The Mystical Foundations of the Knights Templar
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- čas přidán 18. 05. 2024
- The Knights Templar remain as fascinating and they are misrepresented in media, pseudo-history and conspiracy theories. Despite these distortions, the Templars do actually have at their foundations a kind of mystical constitution created by the Cistercian monk Bernard of Clairvaux. The Liber ad Milites Templi de Laude Novae Militiae (Book to the Knights of the Temple, in praise of the new knighthood) outlines the justification for Christian violence, why such a 'new knighthood' is needed and how that knighthood could attain mystical union with the divine despite spilling blood. The text also contains a mystical series of geographic meditation on sites within the Holy Land by which the Templar Knight could attain to holiness and the Divine Kiss. Bernard of Clairvaux's own contemplative mysticism of love is bound up with both the spiritual and physical warfare of these warrior monks.
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Recommended readings:
Bernard of Clairvaux: Selected Works - 978-0809129171
McGinn - The Growth of Mysticism: Gregory the Great Through the 12 Century - 978-0824516284
In Praise of the New Knighthood - 978-0879071202
Barber - The New Knighthood: A History of the Order of the Temple - 978-1107604735 & The Trial of the Templars 978-1107645769
The Templars: Selected Sources - 978-0719051104
Jones - The Templars: The Rise and Spectacular Fall of God's Holy Warriors - 978-0143108962
Esoterica Theme - Chopin's Nocturnes Op. 9 No. 1. (detail) - performed by @iximusic The exclusive rights of this recording are retained by Dr. Justin Sledge @TheEsotericaChannel
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Yes! I'm so excited you decided to do this. Will you do John Toland and associated people too? Adore me some pantheism.
Hey there Dr. Sledge, when you listen to black metal, do you avoid the Satanic bands or is it all a go for you?
@Esoterica you take a wilde guess here... there is much, much more nuance to what you tell in this lecture... Between the First Crusade and the Last Crusade... and the annihalation of the Knights Templar... there are many powers at work, all with it's own worldly benefits. The French King, The Portugese King, the Pope, even the Suise, and English .... it's a very complex matter.
1. Why has Suise still has a white cross over a red flagg? This flagg has alsoo different measures of all other standard measures.
2. Why had Portugal all together a nation of nothing immediatly after this supersion of the Knights Templar the knowledge to build up a sea nation, that knew how to progress arround Africa, to reach out to South America..
In short: why is Suisse (still a worldwide capital for all money, even Nazi's in de 1940's could store money over there, It's banner a reverse of the Knights Templar Symbol of arms, a white banner with a red cross) and second a nation that was not a nation and developed into a world power it basicly found the way around the world, even before Spain or Engeland ( the UK didn't exist!).
And, as far as I know, nobody can give a definite answer. The Kights Templars just disolved. Some where captured, convicted and killed, other flead. But nobody knows where they went. Some stayed in The East... some went to England. The rest is unknown... Hence the hollywood movies telling the Ark is in US custody, or The Presidents man protects national treasures and such... Good movies, but nowhere near the truth. It only serves US-nationalism. ;-)
I'll never understand why Hollywood has to make up boring stories while only comissioning the cheapest writers, when history already gives you all the most amazing stories you could ever wish for.
Because nobody would ever believe the real stories.
So many of these stories are just very very unknown. There are often fantastic works looking into the history of various groups and events that just didn't become popular and fell out of print before being lost to time.
Excellent point. Probably because they pay writer crap wages meanwhile stars get rich. You get what you pay for... writers with no sense of real history.
@@OublietteTight Or the writers are often just nepotism hires, like the guy who werote the script for multiverse of madness, it being his literal first story.
They don't want you to know the real history.
Gotta say Dr. Sledge. Was going over your early videos, you have grown far more comfortable with your "stage" presence in these videos and its just an absolute pleasure seeing your growth in this space.
Incidentally, "Bovine Diaper Filler" is the name of the folk metal album I'm writing about the Knights Templar's space war with the black cube wizards of Saturn.
*Hurdy-Gurdy Intensifies*
Don't forget to throw in the lizard folk of Canada and our missing socks❤
I recently got interested in Bernard of Clairvaux after finding out how influential he was on Martin Luther. I had no idea strangely of his connection to the Knights Templar! Also, I love when Dr. Sledge just randomly pulls out an ancient book from his collection. Talk about a flex :D
"Dr. Sledge" sounds like a hip-hop nickname! 😅
That is MY kind of sexy flex! "Look at this linen paper book" waves it around. I hear that and come running from the other room to gawk. 🤩
I’m here for the antique book show.
