is this religious?

Freemasonry is not a religion, a church, or a handmaid of any faith, nor does it possess its own theology, dogma, or set of religious doctrines 13. Mackey points out that the fraternity is explicitly conscious that its work lies in a different field than that of a religious body, though it remains far from indifferent to religion itself 1.

In Craft Masonry, members are not required to adopt a specific creed; rather, the fraternity obliges them only to adhere to "that religion in which all men agree," leaving individual theological opinions entirely to each brother 21. This non-sectarian standard requires candidates to observe the moral law and maintain a belief in a Supreme Being—reverently referenced in the lodge as the Sovereign Grand Architect of the Universe—without demanding allegiance to a specific church or doctrine 1. Claudy notes that Craft lodges unite men in three fundamental spiritual concepts: the Fatherhood of God, the brotherhood of man, and the immortality of the soul 2.

Newton contends that while Craft Masonry is not a church, it is inherently religious in a broad sense because it preserves the right of each individual to his own faith, encourages unity across conflicting creeds, and views trust in a higher Power as a fundamental human experience rather than the exclusive property of any single institution 3. Thus, while the Craft employs religious symbols, altars, and prayers in its labors, it operates as a moral and fraternal association rather than a worshipful or doctrinal body 13.