Okay, so the world willed me and I watched, Ghostbusters was on TV last night, did I learn anything?

I certainly did...

For the most part the film was as I remembered it, funny with a strong science versus western religion theme. Then near the end of the film however my happy watching turned to shock.

A particular line was spoken while the guys are up on the roof of Dana's appartment building, Peter says, with reference to choosing the form of Gozer:

"If you think of J Edgar Hoover, J Edgar Hoover will appear and destroy us."

So my mind kicked into over drive; what an odd thing to say! Why him?

He is the only example that Peter gives of something that would pop up and destroy them, as it happens Mr Stay Puft does the deed but from here on there was a strongly Masonic feel to the film and I couldn't believe what I was seeing. The roof of the appartment building suddenly had significance; the scenery was littered with obelisks, steps, and pyramids.

Gozer comes out of a pyramid with a glowing sun/star at its summit in front of it is an obelisk on either side of some transparent doors with Egyptians and hyrogryphs on them. The design could be easily overlooked as bizarre eighties styling but this is strangely Egyptian and look at those pillars either side, Jachin and Boaz???

The terror dogs sit on plinths like guardians of something important, but what? Are they guarding the door in the pyramid?

Down these steps are the outer doors, these are adorned with an image of a stepped pyramid and something else I can't quite make out, it looks organic and maybe plant-like.

The outside of the central room is surrounded with obelisks and plinths and an alter. All of this points to a very similar and famous layout, I believe it is a meaningfull placement of artifacts to signify a disconstructed Solomons Temple.

The temple itself is uncannily similar on the outside and on the inside and as you may know is the plan used in every masonic lodge.

King Solomons temple features a Laver that is out in front, this is also featured in Ghostbusters but as the building isn't wide enough to accomodate it, it appears to be on the very top on the building and throws out lots of sparks.

The terror dogs also seem to have a link to Solomons temple, the gaurdians of the ark of the covenant are sphinx/lion like beings that stand either side of the ark and protect it. If the ark was a doorway to god then they are guarding something very similar to the terror dogs.

So given the significance of the iconography in this otherwise philosophically benign film, what does it mean?

Science is used thoughout the film to challenge and laugh at religion and spirituality, here at the end it looks like the joke's on the Freemasons, Ghostbusters is anti-masonic and destorys the masons holiest of holies in a big firey explosion.

There is another possible masonic link with two of the strangest character names in the film, the Gate Keeper and Key Master, after some digging on the internet it's possible that these are masonic roles given to members of lodges!

Also and don't forget that in GB 2 the statue of liberty is used in a most ungainly fashion to transport the Ghostbusters across the city.

PS: Just came across this following message in a random forum about our government and the masons:

"There is a core within the New Labour Group that behaves in a manner which at best could be seen as childish, who see greater importance in behaving as ghostbusters to force Masons to declare their membership than in pursuing other matters."

So i'm not the first to make this link it seems...