144: Changing Our Minds
X-Oriente
The truth is, changing our minds is ESSENTIAL to personal growth and progress in society. Changing our minds is exactly what Freemasonry empowers us to do. In this episode, Eric and Jason are joined once again by brother of the show, Nicky Sampogna. Nicky was with us some episodes back, and had a change of heart about what he said. Nicky agreed to share his perspective so that we could all benefit from his experience—and courage—in changing his mind.
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142: Cult or Craft?
X-Oriente
Jason was watching The Vow...the documentary about the NXIVM cult, and started wondering if Freemasonry could be considered a cult. So we pulled out our instruments and did the math. What constitutes a cult anyway?
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141: The Wright Stuff
X-Oriente
Masonic writing and Masonic Research are different things: in this episode, Eric and Jason talk about Masonic writing, why it's important, and how to get started. October is Masonic Writing Month, so let's all get started!
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140: The Q-Fecta
X-Oriente
Back in July, we began (or re-began) some very uncomfortable conversations about race in America. Freemasonry's own story in the United States is woven from the threads of race relations among our people. In this episode, we talk with the Reverend Professor Quadricos Driskell, who among his many talents is a professor who teaches courses on race relations at George Washington University, and is Worshipful Master of his Lodge.
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138: COGMINA!
X-Oriente
Each year, the Grand Masters of all the Grand Lodges in North America get together to discuss issues of importance to all regular Freemasons in their jurisdictions, and build consensus. Jason, because of his day job, was privileged to attend the conference. In this episode, Eric and Jason discuss what was discussed there, and talk about why the Grand Lodge of Eric and Jason (our fictional hypothetical GLs) will never be allowed anywhere near COGMINA.
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137: Dinner with the Illuminati
X-Oriente
Back in February, before all this pandemic nonsense, Eric and Jason sat down with Bro. Josef Wages to break some bread and talk about all things Illuminati, and the ritual that Joe helped locate, translate and edit, The Secret School of Wisdom: The Authentic Rituals and Doctrines of the Illuminati. It was appropriate that we met at the historic Gadsby's Tavern in Alexandria, a place that, given the topic of conversation, was the perfect atmosphere. Join us, for a conspiracy in the making.
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136: Not Just a Man
X-Oriente
The Scottish Rite Northern Masonic Jurisdiction has been creating advertising media for free use by Grand Lodges, Lodges and individual Masons to help spread awareness of Freemasonry to a generation of men who barely know what it is. Is this a good thing? Eric and Jason explore and debate the merits of advertising Masonry in the 21st Century.
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135: Sympathy for the Devil II
X-Oriente
What is exactly "The Devil" anyway? Is Lucifer, Beelzulbub, Satan, Mephistopheles and Baphomet all the same thing? Does it matter what religion you are? And why does Freemasonry always seem to demonized by Popes and Fundamentalists throughout history? In part 2 of a multipart series, Eric and Jason open the X-Oriente Department of Infernal Affairs and tease apart the origins and meanings of Baphomet and Lucifer.
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134a: Sympathy for the Devil I
X-Oriente
Associations with the infernal have always plagued Freemasonry, even from its earliest days. In part 1 of a multipart series, Eric and Jason open the X-Oriente Department of Infernal Affairs and tease apart the personification of Evil. It's a diabolically good time.
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133: A Masonic Dialogue (Part 2)
X-Oriente
In this episode, Eric and Jason read the Dialogues aloud and comment on the salient parts and how a voice that is as old as the United States can shed insight and light on today. Written by Gotthold Lessing, a German Freemason in 1776-1777, the Dialogues get at the heart of the true purpose of Freemasonry—well, one interpretation of it.In part 2, they read the final two dialogues.
info_outlineThe "Manbox" has recently been identified by sociologists and social psychologists as a set of social expectations surrounding masculinity. These attitudes and resulting behaviors are at the roots of toxic masculine behavior and make it more difficult for men to cope with a society that is embracing female empowerment. What's worse, these attitudes are responsible for a shocking range of male behaviors, from depression, to violence to suicide.
Companies and brands have started to look at the negative impacts of the Manbox and its effect on their target market— young men. But Freemasonry has, embedded in its DNA, a robust set of tools, rituals and traditions that can empower us to break out of the Manbox, and live lives that are our own, free from male stereotypes and unrealistic expectations. Jason and Eric discuss two interesting studies, one from Unilever and the other paid for by Harry's (the shaving company) that illustrate the global extent of the problem.