Many myths about Masonry have taken hold in the imagination of "conspiracy buffs.” This may be because Freemasons, like government intelligence agencies and big business, often allow the uninitiated to argue amongst themselves so that the truth remains private. In recent years, Masonic organizations worldwide have made efforts to address these myths and better address their critics.

Some of the most common Masonic “fictions” are addressed below:
 

fiction: masonry is a religion
In a sectarian age many hold that Freemasonry is a new religion. Externally, to some at least, it has many similarities to a religion:

• It has an altar and a sacred book (usually a bible, but often a Torah, Koran or other relevant text)
• It has its own way of saying "amen" ("So mote it be," a literal translation of "Amen")
• It has far more developed rituals than most Protestant denominations
• Some groups of Masons (especially the Scottish Rite) call their Lodges "temples,"
• It has a large amount of iconography and symbolism.

From the perspective of many religions, which feel that they present the perfect system of morality, any competing system of morality can be considered opposition – and if not strictly another religion, then certainly as competitor.

In response, many Masons argue that the ritual observances of Masons should be seen in the same context as rituals maintained in the military services, in government, and civil authorities.