The Knight's Templar sue the Vatican

The heirs of the Knight's Templar are suing the Pope to restore the reputation of the disgraced order which was accused of heresy and dissolved seven centuries ago.

The Association of the Sovereign Order of the Temple of Christ, whose members claim to be descended from the legendary crusaders, have filed a lawsuit against Benedict XVI calling for him to recognise the seizure of assets worth 100 billion euros (£79 billion).

They claim that when the order was dissolved by his predecessor Pope Clement V in 1307, more than 9,000 properties as well as countless pastures, mills and other commercial ventures belonging to the knights were appropriated by the church.

But their motive is not to reclaim damages only to restore the "good name" of the Knights Templar.

"We are not trying to cause the economic collapse of the Roman Catholic Church, but to illustrate to the court the magnitude of the plot against our Order," said a statement issued by the self-proclaimed modern day knights.

Link to original source

--Ok, I know I'm going to get hate for this one I'm sure - as it's still controversial by the many avid fundamentalists out there, but here is a brief history of the Knight's Templar I put together awhile back:

The Knights Templar started approximately around 1099 teamed with a group of Calabrian monks who'd established the Priory of Sion (aka group who held the knowledge of Jesus, Mary Magdelene, and the royal bloodline).

With thier newfound knowledge of Jesus and vague locations to find ancient religous artifacts, the Templars started digging beneath the Old Temple of Solomon site on the Temple Mount. After nine years of digging, the Templars found an interesting artifact: a type of journal enclosed in a gold box. The solid gold box was a treasure in itself, but the writings inside were even more valuable. They were somewhat autobiographical in nature, describing events, times, and places that the writer had experienced... a writer who was none other than Jesus Christ. This journal outlined all of Jesus' travels in India, Persia, and Egypt before his public ministry began, as well as many of the teachings he'd learned and then disseminated to his disciples. It also described his associations with the Essenes and Ebonites (of which Christ's brother, James, was purportedly a leader) and outlined the most startling information of all -- that he survived the Crucifixion and escaped to France!



It was Joseph of Arimathea who had buried the journal at the request of Jesus after he'd been in France for several years, for he knew that it would be discovered someday. Joseph also was the one who helped save Jesus from death and escape and settle in France with his wife Mary Magdelene and later... his children.

Anyhow, the Knights made a lot of copies of this journal and sent one to the Pope, and he in turn was very upset, but sent out his best scholars to verify the original document_ After the Pope's experts return back to Rome the Knights Templar begin to accumulate great wealth from their skills in construction and banking. The Pope gave his official approval of the group in 1139, and the knights were granted land, castles, and economic support. Was this blackmail on the part of the Knights Templar or just a prudent stand taken by the Catholic Church? It was a little bit of both. With the Knights knowledge and rising power there wasn't much the Pope could do anyhow....

Not until a Friday on October 13, 1307... King "Philip the Fair" - named not for his just ways, but rather after his good looks - was very envious of the Templars wealth so he ordered the arrest of the Templars on charges of heresy. Jacques de Molay, the Grand Master of the Knights Templar at the time and 60 others were captured and imprisoned in Paris, along with 15,000 members in other areas of France. And all of their documents and artifacts were confiscated. For the next several years the captured Templars were tortured unmercifully with hot irons and burned at the stake.

It seems almost too coincidental that every time some individual or group came close to finding out the truth about Jesus in those days, they were branded as heretics and killed.

Was it the end? Well, many of the surviving Templars were assimilated into other orders, while some went into different secret societies, and others actually became pirates (hence, the skull and crossbones symbol once adorned by the knights). It is still said today that many artifacts and documents pertaining to the truth about Jesus Christ, including the above journal, is still located inside the very walls of the Vatican...

Best-selling author, Dan Brown, has just touched the tip of the iceberg with even discussing these such topics (whether fiction or not, it is based on true events and extensive research). And I believe much more is going to come into the light and public eye very soon through the discovery of religious relics that have yet to be found...