He was a huge player in the story of the Templars.
I’ve been listening to your channel for months. I came across it when the algorithm suggested it, probably because I got into more new age things? It’s been so interesting to learn the actual history, and your voice is so nice, it’s gotten me through a lot. Thank you!!
This channel is a GOLD mine, I solemnly vow to make a donation after finding the Templar's treasure.
(Thank you sanctions)
@@Erizon000 I'm from middle east, believe me you don't want to discourage me or I'll do a pilgrimage to reclaim the holy land instead of treasure hunting.
@@Yokar_mova1212 that went from 0 to Jihad really quickly lol
@@Yokar_mova1212you won’t
Dr Sledge, just to confirm that as promised I have sent you the link to my now marked MRes thesis where I reference your work and channel. Your knowledge and acumen provided me with the much-needed validation that my thinking and processing were worth pursuing academically. And now, I'm off to a PhD! Thank you, Matilde
The phrase "living martyr" is quite evocative
Right?
For the record don't approach the Knight Templars in Ravenloft. Nine times in ten, Strahd has already turned the grand master/grand collar into a thrall.
The knights Templar weren't in Ravenloft before but if I run Ravenloft they are ABSOLUTELY gonna be there now 😂
Great work. I enjoyed the extra humor in the episode. I'm looking forward to the catalog of books. Maybe a series on Bernard of Clairvaux in the future.
"The king of France you know basically eluding his debts by using the Inquisition to kill his creditors for being uh gay and and worshiping the devil" hahaha
Wonderful stuff, Dr. Sledge. Thanks. I'd love it if you took a deep dive (high ascent) into The Cloud of Unknowing sometime. That text shook me up in ways I'm still working out. Baptized, raised, and educated as a Catholic, I note that we were overdosed with doctrine, seasoned with a little church history, but almost completely starved of exposure to the considerable body of Catholic mystical texts.
Definitely Worth a deep dive, but only after pseudo-D
@@TheEsotericaChannel Ain't no D like pseudo-D.
One of my passions. Portugal templar monuments and essiteric symbolism is mind blowing. I would give anything to study this ! More plz!
Interestingly, they avoided persecution in Portugal. They just changed their name and moved on. I believe their successor organization still survives.
@@baarbacoa They became the Order of Christ and played a pivotal role in Portugal's development and also in it's Imperial expansion during the colonial era. Pedro Alvarez Cabral, the navigator responsible for the 1st Portuguese arrival in Brazil was a member of the Order of Christ.
Henri the Navigator was the Master of the Order at the time he organised the first voyages of the age of Discovery,@@marcelocouto213
@@baarbacoa my surname "Freire" is said to come from the templars in the north of Spain :)
So glad you got your music back. Thank you for all you do. ❤
Love to hear the Hildegard shoutouts
Love Hildegard people!!!
Digging out the CD with her music right now.
Not only a great video, but a beautiful new intro/outro recording!
Glad you like it! I think the outro music is really super nice!
Aaah I see the intro music is back! Yesss! :D
Yep, with a slight variation and now with outro music!
@@TheEsotericaChannel Great successs!
that one liner "that's just wilful stupidity pretending to be values all while failing to learn from the mistakes of the past" at the end is incredibly relevant today
Fantastic! This is about as good as it gets, this side of Umberto Eco's resurrection and his completion of sequels to both Name of the Rose and Foucaults Pendulum. Thank you thank you, thank you.
That moment when you're listening, and you begin to see Bernard's influence in the rhetoric and rationale of the War On Terror era you grew up in....
If this whole "history thing" doesn't work out, you definitely have a second career as a comedian. Reeling out that long list of drivel about the Templars was like George Carlin meets spiritual hogwash. So funny.
That's a helluva compliment :)
As a knight warrior dude for Christ, I wholeheartedly agree 😂
@@TheEsotericaChannelOccult comedy playlist/second channel when
@@TheEsotericaChannel great response! I loved this video. 😁
Don’t forget “Templar cozy” 😆
Fascinating to hear how one of the most enduring archetypes in European culture was formulated in one document trying to reconcile spiritual needs with material realities. Also, I had heard one of the motivations for the first crusade was to get the knights to be some other continent's problem, but I didn't realize how deep the Church's contempt for them was before this rehabilitation as holy warriors.
