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The Beautiful Cathars of Languedoc
The ideas of the beautiful Cathars of Languedoc spread all across western Europe,
Cathar comes from the Greek: καθαροί, katharoi, “the pure [ones],”
They built on the dualistic theology of Manichaenism
Which they blended with the eastern Christianity of Byzantium.
They were ascetic: believing that the material world was the evil realm of Satan
Whilst the world of the spirit was the beautiful realm of good God(s).
Within each individual this battle between Good and Evil was mirrored
This syncretic blend of religions denied the vengeful Jehovah of the Old Testament
And was anathema to the powerful in Rome who launched an Inquisition, the Aligensian Crusade.
This attempt at the genocide of an idea led to tens of thousands being massacred.
Simon de Montefort decreed than a hundred Cathars should have their eyes, lips and noses removed
A Cathar with one eye led them back to their village as a warning.
Cathars were strictly non-violent and this left them vulnerable to the hyper-violence of their age
From 1200 AD until 1250 AD thousands were burnt alive for refusing to recant or to take…
