When I first saw this topic, the only reason I gave it a chance was because it was on this forum and started by Corvus, truly. Pretty much everywhere else it becomes something of a name-calling "your mother" fight in about two posts.
Beyond that, I've done some extensive research into the Knights Templar myself, working off of other's work though. Beyond that knowledge, growing up, going to a Catholic Military School for 3rd-8th grade, and Catholic High School, I've met plenty of Benedictines, Dominicans, Franciscans, St. Patricks, Jesuits and even some Cistercians. Now, mind you, none of these men and women are militant, but I do know a few who are Chaplains as well, primarily within police departments, but three particularly, who are military chaplains. None of these people, would have kept up a "rebel Templar" group. The Church calling out and disbanding the Templars as heretics under the guise of a greedy and in-dept to the Templars, French King, would have deeply upset them, but they wouldn't have rebelled. The other 99% of the Templars who weren't martyred by their own Pope would have done just as it had said was "done." They would have been absolved either into the Cistercians themselves, or the Knights Hospitaller.
It's also interesting to note the contemporary documents of the era, and how people viewed the Knights Templar. For example, priests, particularly friars were constantly admonished and ridiculed, but the Knights Templar never were! One can say this is all a conspiracy and the "Templars are that good." But lets face it, that makes a good story of "Oh no! The world is ending and how do we solve it in either 140 minutes or 400 pages or less!?!" As Corvus has previously stated, I believe the mass conspiracies are fun and highly publicized.
I have also met plenty of Freemasons, and they never come outright and say "I am a Knights Templar, full embodied with the power of God, direct descendant of Hugh de Payens blah blah blah." They're great guys who believe in charity, honor, respect, and have a strong sense of belonging. They have told me, every single one of them, as we compare knighthoods together, theirs honors and emulates the Knights Templar. How many people respect and therefore dress up as Cops, Firefighters, Knights, Musketeers, etc, trying to emulate them, if even for one day in October?
Beyond that though, there are those that "I'd love to have that tab on my uniform" and do it for the wrong reasons. It's always one or two people that ruin an experience for everyone else, those they mis-represent, and those who unfortunately have to deal with them! It's hillarious, but I've noticed TONS of people now claiming to be SEALs... and it's a sad truth. I feel the worst case scenario of Freemasons to Templars is just a case of this.
Heck, some of us aren't that far off. But we do draw the line. I am trying to portray a Knights Templar or Knight of Calatrava in a living history sense to educate and inspire others. I know Sir Nathan here does the same with his Teutonic kit, heck part of why I decided to take the plunge and create my persona as a brother knight was
because of Sir Nathan's! Then there's those, like I met at an SCA event, "my husband is a REAL knight of the 4th order!... blah blah blah." And where was the husband? Nowhere to be found, he "wasn't able to attend this event for blah blah blah reasons."
What's also interesting is this: Has anyone stopped to wonder
why it's [/i]always[/i] about the Knights Templar? I think it's because, let's face it, from 1100-1300 you had two dominant groups of monastic knights: the Knights Templar, and the Knights Hospitaller. Now, for all those authors out there, which one can't sue you for slander? Which one is still in existence, has the real connections both in Protestant and Catholic Faith, and can grill you till their heart's content? I think that's the reason why it's always them, not the Knights Hospitaller. The Templars have no
legal way of defending themselves.
All of this, highly possible and I think a very good theory as to what is really going on. Beyond that, the other, even more outlandish theories could also be just as true. That's what keeps it going, and as far as I'm concerned, if it convinces a kid to pick up a book, rather than a joint, or especially a spray can with nefarious thoughts, WIN. It's our curiosity that makes us human, and right now, I just see so little of it sometimes.
But, at least now documents are coming out about the trials.
factThe Catholic Church agrees what happened was an atrocity
factTemplars good name restored?
I hope so, and that's why I portray one to help further it along.
- for Sir Wolf