I don't always agree with everything you have to say but it's always interesting and I always laugh out loud. Greatly entertaining.
I don't even agree with everything I say
I found you because I was looking for a clearer picture of things like Alchemy, Hermeticism, and Gnosticism which I have been binge watching but I also thoroughly enjoyed this video. It has me curious about even more of the "weird" history that gets forgotten or twisted so I get the feeling I will be spending a lot of time on your channel and as nerdy as it sounds I'm super excited, thank you for taking the time to make this amazing content.
Yes, we ARE Hildegard people here! Rock and roll.
The perks of being one of the cool kids! Hit that like button cuz!
I am by no means a religious person, but I absolutely love the history and the depth in which religion has shaped our history as humans. Your channel as become an absolute pleasure to pine over and dive into. Thank you for what you do sir.
This very quickly became one of my top channels to watch. Awesome content.
I feared yet another one of my cherished childhood fantasies, The knight Templar's juicy mysteries ,to be rudely debunked by Dr.Sledge. Luckily It also contained an interesting talk about Bernard of Clairvaux's mystic side to ease the pain ;)
I ordered in praise of the new knighthood by Bernard of clairvaux after i saw the notification for this video. Thanks for doing this one. Knights Templar are so interesting that people will make stuff up just to talk about them. It's great to have the real thing!
Plus, the Order wasn't all knights, only a small percentage were actual knights I learned.
@@frankjimenez4601the Templars were guardians over the pharaohs treasure
Talk about timing! We just watched the WF? episode of The Knights Templar (One of the shows that debunks conspiracy theories) and now I have this pop up in my feed this morning! Another excellent presentation. I'm off to order one of those books. Much Peace from your friendly Third Order Franciscan!
Happy to hear that intro music again!!
Great video! The new version of the Chopin & outro are perfect!
You are a veritable scholarly Lenny Bruce, Dr. Sledge.
Holy order. Yes, I mean holy order.
Truly perfect comedic delivery. As foretold.
Out of all these great religion or religion-adjacent channels on CZcams, you definitely have the best sense of humor that you casually weave into your videos. Always keeps it engaging!
The notion of making war on evil in defense of the good holds an interesting resonance for me right now. The egyptian goddess Sekhmet has recently come to the center of my practice, and her driving force as "Lady of Slaughter" is to defend and uphold ma'at. It may be too much to wish for, but I dearly hope someday for a deep dive on any surviving texts about my beloved lioness-goddess! It is my understanding she even gets a mention among the spells of the Greek Magical Papyri. That her images are among the most prolific in ancient Egyptian art attests to her popularity, but accessible, scholarly material about her in English is woefully hard to come by.
Anyway-- Thank you for this refreshingly factual take on the Templar order! Keep up the amazing work, Dr. Sledge.
Finding books on Ma'at or any actual bronze age Egyptian thought that aren't potentially interesting Afro-centrist works in need of serious double checking was pretty much impossible last time I checked. Deities and afterlife stuff is relatively easy to find but too easy to misunderstand with modern context.
Modern contexts are fine for personal practice I guess but seeing old black and white photos of Golden Dawn members acting like Isis and Osiris were supposed to be some kind of achievable middle class nuclear family ideal seriously weirded me out.
Taking the Sekhmet-Hathor syncretism as some kind of hard encylopedia fact and not just a single myth in a tradition where all sorts of syncretisms are normal but not necessarily 100% definitive annoys me too. Almost as much as looking for sources on supposed Aphrodite syncretisms and finding that someone just made a guess 200 years ago. Which would be a valid guess if it didn't usually amount to classicists not bothering to actually study semetic religions.
Egyptian art has a massive survivor bias. Being common in stone statuary only shows popularity with people who can afford stone statuary, hence Bes being one of the most popular gods but hard to find larger expensive images of. The sheer length of Egyptian history can also massively distort things and make 1 statue every 100 years look like a lot of statues when actually its barely any. Bast seems really popular if you judge by some museum collections but those tend to be ones associated with digs at Bubastis and actually Bast was a really unpopular Egyptian goddess who just happened to have a single large temple that quietly stuck around for centuries.