Recommended Reading:

Holy Blood, Holy Grail


by Michael Baigent, Richard Leigh, and Henry Lincoln -- this book, I know, is controversial to some people, however, despite the criticism these authors have received most of them have been misunderstandings. These guys have done their research - 10 years worth. Any forged documents by 'Pierre Plantard' is MOOT, because there sources were based mostly other resources such as interviewing certain priets who admitted most of the things discussed in this book, but told authors something like 'but we're not supposed to talk about it'. (I'll list specific source here when I find it) This book discusses Mary Magdelene and Jesus being married and having seven children. Also goes over Jesus not dying on the cross at the crucifixion but moving to France as well as more information regarding the Knights Templar.

Gnostic Christianity

"Gnostic Christians believed that questioning ones faith
was always important. To know (gnosis) Christ was to seek
deeper and honest meaning for ones life. This
gnosis led to wholeness in ones relationship to God
and the world. Christ's way was a spiritual journey, not a system
of right beliefs. The Orthodox Church, however, supported
by the Emperor Constantine primarily for political reasons,
was able to define what the true Christian was to believe.
Tertullian and Irenaeus were early Church Fathers (Bishops).
They declared those who questioned the Church's beliefs were
"heretics." Over the voices of those called Gnostics, Orthodox
Christianity not only prevailed, but has continued ever since
to define Christianity as a belief system. The Gnostic scriptures
show that there was and is a more refreshing, honest, open,
spiritual, loving and exciting way to be a Christian."

- Larry Angus

Summary of Gnostic Christians


Ok, lets break it down: Gnostic is from 'gnosis', meaning wisdom or knowledge. And Christian is 'follower of Christ'.

Only with Gnostic Christians, we follow the ORIGINAL teachings of Jesus Christ. Most writings that told of his true message were excluded from the bible.

That is why, with all due respect, regular christians, are missing a big piece of the puzzle.

Some, who don't know what they are talking about, say that gnostics claim they have some 'higher knowledge' that is known to only a certain few. But NO, it's NOT some secret knowledge. It's NOT something that is owned by a certain few. Anyone can acquire higher gnosis. Basically, more psychic - bringing yourself to a higher awareness of everything.

Attributes to Gnostic Christians:

Belief in reincarnation: many of the early Christian writings contain proof that reincarnation was taught among the Jews and Christians. See Dead Sea Scrolls.

Gnostic Christians
this site summarizes it pretty well

Dualism: this can vary from gnostic christian to gnostic christian, but the jist of it is basically two co-equal divine forces. Male/Female. Ying/Yang. Mother God/Father God.

Gnostic rundown
book review and good explanation on the mother god/father god and some other info on gnostic gospels

Mary Magdelene: analyzing the texts and gospels that were left out of the bible, it is evident (in my opinion, QUITE CLEAR) that Mary Magdelene was married to Jesus. (Wedding at Cana)

See Gospel of Philip:

"As for the Wisdom who is called 'the barren,' she is the mother [of the] angels. And the companion of the [...] Mary Magdalene. [...loved] her more than [all] the disciples, [and used to] kiss her [often] on her [...]. The rest of [the disciples ...]. They said to him 'Why do you love her more than all of us?' The Savior answered and said to them, 'Why do I not love you like her? When a blind man and one who sees are both together in darkness, they are no different from one another. When the light comes, then he who sees will see the light, and he who is blind will remain in darkness.'" [3]

-talking about the love between Mary and Jesus ^

It was the patriarchal church who deemed Mary Magdelene a whore, (specifically I think it was Pope Gregory I in 591 CE) to justify their importance of 'sin' and 'redemption' in their dogma-filled teachings. Diminishing femininity in the process.

