Knights Templar to use latest imaging in search for Grail

New Zealand Herald ^ | 01/06/03 | The Independent (?)

[dirtboy]

Someone send a swallow to fetch these guys...

[Charles Henrickson]

A labyrinth of vaults . . . is reputed to contain . . . even the mummified head of Christ.

BZZZ!!! Sorry! Wrong answer. It's not there--or in any other vault or tomb.

He is risen.

[FateAmenableToChange]

and even the mummified head of Christ.

Actually, all the legends I've ever heard have referred to the mummified head of John the Baptist, who allegedly really was beheaded, rather than Christ who died on the cross and lives again.

But, hey, if they're going to fantasize about an ancient cult that has little more historical basis than the last Indiana Jones movie, they might as well toss some blasphemy in there too.

[RightWhale]

early gospels, the Ark of the Covenant, the fabled Holy Grail - and even the mummified head of Christ.

Baphomet, John, the other Christ. Maybe the True Cross is down there, too.

[mgstarr]

An African or European swallow?

[Charles Henrickson]

"What . . . is your quest?"

[dirtboy]

An African or European swallow?

A Monica Swallow ... oops, that's right, she didn't...

[Xenalyte]

Beat me to it. (Whadaya expect from those wacky Freemasons?)

[mg39]

An African or European swallow? Wha...I don't know. Aaaaaauuuugggghhh!

[crystalk]

The Knights, of course, knew all about America and some say the Grail is actually in Nova Scotia. [No, Virginia, not in the Money Pit, but isn't that a THOUGHT!] They had a sort of fort in the interior there...

Some also say the Grail is actually not just a silver cup, but some technological miracle device...

[Xenalyte]

But, hey, if they're going to fantasize about an ancient cult that has little more historical basis than the last Indiana Jones movie, they might as well toss some blasphemy in there too.

The Templars aren't at all fictitious. Over the last millennium, they evolved into what we now call Freemasons. (Before y'all flame me, my daddy's a Mason, and I was a Rainbow Girl; this isn't anti-Masonic bigotry, but cultural history.)

Founded in the late 1100s by what-would-become-French nobles to protect travelers on pilgrimage to the Holy Land, they outgrew their mission and became a mercenary army. They're credited with developing the credit system; they acted as bankers to the newborn European powers.

Eventually, as all non-monarchical powers, they were deemed a threat by the French monarchy, and Philippe le Bel had the Order suppressed in the 1300s, burning alive Jacques DeMolay, the head of the Order in France. (That's where the Order of DeMolay comes from today.)

I refer you to the fascinating Holy Blood, Holy Grail (authors: Michael Baigent, Richard Leigh, and Henry Lincoln) for more info.

I do concede that much non-historical ink has been spilt on behalf of (or in repudiation of) the Templars, but they did in fact exist.

[crystalk]

"Baphomet," is just the reverse-letter Hebrew code for "Sophia," Greek goddess of wisdom, opposed along with all Gnosticism by the mystic Templars, who BTW wanted to rebuild the Temple, so they would agree with me when I say:

MR SHARON, TEAR DOWN THOSE MOSQUES on Temple Mt.!!!

[abner]

Ping!

[Rudder]

[Diana Rose]

Ping :)

[RightWhale]

the Templars, but they did in fact exist

By Papal commission. Headquarters -- Dome of the Rock, Jerusalem.

[KC_Conspirator]

Thats silly. Everyone knows that the Ark is Ethiopia and that the Grail was lost in France. Sheesh!

[RightWhale]

TEAR DOWN THOSE MOSQUES on Temple Mt.!!!

We ought to apply our Crusading enthusiasm to more productive ends. Some acceptance of coexistence might be a plus.

[wideawake]

Baigent's book also maintains that:

(1) Christ was never crucified for our sins.

(2) Christ never rose from the dead.

(3) That Christ got married and had children and that his direct-line descendants are alive today and live in southern France.

In short, Christians should steer clear of Baigent's ridiculous, ahistorical, made-up fantasyland of a book and stick to Scripture and reputable historians.