The Ariadne’s thread of Gnosis runs throughout time, and the Middle Ages saw a rich tapestry of manifestations, particularly the Cathars and the Knights Templar, but also including Bogomils, Rhineland Mystics, Beguines and Troubadours.

The Cathars were the greatest flourishing of the Gnostic tradition since the eclipse of the Alexandrian and Manichaean Gnosis in the first few centuries A.D.  The eleventh, twelfth and thirteenth centuries saw the activity of the large movement of Cathars (“pure ones”) in what is now southwestern France.

Subsequent revivals of the Gnostic tradition in Europe were all related to the Cathars.  In these lectures the distinguishing features of the Cathar religion are shown as well as several generally unavailable scriptures are interpreted.

The Knights of the Temple of Jerusalem, founded in 1118 in Jerusalem and cruelly persecuted and suppressed in and after 1312, the Knights Templar became a mysterious, shadowy element associated with Occultism, Freemasonry, Magic and even with the legendry of the Holy Grail.  Dr. Hoeller unravels some of the Templar mystery, and shows its relationship to much contemporary fictional and semi-fictional literature.

The Individual titles are:

• Heresies of the Middle Ages: Bogomils, Cathars, Templars, Rhineland Mystics, Beguines and Troubadours. 72:42 #101301
• The Cathars and the Grail: Montségur, the Grail Castle. The Crusade against the Grail. The Cathar message today. 70:36 #101302
• The Nature and Romance of the Cathar Gnosis. What Gnosis did the Cathars have? Cathar history and Cathar teachings and their several revivals in subsequent centuries is reviewed. 69:43 #101303
• The Book of the Two Principles. One of the very few Cathar scriptures that survived and was made available a few years ago. Additional facts and theories about the Cathars. 72:26 #101304
• “The Gospel of the Secret Supper” – the major Cathar Scripture, Part I . Of possible Bulgarian Bogomil origin, this is a Gospel of the invisible Father, his son Christ, and John the Apostle who questions Jesus at the time of the Last Supper. 72:55 #101305
• “The Gospel of the Secret Supper”, Part II. The distinction between the absolute good God and his evil opponent. Along with the “Book of Two Principles” this is the main extant Cathar scripture. Again, cognate material from historical and visionary sources is included. 71:09 #101306
• Jacques de Molay and other Templar Grand Masters. Were the leaders of the Templar Order Esotericists with Gnostic associations? The Truth behind modern tales about the Templars, including “Holy Blood, Holy Grail”. What was the curse of Jacques de Molay? 72:32 #101307
• Spiritual Chivalry: The Spirit of the Templars. The Templar Tradition of the “Initiates of Action” in a contemporary light. 66:48 #101308
• The Troubadours: Those who Find Love. The Code of the Troubadours; Literary Artistry and Forbidden Love. Kindred Predecessors of the Cathars. 69:00 #101309