Also see Gospel of Mary Magdelene
this site also lists some great reading resources



Excerpt from gospel of Mary Magdelene:

10) And desire said, I did not see you descending, but now I see you ascending. Why do you lie since you belong to me?
11) The soul answered and said, I saw you. You did not see me nor recognize me. I served you as a garment and you did not know me.
12) When it said this, it (the soul) went away rejoicing greatly.
13) Again it came to the third power, which is called ignorance.
14) The power questioned the soul, saying, Where are you going? In wickedness are you bound. But you are bound; do not judge!
15) And the soul said, Why do you judge me, although I have not judged?
16) I was bound, though I have not bound.
17) I was not recognized. But I have recognized that the All is being dissolved, both the earthly things and the heavenly.
18) When the soul had overcome the third power, it went upwards and saw the fourth power, which took seven forms.

-talking about Gnosis and because we are 'bound' to this earthly planet of 'matter', not the spiritual plane, 'heaven' we are bound. therefore, why judge? the purpose of being here on earth is to learn and advance our soul ^

We are part of God, not seperate from them (Mother God and Father God): now, [in the Gospel of Thomas], this Jesus comes to reveal that you and he are, if you like, twins.... And what you discover as you read the Gospel of Thomas, which you're meant to discover, is that you and Jesus at a deep level are identical twins. And that you discover that you are the child of God just as he is. And so that at the end of the gospel Jesus speaks to Thomas and says, "Whoever drinks from my mouth will become as I am, and I will become that person, and the mysteries will be revealed to him." Here, Jesus does not take the role of authority and teacher.

In the Gospel of Thomas, the disciples say to Jesus, "Tell us, what do you want us to do? How shall we pray? What shall we eat? How shall we fast?" Now if you look at Matthew and Luke, Jesus answers the questions. He says, "When you pray, say, 'Our Father who are in Heaven, hallowed be...' When you fast, wash your face, don't make a show of it. When you give alms do it privately and without being showy." In this gospel, this Jesus does not answer. He says, "Do not tell lies, and do not do what you hate, for everything is known before heaven." Now this answer throws you and me upon ourselves.... Here Jesus, in effect, turns one toward oneself, and that is really one of the themes of the Gospel of Thomas, that you must go in a sort of a spiritual quest of your own to discover who you are, and to discover really that you are the child of God just like Jesus."

Source: Gospel of Thomas


In Summary, Gnostic Christianity is a Way of Life based on the original teachings of Jesus Christ. A gnostic is a person who believes that salvation is gained through the acquisition of divine knowledge or gnosis. Gnostic Christians believe that the knowledge necessary for salvation has been revealed through Jesus Christ. Gnostics recognize that this world is subject to powers of darkness that distort our concept of reality.

As Jesus explained, "The shadows of this world are perceived by mortals, and they think they know the Truth, but the Reality which casts the shadows is hidden from them, and they do not perceive the Light." (Sayings 2:2)

[ ^ That quote described the atheists and skeptics I used to know, lol ]

When gnostics speak of salvation, they mean being freed from these illusions of darkness so that they can perceive Reality. As Jesus said, "I tell you the truth when I say that only when you perceive shadows as shadows, and search the Light, will you perceive the Reality which is God." (IBID.) He also said, "If you continue to acquire gnosis through me and live by the principles I teach, you will be my true disciples. Then you will learn of Truth, and Truth will set you free." (Testimony of St. John 8:31-32)



Recommended Reading:

Reincarnation: The Missing Link in Christianity
by Elizabeth Clare Prophet

The Gnostic Gospels
by Eileen Pagels

Holy Blood, Holy Grail
by Michael Baigent, Richard Leigh, and Henry Lincoln -- this book, I know, is controversial to some people, however, despite the criticism these authors have received most of them have been misunderstandings. These guys have done their research - 10 years worth. Any forged documents by 'Pierre Plantard' is MOOT, because there sources were based mostly other resources such as interviewing certain priets who admitted most of the things discussed in this book, but told authors something like 'but we're not supposed to talk about it'. (I'll list specific source here when I find it) This book discusses Mary Magdelene and Jesus being married and having seven children. Also goes over Jesus not dying on the cross at the crucifixion but moving to France as well as more information regarding the Knights Templar.

