It's Friday the 13th - Remember the Knights Templar

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_the_Knights_Templar

Sometimes it is hard to tell the good guys from the bad guys.

Quote :: At dawn on Friday, October 13, 1307, scores of French Templars were simultaneously arrested by agents of King Philip, later to be tortured in locations such as the tower at Chinon, into admitting heresy in the
Order. Over 100 charges were issued against them, the majority of them
identical charges that had been earlier issued against the inconvenient Pope Boniface VIII: accusations of denying Christ, spitting and urinating on the cross, and devil worship. The main interrogation of the Templars was under the control of the Inquisitors, a group of experienced interrogators and clergy who circulated around Europe at the beck and call of any European noble. The rules of interrogation said that no blood could be
drawn, but this did nothing to stop the torture. One account told of a Templar who had fire applied to the soles of his feet, such that the bones fell out of the skin. Other Templars were suspended upside-down or placed in thumbscrews. Of the 138 Templars (many of them old men) questioned in Paris over the next few years, 105 of them "confessed" to denying Christ during the secret Templar initiations. 103 confessed to an "obscene kiss" being part of the ceremonies, and 123 said they spat on the cross. Throughout the trial there was never any physical evidence of wrongdoing, and no independent witnesses; the only "proof" was obtained through confessions induced by torture.^[7]
The Templars reached out to the Pope for assistance, and Pope Clement did write letters to King Philip questioning the arrests, but took no further action.

No wonder we still consider this day to be unlucky

Ann

Thanks for the reminder, Ann. "The Last Templar" by Raymond Khoury is a very good book. I think I will give it another read.
The atrocities committed over religious philosophy says much about religious zealots. Given the chance, I think that many would do the same things again in the name of a loving God

I have The Last Templar in my Nook library (for my iphone reader) It is a good book. Templar history and lore is fascinating.

Ann

I never knew where Friday the 13th came from--thanks, Ann.
I am hoping this Friday the 13th is a lucky day--they are measuring for making our granite templates.

Five Star Member Number of posts : 1311 Registration date : 2008-05-09

More on Friday the 13th (the origins seem to vary):

http://towntimes.ctcitizens.com/story/where-did-friday-13th-superstition-come
http://www.livescience.com/3317-13-facts-friday-13th.html

The Knights Templar have a fascinating history. My son is sort of an expert on the topic.

Anyone born on Friday the 13th?

I had my kids on Thursday.

I was born on Monday.
How about you?

Five Star Member Number of posts : 1311 Registration date : 2008-05-09

My brother in law was born on October 13th ... and a Friday.

JoElle wrote:: My brother in law was born on October 13th ... and a Friday.

I hope that is good!

Number of posts : 1 Registration date : 2011-12-15

Knights Templar an ancient order going back to the Crusades. In the century the great master of the order was married to Katherine St Clair and two of the greatest masters of century were members of the St. Clair family. Since the order was persecuted by the Pope during the first 14 century some of the knights fled to Scotland where Robert the Bruce was excommunicated and not to prohibit that order.

knights templars