Gnostics 2/4 - Cathars & Bogomils the True Christians

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This section discusses the value and purpose of a castle in relation to hermetic philosophy and its influence on modern society.

The Value of a Castle

• The castle was built with a specific value in mind.

• It is believed that the castle carries symbolic significance.

• In hermetic philosophy, the castle represents more than just a physical structure.

Hermetic Philosophy and Modern Influence

• The thread of hermetic philosophy runs through history, connecting Renaissance princes, scholars, magic, plastics, and international airlines.

• The influence of hermetic philosophy can be seen in various aspects of modern life.

• The heretics who embraced this philosophy faced persecution and death.

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This section provides an introduction to the history of Western Europe and the French Kingdom, focusing on the region where the Cathars settled in the 12th century. It mentions the support they received from local lords and peasants.

History of Cathars

• The Cathars settled in Western Europe and the French Kingdom in the 1160s and 1170s.

• They found support from local lords and peasants.

• The Centre for Cathar Studies at Chateau de Ville-Gligne holds the largest collection of research archives on the Cathars.

• Angre-Nor compiled valuable files and libraries related to the Cathar heresy.

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This section discusses various sources of information about the Cathars, including vernacular poetry, records of the Inquisition, and details about their beliefs and way of life.

Sources of Information

• Vernacular poetry provides insights into Cathar beliefs.

• Records of the Inquisition reveal a great deal about their beliefs, organizations, and way of life.

• These records also contain information about various aspects of their lives beyond just religious matters.

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This section explores how Cathars viewed the visible world as separate from God's world. It touches upon their belief that this world was created by the devil.

View on Visible World

• For Cathars, God's world is separate from this visible world.

• They believed that this visible world was created by the devil.

• While they may have hated this world, hatred was seen as an expression of evil which they avoided.

• They aimed to be indifferent to matter, flesh, and even beauty in order to focus on love instead.

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This section provides historical context by discussing the constant warfare and power struggles in the region where the Cathars settled.

Historical Context

• The region where the Cathars settled was marked by constant warfare.

• The counts of Toulouse and Barcelona, along with the King's Varagon, sought to control this strategic territory.

• A visitor in 1181 described the region as a place of deserts ruled by brigands and death, which resonated with how the Cathars saw it.

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This section highlights that Cathars considered the world and its creator to be alien from God. It mentions their lack of knowledge about Gnostic scriptures.

Alienation from God

• Cathars viewed the world and its creator as foreign to God.

• They shared similarities with earlier Gnostics but did not have knowledge of Gnostic scriptures hidden in Egypt.

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This section explains how the heresy of Catharism spread to the walled hilltop villages of Languedoc through preachers from Northern and Eastern Europe.

Spread of Heresy

• Preachers from Northern and Eastern Europe brought the heresy of Catharism to Languedoc's walled hilltop villages.

Cathar Theology and Influence

This section provides an overview of Cathar theology and its influence on society.

Cathar Theology

• Cathar theology is the distant descendant of early gnostic Christianity.

• The Cathar church offered women spiritual equality, allowing them to preach and confer sacraments.

• The Cathars emphasized a high level of spiritual service with low material demands, contrasting with the Catholic Church's focus on material demands.

Influence on Society

• The growing number of Cathars threatened the power and influence of the Roman Catholic Church.

• Small towns like Fonjo and Lorac became Cathar strongholds, with parfait dominating religious and social life.

• Many lords in these towns supported the Cathars, providing houses for their communities.

• Prominent figures like Dame Cavess and Gielabet Castrimsself played significant roles in supporting the Cathars.

The Pursuit of the Cathar Heresy

This section discusses the Roman Catholic Church's pursuit of the Cathar Heresy.

Reconversion Efforts

• After 1200, the Roman church began pursuing the reconversion of parfait in Credent through preaching and persuasion.

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This section discusses the challenges faced by the Cathars, including the inquisition and the first crusade within Christendom. They were self-confessed Christians who expressed a gnostic disdain for the worldly power of the church.

Challenges Faced by Cathars

• The Cathars faced persecution from the inquisition and were targeted during the first ever crusade within Christendom.

• These self-confessed Christians held a gnostic belief that rejected the worldly power of the church.

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In this section, there is a discussion about Christ being referred to as the bread of life and how it relates to redemption. The speaker questions why mass is condemned while marriage is considered acceptable.

Bread of Life and Condemnation of Mass

• Christ is referred to as the bread of life, indicating his sufficiency for redemption.

• The speaker questions why mass is condemned when it is related to the concept of bread of life.

• Marriage is seen as an extension beyond adultery, implying that it should also be condemned.