*special note* Dan Brown's novel The Da Vinci Code is a wonderful book and just because it is in the fiction genre, the meaning and truth the book is based off of can not be disputed.

Just because The Mona Lisa is a form of artwork and therefore not a real live person in front of you doesn't dispute any meaning or truth it is based off of

The Sacred Feminine

"It’s not as if he had no will or no say in his eating of the apple. “God” told Adam not to touch the apple, He didn’t tell Eve. So Adam was the messenger, yet he went on and ate the damn thing. One would assume from this story that Eve was physically bigger and stronger than Adam, so much so that she was single-handedly able to pin him down and shove the apple right down his throat, totally against his will. Give us all a break!"

-Grandmother's response in effort to save Eve's legacy (source noted below)


Kudos to grandma! I love that new take on the old 'Adam and Eve' fairytale. And I say fairytale because unlike some people, I don't take everything from the bible LITERAL. There are many wonderful stories that possess a metaphorical meaning to them, but aren't meant to be literal. Although some persons misconceptions about gender seems to fuel this imbalance we've had with everything masculine and everything feminine.

Consider this:


“The Judaeo-Christian cosmology that informs Western civilization sees the female body and female sexuality in the person of Eve as responsible for the downfall of mankind. For thousands of years, women have been beaten, abused, burned at the stake and blamed for all manner of evil simply because of their sex. We forget, in this era of rapid change, that women did not even start to win the right to vote until the twentieth century!


-Dr Christiane Northrup, in her book entitled, 'Women's Bodies, Women's Wisdom'.
Dr Northrup's Official Site


“Man enjoys the great advantage of having a god endorse the code he writes. And since man exercises a sovereign authority over women it is especially fortunate that this authority has been vested in him by the Supreme Being. For the Jews, Mohammedans
and Christian among others, man is master by divine right; the fear of God will therefore repress any impulse towards revolt in the downtrodden female.’ The belief that men are meant to be rulers of women runs deep in many Western traditions.”

'The Second Sex' - Simone de Beauvoir

I agree with these authors for the most part. However, I will say that those who believe that 'man is master by divine right' have simply translated the bible wrong. The bible from whatever religion they follow (I think there are about 31 different bibles in the world total). I also know that some translate it strangely and think woman are only created for entertainment for men. I known many persons first hand who have odd translations. I wish those that have those misconceptions shred their egos and just follow the message that Jesus taught, which is simply - love.

The return of the 'sacred feminine', is not about women ruling society, but it is about the return to nature, balanced restored, ying/yang united - both hemispheres of the brain working in balance, and higher consciousness.

I believe this goes along with perhaps 2012, the supposed 'end of all things era'.

But I believe it's not really an end to anything, but rather an awakening.

The truth has been swept under the rug for too long...


Mini-quiz:
[self-investigation]

Do you think you haven’t been affected by the denigration of the Feminine? Read these statements, do they apply to you - yes or no?

• You feel guilty when you rest.
  
  
• You apologise for crying or showing upset emotion.
  
  
• In relationships, you bottle up your feelings.
  
  
• You have trouble asking for help or asking for something you want or need.
  
  
• How you look takes up more of your attention than how you feel
  e.g. how a relationship or job looks to people is more important than how it makes you feel inside.

Click below to finish the whole quiz and find out your results:
Have you been affected by the denigration of the feminine??



Links:

Article on Feminity
Shemiran Ibrahim, belly dancer and spiritual teacher, has beautifully wrote an article about the divine feminine. Check out her blog! Quote from her, "I believe much of the world-wide disconnect women have with their true beauty and power lies in our collective disconnect to all things Feminine."