So you believe Sekhmet exists?
@@AC-dk4fp I retract what I said about the impressive survival of her images; you are quite right. I am no archaeologist, and should probably keep my mouth shut about matters that I don't fully understand. And I agree, there is a frustrating profusion of 'academically disappointing' books out there on the subject. Developing and improving my sense of historical context will be important as I study and grow... but ultimately, this is a search to enhance my own life and practice: I'm neither a reconstructionist, nor looking to add my unqualified voice to legitimately academic discussion. I'm just a pagan on the hunt for good sources to help me deepen a personal connection. ^_^
You had me laughing out loud on my drive home from work. I appreciate your historical standup.
He would have made a perfect American lawyer twisting definitions.
I greatly appreciate your historical materialist approach to these topics, Dr. Sledge. It provides so much depth of understanding. (I also enjoyed your contribution to this mornings Societas Magica discussion - especially your comments on the academic publishing cartel...) Thank you for your work.
I loved that history of the templars at the beginning. "...and now the knights templar are off in Ravenloft, battling the undead." That line had me laughing like a lunatic! Great work, good sir. Your videos are an excellent blend of wit and history that are amoung the best content I have ever found on youtube. Keep up the wonderful work. Blessings of love, joy and enlightenment to you and yours.
Ah yes -- then there is Monty Python's "Pass the Holy hand grenade."
The socks part is however correct.
I’m glad you make your content. It’s nice to just get the cut and dry academic perspective (even though objectivity is kinda not possible) for people to be able to either just know and/or make their own assessments
Wonderfully done. Thank you. Respect for your scholarship. Love your humour. We need more channels like this.
Great to have you back. I stumbled with your channel and now i come back whenever i feel the need to have more obscure yet interesting knowledge of religion and mysticism. Thanks.
This maybe be one of your best episodes yet!
I came for a mystical breakdown of the Templars, but I stayed for the Ravenloft reference.
Fantastic dive!!! Thank you. Glad you have your music again.
Thank you for yet another fascinating episode of Esoterica
It has taken me four DAYS and multiple attempts to get through the first two minutes of this video. I keep laughing so long and hard that I need to stop. I'll expand my comment to something worthwhile after I finish the video, but for now just know that you, Dr. Sledge, have made my entire weekend.
What a lovely eloquent presentation. Thanks so much!
Absolutely love the new music, especially the outro
What an amazing video. Thank you so much, Dr. Justin. Bernard of Clairvaux was truly a great figure in the mystical and spiritual world. Thanks again!
This incredible video answered so many questions!
I’ve been a follower of your channel for awhile. It goes so well with my coffee after my morning prayers. Your historical humor is so niche and gratifying! And I swear you should have quotes on shirts as merch! There’s like 5 quotes in this video alone that should be on a shirt!
Oh HECK yes. Thank you for another great lesson!
Very interesting talk,
well researched and
well delivered!
I love your channel so very much. You are skilled at uncovering subjects that intrigue me. Well done sir.
Absolutely fascinating... Thank you Justin! 🙏
Excellent episode, thank you very much.
Tahnk you sir, please keep making these videos, I like hearing your reports
So glad you got your theme music back. I was about to request that you hum it.
The intro was hilarious, and I will definitely take the opportunity to learn more about Bernard of Clairvaux---thank you for providing those resources!
One of my favorite videos on this channel explores the Philosophy of Mysticism in dialogue with Richard Jones' book of the same name; considering that, any content this channel recommends to appreciate mysticism more deeply basically jumps to the top of of my reading list immediately.
There are interesting apparent parallels with the "holy warrior" attitudes you describe here and the bushido code of Samurai--- shout-out to the Paladins in the party on a campaign to kill evil itself. (On that note, "malicide"
is a metal term)
Happy Friday the 16th, and thank you for thought proviking content Dr. Justin Sledge!
Brilliant work! Love this channel! I just got my tshirt!!
My goodness what an intro. You have a special talent for summarizing and teasing your content.
Keep up the amazing work, Dr Sledge 👏⚒️
Bro the sleeping with the light on, ‘i wish i knew how to quit you’ bit killed me!😂
After traveling around Europe, it's amazing so many traces of the Templars still survive.