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This section focuses on discussing marriage as a holy sacrament and criticizes those who condemn it. The speaker challenges Gilla Belichas' hypocrisy regarding their views on marriage.

Marriage as a Holy Sacrament

• Marriage is considered a holy sacrament in Christianity.

• The speaker accuses Gilla Belichas of being hypocritical in condemning marriage.

• Gilla Belichas' hypocrisy regarding their views on marriage is questioned.

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This section highlights reasons for regarding mass with polydomini and criticizes doctrines related to dividing Christ's flesh. It questions whether such practices would horrify Christ and accuses the church of sinfulness.

Criticism of Mass and Doctrines

• The speaker questions the practice of dividing Christ's flesh during mass.

• It is suggested that such practices would horrify Christ.

• The speaker accuses the church of sinfulness in their doctrines.

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This section criticizes the belief that Christ is matter and expresses disgust towards it. The speaker argues that considering Christ as matter is a sign of sinfulness in church doctrines.

Criticism of Beliefs about Christ

• The belief that Christ is matter is criticized as disgusting.

• Considering Christ as matter is seen as a sign of sinfulness in church doctrines.

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This section highlights the absurdity of regarding the host as part of the body of Christ. It questions whether putting all hosts together would create a body as big as a cigar, and accuses believers of being fed by credolt.

Absurdity Regarding the Host

• It is pointed out that regarding the host as part of the body of Christ leads to absurd conclusions.

• The idea that putting all hosts together would create a body as big as a cigar is questioned.

• Believers are accused of being fed by credolt instead of true spiritual nourishment.

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This section challenges the notion that marriage should be condemned based on human frailty. It questions why marriage is not tolerated while other sins are accepted within Christianity.

Marriage and Human Frailty

• Marriage should not be condemned solely based on human frailty.

• Other sins, such as adultery, are accepted within Christianity despite breaking commandments.

• The speaker suggests that marriage should be viewed with understanding due to human weaknesses.

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This section criticizes the Roman church and its reliance on attendance at mass for power and financial gain. It questions whether the body of Christ would cease to exist without the Roman church.

Criticism of the Roman Church

• The Roman church is criticized for relying on attendance at mass for power and financial gain.

• The speaker questions whether the body of Christ would cease to exist without the Roman church.

• The importance of children being born is highlighted as a factor in maintaining power and wealth within the church.

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This section challenges the belief that the body of Christ is physical and emphasizes its spiritual nature. It questions why others should be forced to share in life's miseries according to Dominic's views.

Spiritual Nature of the Body of Christ

• The speaker argues that the body of Christ is spiritual, not physical.

• Dominic's view on sharing life's miseries is questioned.

• The speaker suggests that binding immortal souls to earthly labors goes against their divine nature.

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This section contrasts the measure of Christ's church in eternity with the measure of the Church of Rome based on prelates' succession and material wealth. It highlights that worldly pursuits are not suitable for divine souls.

Measure of Christ's Church vs. Church of Rome

• The measure of Christ's church lies in eternity, while the measure of the Church of Rome lies in prelates' succession and material wealth.

• Worldly pursuits are seen as unsuitable for divine souls.

• The speaker criticizes how prelates' worth is counted based on years rather than spiritual significance.

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This section discusses how worldly creations corrupt humanity, while awakening and releasing one's soul offer hope. It emphasizes the importance of spiritual existence over worldly matters.

Corruption and Hope for the Soul

• Worldly creations, including time, corrupt humanity.

• Awakening and releasing one's soul offer hope for salvation.

• The speaker highlights the contrast between worldly existence and spiritual longing.

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This section criticizes the foundation of the Church of Rome as being of the world. It questions Dominic's adherence to austerity and hardship while leading a life tied to Rome.

Criticism of the Church of Rome

• The foundation of the Church of Rome is seen as being rooted in worldly matters.

• Dominic's lifestyle, which includes austerity and hardship, is questioned in relation to his allegiance to Rome.

• The speaker suggests that leading a life tied to Rome contradicts ideals of perfection.

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This section challenges Dominic's role as a servant of the Lord and questions his imitation of perfection. It warns about impending judgment and criticizes paying priests and attending mass.

Challenge to Dominic's Role

• The speaker questions Dominic's role as a servant of the Lord.

• Dominic is criticized for imitating perfection while serving Rome.

• Impending judgment is mentioned, warning against responsibilities such as paying priests and attending mass.

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This section expresses a willingness to endure martyrdom rather than conforming to perceived heresy. It criticizes confession to priests who engage in sinful behavior.

Willingness for Martyrdom

• The speaker expresses a preference for enduring martyrdom rather than conforming to perceived heresy.

