Brought to light : contemporary freemasonry, meaning, and society / J. Scott Kenney.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Kenney, J. Scott, author.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Kenney, J. Scott (James Scott), 1963-.

Kenney, J. Scott.

Freemasons--Canada--Social conditions.

Freemasons.

Freemasons--Atlantic Provinces--Interviews.

Freemasons--Canada--Biography.

Freemasonry--Canada.

Freemasonry.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (309 pages)

Edition:

1st ed.

Place of Publication:

Waterloo, Ontario : Wilfrid Laurier University Press, 2016.

Summary:

Secret societies are becoming increasingly controversial-thrust into public awareness by popular books, films, the Internet, and a host of recent documentaries. In academia, this exposure finds a parallel in the proliferation of research, institutes, and conferences. Yet the media depictions tend to be caricatures, a playing to pervasive stereotypes for public consumption, while the academic stress historical and philological matters. Indeed, to the extent a sociological focus exists, it largely emphasizes the roles these groups played in social history. And for the societies' members themselves, there has been a paucity of work on the contemporary meaning of these groups-a neglect made mystifying by the vast social changes that have taken place over the past century. In this study, and for the first time by any scholar, Kenney moves beyond history and applies the methods and theoretical tools of contemporary sociology to study the lived world of freemasons in today's society. To provide a clear portrait of the patterned experiences of contemporary freemasons and the issues faced by "the Craft" today, Kenney draws on qualitative data from three primary sources: (1) extensive interviews with 121 contemporary freemasons in Newfoundland and Nova Scotia; (2) video footage shot for a feature film on contemporary freemasonry; and (3) his observations and experiences in nearly fifteen years as a freemason. Brought to Light provides a highly original contribution to sociology, Masonic scholarship, and the social sciences generally.

Contents:

Cover

Title

Copyright

Contents

Preface

Acknowledgements

1 CONTEMPORARY FREEMASONRY: A NEGLECTED FIELD

Freemasonry: Background and Context

Sociological Research on Freemasonry

Theoretical Mechanisms: Explaining the Impact of Ritual

Method and Approach

Characteristics of the Research Sample

Organization of This Book

2 PATHS TO MASONRY

Predisposing Factors

The Social Interplay between Secrecy and Curiosity

Organized/Organizing Encounters

Attractive/Attracting Aspects of the Craft

Unattractive Factors/Hurdles to Get Over

Overcoming the Hurdles

Discussion and Conclusion

3 TAKING THE DEGREES

Before the Candidate Arrives at the Lodge Hall

Preparing Candidates for the Degrees

Initiation: The First Degree

Working toward Understanding

The Second Degree

The Third Degree

After the Degrees Are Done

How Degrees Were Done

Conclusion

4 SOCIAL ATMOSPHERE AND MEMBER INVOLVEMENT

Masonic Literature

Social Science Literature

Findings

5 ORGANIZATIONAL FACTORS AND MEMBER INVOLVEMENT

Membership Focus: Getting New Members or Retaining Existing Ones

Dues/Fees Structure

The Right to Participate in Lodge Activities-and When

Issues Surrounding Masonic Offices and Tasks in the Lodge

How Lodge Meetings Are Organized and Run

Interactions with the Wider Community

Conflict and Contentious Dynamics

Relationship with the Grand Lodge

Relationship with the Shrine

Demographic/Generational Issues

6 FURTHER FACTORS IN MEMBER INVOLVEMENT AND AN OVERALL EXPLANATORY FRAMEWORK

Educational Issues

The Impact of Members' Other Commitments and Activities

Thoughts on Gender

Moral and Ethical Benefits

Motivational Issues

Discussion: Analytical Typology

7 CLAIMED LIFE CHANGES SINCE BECOMING A FREEMASON.

Overall Changes (if Any)

Claimed Social Changes in Respondents' Lives

Claimed Changes in Respondents' Character and Abilities

8 CONTEMPORARY FREEMASONRY: THE DIRECTION FORWARD?

Social Demographics: The Craft versus Contemporary Society

Class and Status Issues: Complementary Evolution or Devolution?

Ritual Issues: Theoretical Expansion and Integrative Complications

Analytic Model: Convergence of Demographics, Social Stratification, and Ritual

Future Research and Implications

Notes

Glossary

A

B

C

D

E

F

G

H

I

J

L

M

O

P

R

S

T

W

Y

Works Cited

Index

K

N

U

V

W.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references and index.

Description based on online resource; title from PDF title page (ebrary, viewed October 18, 2016).

ISBN:

9781771121958

1771121955

OCLC:

961369372