Link to Shemiran's Home Page

Born Again Christianity

First off, I thought I would add my Testimony for God because I just saw that video about the 'Cardboard Testimonies' on youtube linked to someone's blog. I posted the video on here below as well - I really recommend checking it out. Here's what mine would be:



"Doormat >> Confidence and Strength in Christ"

"I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me."
(Phil. 4:13)

I've already told a few people about changes in my life, but many still don't know. I've become born-again in a way. Not the way most may think. No, it has nothing to do with sin or redemption because I don't believe in Christianity on those terms. I've basically re-emersed myself back into my Gnostic Christianity (see other post on 'Gnostic Christianity' under table of contents) earlier in this year after finally ending the abuse cycle I let happen to me for so long. I let the negative, dark people into my life who only sought to bring me down to boost their own ego. I've had a lot of unhealthy, abusive relationships for the past seven years.

Quick run down the list:

I had a manipulative ex-fiance who emotionally abused me. Several ex-boyfriends who lied to me, criticized me, belittled me, cheated on me, be physically aggressive with me hurting me, hold me down the bed so I can't move my arms or legs, used me as a stress reliever, objectified me, stole my bed and expensive electronics, became angry and violent and kicked me out in the middle of the night because I said I wouldn't take his last name in marriage, stood up because they were passed out drunk somewhere, treated like trash because of false assumptions, blamed his wife for not giving him sex and trying to use me as object, wham bam thank you mammed me, lied about a phony scam business and fact that they were $150,000+ in debt, lied to others and spread rumors about me... and a recent someone who I thought was a friend take advantage of me and who owned the misconception that I was a vulnerable person in need of his cheap, phony words and corny lines just to try and sleep with me and on top of it boost his ego for thinking he's 'doing me a favor'....

If you haven't guessed by now, I have a couple books in the making.
I've broken through all the tough things I've had to go through a stronger, more confident person. And more loving - to those who deserve it that is. Even with my past in the past, I've recorded everything and am writing about it all in the hopes someone can relate to all I've been through and maybe take my advice and learn from my mistakes.

I've learned to stay away from those kind of people that only hurt others and I've ironically found that all those people that hurt me in my past were either atheists, evolutionists, or satanists (quite literally)! I don't like to stereotype, but it's true in my case! There are lot of people who have no heart and lead cold, shameless lives.
I pity them and my heart hurts that people like that still walk amongst us, but they can no longer hurt me or use me - I don't allow it in my life.

I only surround myself with positive, faith-minded people who believe in and love God too. This is my change. Or my 'born-again' life if you will.

My heart used to be a part of the 'torn' chronicles. Not anymore.

I want to share something I learned recently:

1 Corinthians 6-7

In 6:12-20 Paul

.."Physical union should not take place outside of a “one flesh” (i.e. marriage) union."

Sex isn’t essential. You’re not less than human if you are a virgin. You’re not repressed if you wait until you’re married before sleeping with someone: you’re sensible! Jesus was born of a virgin, but he was also a virgin himself, while remaining a completely fulfilled and perfect human being. And sex is not just another experience to add to one’s collection. It’s not like going mountain climbing or sky-diving or bungee jumping – just another exciting way to spend a few hours, and nothing more. And sex is too important to just be an experiment. You don’t need to go “all the way” to know you’re sexually compatible with someone – if you’re a boy and they are a girl, and you’ve both got everything you’re supposed to have, then you’re compatible! It’s not exactly complicated.

There are better ways to express your love for someone you’re not married to. After all, it’s not very loving to have an unwanted pregnancy or a sexually transmitted disease or to make someone feel as if you just want them for their body. It is not loving to engage in any activity that displeases God. And sex is not entertainment. If you’re bored go to the cinema or play a computer game or go for a run – don’t misuse something as important as sex just for a bit of mindless fun. That would be like hiring a Rolls Royce car just to pick up some shopping – a waste, a misuse of something precious, something that is far more important if used properly. Other people’s bodies are not just toys for us to play with and then discard.


"Verily, verily, I say unto thee, except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God." John 3:3

Cardboard Testimonies Video:









"Beloved, let us love one another:
for love is of God;
and every one that loveth is born of God,
and knoweth God.
And we have known and believed
the love that God hath to us.
God is love;
and he that dwelleth in love
dwelleth in God,
and God in him."

I John 4:6,16