I metal detected several Templar sites when I lived in Ireland. Unfortunately, I never found the Holy Grail, (or any Templar relics) but I did find 5 hammered coins from the 1500’s.
Love your channel dude, I've seen like all your stuff. So much mystery in the world, what you provide is fuel for the imagination
19:51-19:55 I don't think I have ever commented. I love your content and your delivery. This little snippet slayed me. Come for the knowledge, stay for the slay.
Thank you for introducing me to the mysticism of Bernard of Clairvaux and the Knights Templar!
Your videos are absolute gems...they have been utterly indispensable to my learning process. The way you combine deep scholarship punctuated by well executed comedy/sarcasm are truly unique and make learning this complex subjects that much more enjoyable. I will definitely will be donating soon ❤
Thank you as always for the amazing work that you do!
As a very much not spiritual atheist myself, your videos are a great resource to combine with the classical studies of religion and philosophy. While I’m a firm atheist and architect by trade, it’s fascinating to see all these aspects of the human experience. May it be in history, releigion or spirituality. Fascinating. You have a great way of explaining a multitude of topics. All the while staying grounded in actual science/academia. Glad I now discovered your content.
Being an atheist is probably why I became interested in religion in the first place, it's fascinating to try to understand why people thought the way they did in past socities and in other cultures. I did after all grow up in a culturally christian society so that has undoubtedly influenced me and when I learn about different religions it helps me see beyond that. Plus it's fairly easy for me to learn about when I don't have a personal stake in it.
Ixi's intro music is gorgeous! great choice
Back when I studied medieval history, I remember learning the tripartite vision of knighthood -- warrior, lover, devout Christian. Bernard did a lot to solidify that third definition, although it was starting to creep in through literature of the era, albeit not as overtly monastic. The Templars are a fascinating order and an intriguing concept, which is what drives me to distraction with the ridiculousness of things like the DaVinci Code.
Thanks! I really appreciated and enjoyed your opening remarks about the commercial telling of history and specially about the Templars. I've done some reading on the Templars and knew that much of what I heard and read was inaccurate, to say the least. While not totally agreeing with what you said about some issues, I really do appreciate that you bring literacy and logic to your viewpoints. Please do more on Bernard.
I love learning about the knights Templar for some reason. This is the best vid I've come across about them.
An absolutley brilliant video ^_^ Thank you again! :D
Too damn dazzling. I believe you’ve inspired me to check out some of Bernard’s Mystical Union Sermons. So grateful for you Dr. Justin!
Thank you. I appreciate you ✨💯✨
Excellent!
Amazing point of view!
Thank you for another great episode. You tell those History Channel Loonies. Do you know of a book, in any language, of templars in Portugal? Thank you again Sir. Nice new tune too. Keep on rocking. 🤘
I don't know of any historically reliable ones.
As a Knights Templar I found this video and channel very fascinating.
Fascinating! Thanks man!🎉
Thank you, Dr. Sledge for continuing to encourage me to try learning Latin. Weirdly, this channel is a huge mine of things worth learning Latin for.
Very comprehensive. Thank you!
I see you got your opening music back! Congratulations!
I appreciate your work. Thanks!
"After waging a space war with the black cube wizard guy out by Saturn" 😂❤
Once again, fantastic video!
Love this so much. Need moar Bernard!!!
Thank you Rabbi for enlightening everyone on the Templars. This was an amazing topic you brought to my attention. i was unaware of Bernard. I totally agree with your last words. It definitely worth a read to contemplate basically the power of LOVE. Much love to you Rabbi.
Thanks for this piece and others related to Christian mysticism. I especially appreciate the suggested reading lists that you provide. Maybe it’s my age, but I love the Reading Rainbow-esque dare for us not to take you at your word but to read it for ourselves.
Another fascinating video
So well done
Well worth the time, subscribed 👍👍🖖
Monastic Decadence is my favorite LP from Clerical Necromantic Underground.
HAPPY FRIDAY DR SLEDGE
A wonderful rant, the most animated yet as I listen, clutching my pearls. Your enthusiasm is beyond academic interest, I am not a scholar but will check this guy out. Clint Eastwood maybe an echo of the KT in a Fist full of Dollars etc seeming to rise from his bloody deaths to sort out the bad guys and save the oppressed. Your humorous asides temper your intensity.