Joel Thomas: Freemasonry - The Gateway Drug to the Occult

Freemasonry: The Gateway Drug to the Occult? — with Joel Thomas (Free The Rabbits)

Show: Courageous Clarity Podcast

Host: Darren Stott — pastor, author, founder of Supernaturalist Ministries and Portals University

Guest: Joel Thomas — host of Free The Rabbits, researcher, musician, and professional rabbit-hole explorer who always reminds listeners to “touch grass.”

Episode Snapshot

Is Freemasonry a harmless fraternity or an on-ramp to deeper occult systems? Joel Thomas shares his story of entering and leaving Freemasonry, the seduction of “hidden knowledge,” and how to pursue real discernment in Jesus without living in fear. We also preview his deep dive on Elementals (earth, water, wind, fire) for members of my 10:10 Group.

What We Cover

Joel’s testimony: musician to Freemasonry to research to Jesus

Why Freemasonry functions like a gateway drug to wider occult networks (degrees, houses, rites)

Research vs. practice: engaging dark source material without crossing spiritual lines (and the prayer boundaries Joel uses)

Gnosticism and church history: how “hidden wisdom” narratives keep resurfacing

Embodied practices: why posture and method (for example, yoga) can matter spiritually—and how to lead with grace, not outrage

Elementals preview: sirens and mermaids, Paracelsus, homunculus lore, and the four “portals”

Hope over hysteria: stop doom-scrolling and start discipling—also known as “go outside and touch grass”

The Tony Merkel connection and why this space reaches the unreached

Time-Stamped Guide (approximate)

00:00 Why Courageous Clarity exists; quick welcome

02:00 Meet Joel Thomas and the Free The Rabbits origin story

08:45 Music, 2020–21 turbulence, and the road into research

12:30 Starting a podcast as a non-podcast guy

17:00 Studying occult material safely (prayer, boundaries)

22:30 Gnosticism, mystery schools, and church drift

29:30 Grace over outrage: navigating gray areas

32:30 Elementals primer (members-only deep dive)

33:50 Freemasonry: degrees, houses, and why seekers get hooked

44:00 Where to find Joel and resources

Links and Resources

Connect with Darren / 10:10 Group

Website (details on the 10:10 Group): https://www.darrenstott.com

Joel Thomas & Free The Rabbits

Free The Rabbits on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast...

Joel’s Link Hub (music, socials, video): https://linktr.ee/joelthomasmedia

Joel’s YouTube channel: / @joelthomasmedia