First Step - Joining the Fraternity

This started out on reddit, addressing the numerous "I'm interested" posts and all the same answers, wide and varied as they may be, that they received. So I'm taking the initiative here to go ahead and draw up what I hope is a one stop shop in regards to joining the Craft. I won't say all questions will be answered here right off the bat, but as more unique questions are asked, I'll endeavor to include them here. I will do my best to answer every question I can, without violating the oath and obligation of even the strictest jurisdiction.

Let's Begin:

• What is Freemasonry? Freemasonry is the world's oldest and largest fraternity, dating back to years unrecorded, the first formation of a Grand Lodge dates back to 1717.
• What do Freemasons do? You hear it time and again, the ol' adage of "We take good men and make them better". We do exactly that by means of teaching Brothers there's more to the world around them than just them.
• Is Freemasonry a Religion? While Freemasonry has religious aspects to it, most "regular" Lodges having a holy book opened somewhere in their meeting room, Freemasonry is not, in and of itself, a religion.
• Okay, but you guys are the Illuminati right? Illuminati is defined as "people claiming to possess special enlightenment or knowledge of something." We make no such claims, least as far as I have been made aware. The common tie in to that name as an organization is that of the Bavarian secret society founded back in 1776, ending in the 2nd of March, 1785, when a government edict banned all secret societies within Bavaria.
• Okay, you said secret society! I know from National Treasure, that's what Freemasons are, right? Eh, no. Freemasonry is a fraternity. Much like any other fraternities (such as the Greek fraternities you see around), we do have secrets, but the secrets we have aren't earth shattering, mind blowing, revelations of the world around us.
• So why should I join Freemasonry? I think only you can answer that. Each member has their own reason or reasons. To be part of something bigger than themselves, to better themselves, to be involved in their community, to give back, etc. The only thing I can answer is why you SHOULDN'T join Freemasonry. Don't join if you think you'll be gaining something material, if you're just out to learn the so called "secrets of a Mason", or if you think this is a means to get ahead in the world, that you'll be placed in some position of power. You'll be extremely disappointed.
• But there's documented history of powerful people being Freemasons. Why wouldn't I be placed in a position of power? While it's true that there have been great leaders, far and wide, who have been involved in Freemasonry, it is not because of Freemasonry that they held that seat in the world. Freemasonry, again, is the world's oldest and largest fraternity. Its memberships range from Presidents, all the way down to the low man on the totem, such as myself who works security.
• So you guys aren't out to control the world and start a New World Order? That would be hard to do. We all would have to agree on what a perfect world would be, and that differs from person to person. Considering Freemasons have no regards to what religion a person is, we also accept members from a wide variety of faiths. So someone's toes are bound to get stepped on, which Freemasonry aims to do as little as possible, what with our foundation being settled in harmony.
• I was told I had to be a Christian to be a Freemason, is this true? While certain bodies in Freemasonry (such as Templar) require their members to be of Christian faith, Freemasonry, or Blue Lodge, does not. You just have to have a belief in a higher power (Allah, Jehovah, etc.)
• Okay, so let's say I'm interested, how do I join? I suggest googling the name or your city, state/province, and then Grand Lodge, usually followed by AF&AM or F&AM for the North American Brothers (this may extend beyond Canada and the US but I have no knowledge of how things work outside of those two places so I hope another Brother might be able to assist in that matter.) I am also constantly updating this page with lists of Lodges, sites, and numbers. Usually the Grand Lodge in that jurisdiction has a website and a means to contact them. If they do, by all means, reach out and ask what Lodges are near you, then seek them out, sit with them, get to know them and let them get to know you. I can't stress that last part enough. It would be a shame and waste for you to join a Lodge and realize that you and the Brothers of your Lodge don't exactly mesh.
• What if they say no? That doesn't mean you're not allowed to join ever again. Usually that means try again at a later date. Maybe they felt you were joining for the wrong reasons, or you just weren't ready at that point in time.
• What about hazing? As far as UGLE (that is United Grand Lodge of England) recognized Lodges are concerned, they have a no-hazing policy. That said, it is the understanding of myself and many a Brother that the clandestine (or unrecognized) Lodges have been pretty bad with hazing. My Lodge required that I signed a no-hazing policy form stating I recognized that they can not, by law, haze me, and if they did so, I had every right to take legal action.

I hope all of this has been helpful. If you have any further questions, please add them to the here. Brothers, if you have anything to add, correct, or in any other way contribute, by all means, please message me on reddit and I will get to it ASAP.

Thank you all, and Travel Light.