation binds him not just to those present when he takes it, but to all Masons—past, present, and future. In turn, he receives the same promise of aid and support from Masons around the world. This mutual commitment is built on trust, and Masons must be able to trust those they admit to uphold their word, maintain Masonic secrets, and fulfill their responsibilities.

Many Masons believe this trust is only meaningful if an applicant recognizes a higher authority—an ultimate judge of his actions beyond humanity. Belief in a Supreme Being and a future existence serves as an acknowledgment that one's obligations are subject to timeless, objective standards, not merely personal or subjective ethics. This belief underpins the seriousness of the Masonic commitment.

Openness to Diverse Beliefs

Mississippi Masons utilize “William’s Digest” for all matters of Masonic jurisprudence, and within it’s pages it states the following regarding the Craft’s religious landmarks within Mississippi’s jurisdiction: “That a "Book of the Law", the Bible, constitutes an indispensable part of the furniture of every Lodge,” and that “The Bible is essential in every Lodge, without which the Lodge cannot be opened, nor a candidate obligated.” When taking their obligation, Mississippi Masons do so on a volume of Holy Writings. For most, this is the Holy Bible, but candidates may use the sacred text of their own religious tradition, so long as that tradition affirms belief in a Supreme Being and a future existence. Thus, Mississippi Masonry is inclusive of many faiths and does not require a specific concept of God. For instance, many Eastern traditions do not personify the Divine, yet their followers are still welcomed.

An anthropomorphic view of God—a deity with human traits—is not a requirement. A Mississippi Mason’s belief in the Divine may be as traditional as the Christian God or as abstract as the order and harmony observable in the universe through geometry. The essential requirement is a trust in a supreme essence that explains why, despite chaos or disruption, the universe ultimately returns to balance. Masons put their trust in this prevailing harmony.

Understanding the Future Existence

The required belief in a future existence is also broadly defined. It need not be the expectation of a physical life after death. Instead, it reflects a trust that the divine essence within each of us continues after our earthly life ends. It is the belief that this imperishable inner spirit will ultimately reunite with the Divine.