Knights Templar to use latest imaging in search for Grail

New Zealand Herald ^ | 01/06/03 | The Independent (?)

[mgstarr]

For centuries the intricately carved stones of Rosslyn Chapel near Edinburgh have tantalised historians, archaeologists and devoted Christians.

A labyrinth of vaults beneath the 15th-century home of the Knights Templar is reputed to contain dozens of holy relics, including early gospels, the Ark of the Covenant, the fabled Holy Grail - and even the mummified head of Christ.

More than 550 years after the first foundation stones were laid, modern technology is about to put the legend to the test.

A group of Knights Templar, successors to the warrior monks who sought asylum from the Pope by fleeing to Scotland in the early 14th century and fought for Robert the Bruce at Bannockburn, are to make a "non-invasive" survey of the land around the chapel.

They will use the latest ultrasound and thermal imaging technology in the hope of finding evidence of the existence of the vaults.

"The plan is to investigate the land around the chapel to a depth of at least 20ft," said John Ritchie, Grand Herald and spokesman for the Knights Templar.

"The machine we are using is the most sophisticated anywhere and is capable of taking readings from the ground up to a mile deep without disturbing any of the land.

"We know many of the Knights are buried in the grounds and there are many references to buried vaults, which we hope this project will finally uncover."Rosslyn Chapel, or the Collegiate Chapel of St Matthew as it was to have been, was founded in 1446 by Sir William St Clair, third and last Prince of Orkney.

Built as a celebration of Christ, it is also a monument to craftsmanship.

Bristling with flying buttresses and gargoyles in the highest Gothic style on the outside, the interior is carved with scenes from the Bible, the fall of man, the expulsion from the Garden of Eden, the birth of Christ, the crucifixion and the resurrection.

"Rosslyn is an amazing building.

[Velveeta]

Self-professed Prieure de Sion expert, Paul Smith has recently written an article of his findings that the POS was a hoax. His research over the years has been quite convincing.

I must admit to having an addictive fascination for the whole saga since reading Holy Blood, Holy Grail many years ago. The *sacred geometry* leaves me amazed as well.

For anyone who may be interested, you can read Paul's article here:

http://mailbox.univie.ac.at/~muehleb9/renneslechateau.html

[Velveeta]

Green Knight, who had no idea he had a "Lurker Following"

Pssst...Green Knight lurker fan reporting for duty ;)

[dalebert]

Thanks.

[CCWoody]

Hey Woody - have you read the book in question? Or are you labeling it blasphemy based on what someone else has told you about it? ~ Notforprophet

What is blasphemy is the assertion that Christ did not die for anybody's sins and that Christ was not raised from the dead. I have yet to see anybody deny that this book made such assertions.

Woody.

[CCWoody]

So far on this thread, some posters get accused of being Mormans and Atheists. ~ agincourt1415

I never accused you of being a Mormon. I said that what you said was like a Mormon. That is entirely different.

Woody.

[Green Knight]

You're not helping. ;-)

[Atchafalaya]

You mean the Beldar Conehead family from that small village in France. I'll be darned.

[CCWoody]

Ah. I'm "strutting for the lurkers". I see. Well, if that's your only counter-argument then feel free to stick with it. ~ Green Knight

Evidently I missed the part where you were actually making an argument. That is, unless you want to maintain that "well they were historians so they aren't blasphemers" is your argument. If so, then I will be happy to shred such prattle.

Woody.

[Notforprophet]

Nice dodge, but did you read the book, or not?

[Green Knight]

Doesn't blasphemy imply that when a person does it it's purposeful? Just looked up the definition and it says "contemptuous or irreverent speech about God". I don't think these historians are being contemptuous about God when they say what they say. Some of them undoubtedly are, I have no doubt. Plenty out there who'd like to somehow DISPROVE the Bible. But others are just trying to get the facts as clearly as possible. How does that make them blasphemers?

Seems there really IS no point in arguing this with you, though. If you want to make a mountain out of a molehill and keep labelling historians as blasphemers, be my guest. Who am I to stand in the way of a perfectly good auto-da-fe'?

- Green Knight, playing to the lurkers, as always

[mhking]

[CCWoody]

Nice dodge, but did you read the book, or not? ~ Notforprophet

No dodge! I labeled individual statements that have yet to be refuted as blasphemous, not the book itself. Perhaps you might wish to defend those statements.

Woody.

[John Locke]

What is blasphemy is the assertion that Christ did not die for anybody's sins and that Christ was not raised from the dead. I have yet to see anybody deny that this book made such assertions.

I have read the book, cover to cover, and hereby deny that it makes any such assertions.

I would also rather be called a blasphemer than a man who accused others of mortal sin without first according them the elementary courtesy of reading what they have written.

[Notforprophet]

Okay - from my recollection of the book, the authors make no specific claims regarding the crucifixion and resurrection of Christ. Specifically, they claim that Christ was married to Mary Magdalene (citing the wedding feast at Cana, the resurrection of Lazarus, and other evidence) and fathered children by her. They leave the question of Christs death open to interpretation.

So I've answered your question - be fair, and answer mine. Have you read the book, Holy Blood, Holy Grail or not? Thus far you've refused to answer that very basic question.

[B-Chan]

Total Crock Alert FYI, your god no more exists than does that of the islamocrazies

How do you know?

[oldtimer]

Hey Pal, if it hadn't been for the Freemasons, we would have a very British accent now instead of 16 American Presidents who were Masons.

[B-Chan]

Unless there's indisputable proof that he was resurrected (And face it, there isn't. Why else is it called "Faith"?), then no serious historian will ever claim that he was resurrected.

That's weird. Serious historians agree that Socrates of Athens existed, but I have yet to see any "indisputable proof" of that fact.

What exactly is "indisputable proof", anyway?

[Notforprophet]

I would also rather be called a blasphemer than a man who accused others of mortal sin without first according them the elementary courtesy of reading what they have written.

Well said, John Locke. (I should hardly be surprised...)

[CCWoody]

Who am I to stand in the way of a perfectly good auto-da-fe'? ~ Green Kinght

I'm not part of the Inquisition. But, I am still amused about your mind numbed prattle to the lurkers.

CCWoody: Blasphemy is blasphemy.
Green Knight: You forgot about the occupational excemption.
CCWoody: Wonderfully intelligent argument.

Doesn't blasphemy imply that when a person does it it's purposeful? Just looked up the definition and it says "contemptuous or irreverent speech about God". I don't think these historians are being contemptuous about God when they say what they say. ~ Green Knight

Well, gosh, even granting your silly assertion about purpose, are you now going to argue that when a historian says "Jesus did not die for anybody's sins" he really didn't purpose to say exactly what he said?

historian: Well, God, you see, this is how it is: I really didn't intend to blasphemy You when I said that Your Son didn't die for anybody's sins and You didn't raise Him from the dead so can I have that get into Heaven card now?

Woody.

P.S. The wicked are estranged from the womb; they go astray as soon as they are born, speaking lies.

[Xenalyte]

Hey Pal, if it hadn't been for the Freemasons, we would have a very British accent now instead of 16 American Presidents who were Masons.

I'm not saying one bad thing about Masons - one of my posts discloses that my daddy is a Mason, and I was a Rainbow Girl when I was coming up. Masons, like Shriners, do wonderful things for this troubled world.

So are you York Rite or Scottish Rite?

(BTW, I'm a chick.)