• Confession to priests who engage in sinful behavior is criticized.

• Personal sacrifice is valued over conforming to societal expectations.

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This section challenges the accusation of hating the world and criticizes the endless bindings imposed by the Church of Rome.

Challenge to Accusation of Hating the World

• The speaker denies the accusation of hating the world.

• The endless bindings imposed by the Church of Rome are criticized.

• The speaker emphasizes personal freedom and resistance against oppressive doctrines.

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This section quotes Proverbs to emphasize that wisdom and knowledge come from God. It questions why heretics are not grateful for rain without attributing it to Satan.

Wisdom, Knowledge, and Gratitude

• Wisdom and knowledge come from God, as stated in Proverbs.

• Heretics are questioned for not expressing gratitude for rain without attributing it to Satan.

• The speaker suggests that attempts are made to make people surrender their hard-fought freedom.

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This section highlights how humanity longs for God despite being part of this world. It challenges Dominic's views on receiving what is asked for only from the Father.

Longing for God

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This section discusses the assembly of peoples and nations, the destruction of towers and walls, and the reduction of people to servitude.

Assembly of Peoples and Nations

• The speaker mentions that whole peoples and nations will assemble.

• Many people will die by the sword.

• Towers will fall and walls will be reduced to the ground.

• All people will be reduced to servitude.

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This section provides information about Guillaume Ademar, the lord of Vals, and his family history.

Guillaume Ademar - Lord of Vals

• Guillaume Ademar was the lord of Vals.

• His family history sums up a century of religious change.

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This section discusses the discovery at Nagarmadi and religious change in relation to Guillaume Ademar's family.

Religious Change and Nagarmadi Discovery

• The speaker mentions the discovery at Nagarmadi, which occurred years ago.

• There was a religious transformation in Guillaume Ademar's family.

• His sister was a parfit (possibly referring to a perfecti or fully initiated member) and his father had taken consulment (possibly referring to becoming a consul).

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This section introduces Hermetic Philosophy, its association with Hermes' messenger of the gods, and its connection to Guillaume Ademar's ancestors.

Hermetic Philosophy

• Hermetic Philosophy is named after Hermes' messenger of the gods.

• One of Hermes' modern champions is Yost Ritman, a Dutch businessman.

• The speaker mentions that 15 years before his deathbed, there was an episode related to Hermes' champion.

• Around 1100, Guillaume Ademar's forebears commissioned an extraordinary series of frescoes for their church at Vals.

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This section discusses the architecture and theme of the frescoes in the south of France, specifically at Vals.

Architecture and Theme of Frescoes

• The speaker mentions being struck by the architecture of castles in the south of France.

• The frescoes painted by Catalan artists at Vals depict the incarnation and life of Christ.

• Specific scenes include the enunciation to the Virgin and the baptism of Christ.

• The castle was built not only for protection but also to carry a value.

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This section highlights the themes that would have been repugnant to cathar descendants and introduces Hermetic Philosophy in relation to Nosis.

Themes Repugnant to Cathar Descendants

• The claims of the Roman Church, such as giving keys to St. Peter, would have been repugnant to cathar descendants.

• In the next program, there will be a discussion on how Nosis in Hermetic Philosophy runs from Church to supremacy over Christendom.

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This section explores how Renaissance princes and scholars were connected to magic and its impact on modern society.

Renaissance Princes and Scholars

• Renaissance princes and scholars were connected to magic.

• The heretics died, but the heritage of Cathars survived.

• The idea of Christ in a human body was abominated by cathar descendants who loathed the Roman Church.

• In the 12th century, this family went through a religious transformation from conventional Catholic piety.

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This section provides details about the siege of Montseguer in 1243 and the garrison inside.

Siege of Montseguer

• In spring 1243, a huge siege army was set in place.

• Inside Montseguer, there were approximately 205 men and women, a garrison of about 100 soldiers, and 131 other women and children.

• The defenders held out for 10 months against the royal siege army.

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This section describes the assault on the castle during the siege of Montseguer.

Assault on the Castle

• On February 21st, 1244, the first assault on the castle using ladders was repelled.

• The fighting was intense as assailants had installed catapults.

• Limestone balls weighing 80 kilos can still be found in the forest below.

• The defenders soon found themselves in a hopeless position.

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This section highlights an extraordinary event that took place during the siege of Montseguer.

Extraordinary Event at Montseguer

• On March 13th, an extraordinary event occurred at Montseguer.

• Twenty men and women went to meet with Cathar bishops.

• Bertrand Marty and Giabert de Gastro were mentioned as dead.

• They were only credent (possibly referring to being believers or followers).