What the History Channel Leaves Out With the Crusades (News/Vanity)

Absolutely! If the Coptics had been treated right, they would have never surrendered Egypt to the muslims.

Wrong. How does that explain the Islamic conquest of Chalcedonian North Africa then? The Empire was militarily exhausted. Even with the help of the Copts, they would have been defeated by the Muslims. And as long as we're telling both sides of the story, the Monophysites did just as much persecuting as the Chalcedonians--if not more--when bishoprics or patriarchal sees fell under their control, or on the rare occasions when a Monophysite became emperor (see the reign of Anastasius).

I have a Greek Orthodox friend who has nothing good to say about the Crusaders and their motives.

Of course not. The Crusaders were, by-and-large, ill-used by the Byzantine Emperors. They were treated like barbarian mercenaries who were to do the Emperor's bidding and not expect anything in return. Both sides viewed each other as potential back-stabbers. Promises were broken by both sides. By 1200, they were openly at swords' points with each other.

The truth is, as with any large mass movement, some Crusaders were in it for noble reasons (win back the Christian Levant, make the place safe for pilgrims, halt the Islamic advance), others for more base reasons (personal wealth, acquisition of kingdoms). As for the Byzantines, they too had mixed motives. They had been asking for Western help against Islam and when they got it, they immediately realized how dangerous it was to their own precarious position. This led to double-dealing, refusal of assistance, and barely suppressed relief when Crusader armies were annihilated in Asia Minor.

That's very true, but even with the depletion of the Byzantine imperial forces, the local Syrian and Egyptian militias should've been more than adequate to fend off the Muslims if they were inclined to do so.

What evidence do you have for the existence of such militias? Over and over again during the 6th and 7th centuries, the Persians invaded the Byzantine east and were completely unopposed unless an Imperial army happened to be in the area. The theme system hadn't been set up by the 630s. The provinces were simply incapable of defending themselves against an invading host--even a small one--without assistance from Constantinople.

"How does something that happened well before the advent of the USA become a hit piece on the USA?"

It does when they describe a supposed Crusader massacre of a supposed innocent town as a "campaign of shock and awe."

I could see this one coming a mile away. All kidding aside, this agit-prop causes untold damage to society.

Excellent historical summation of which the History Channel conveniently omitted last night.
I hope you will email the History Channel.

Semper Fi,
Kelly

Post of the day -- need a Kleenex to mop my tears of laughter!

Great Article!

Here is the future History of what became of the Knights Templars

The Old New Age, Session 2
Title: Mystery Religions and Secret Societies
Go to index of Fox Ventures Study Notes & Articles

Mystery Religions
1. The word "mystery" comes from Greek word meaning "one who keeps quiet"
a. implies an "initiate," a person introduced to the secret rites of a mystery.

2. Mystery religions & secret societies
a. Existed in Babylon, Egypt, India, Persia, Rome, Greece and many other
countries
b. Typically polytheistic (worshiping more than one god)
c. Some were pantheistic (embracing the gods of all religions)
d. Most were esoteric (secret truths reserved for adepts or priests)
e. Typically:
i. restricted membership
ii. required secret initiation ceremonies
iii. promised spiritual benefits to their members.
iv. initiates sworn to secrecy & allegiance
f. Many had 2 sets of doctrines:
i. public doctrine
(1) was socially acceptable, gave the group good public image
(2) lured initiates
ii. secret/esoteric doctrine
(1) real purpose for the society
(2) As initiates qualify for higher levels in the secret society, they
were gradually introduced to the esoteric doctrine.

3. Gen 3:1-6
Now the serpent was more crafty than any of the wild animals the Lord God had
made. He said to the woman, "Did God really say, 'You must not eat from any tree in
the garden'?"
The woman said to the serpent, "We may eat fruit from the trees in the garden,
but God did say, 'You must not eat fruit from the tree that is in the middle of the
garden, and you must not touch it, or you will die.'"
"You will not surely die," the serpent said to the woman. "For God knows that
when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good
and evil."
When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to
the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it. She also gave
some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it.

a. Key points of Satan's approach:
i. question God's word or his motive.
ii. take responsibility for yourself, instead of submitting to God; this leads
to disobedience.
iii. elevate or exalt yourself by gaining knowledge and/or power.
b. Every human has a desire for a god-like state
i. wants to be in control in life.
ii. wants to achieve a higher state.
iii. "religion" has been defined as man's attempt to reach God or become
like God.
c. These are the same lures used by mystery religions & secret societies.

Babylonian Religion

1. Bible always portrays Babylon as evil, both religiously & morally.

2. Religious beliefs
a. Changes in nature and events of people's lives are determined by events
occurring among the gods.
i. Babylonians never rejected any earlier gods, so they acknowledged
thousands of gods -- definitely polytheistic.
b. Heavenly bodies represented the gods.
c. Scientifically observed the sky, to identify actions of the gods.
d. Prayed to various gods believed to be in control.
e. Practiced magic.
f. This combination soon led to astrology.

3. Astrology
a. People practice astrology to gain power through their knowledge of heavenly
events:
i. reduce impact of "bad" event.
ii. increase benefit of "good" event.
b. Same lures as used by Satan in Eden:
i. question the gods' motives (plural); some gods were kind, some were
evil/harmful.
ii. take responsibility for yourself; don't be a victim of circumstances.
iii. improve your situation by gaining knowledge; power results from using
knowledge for own benefit.

Cabalism

1. Cabalism originated with oral occult traditions of a minority of Jews in ancient
Palestine and Egypt.
a. It gave occult counter-explanations of prophetic revelations and an occult
interpretation of Israel's history.
b. It interprets scriptures in an esoteric and symbolic sense, reading its own
doctrines into the Torah.
c. The word, cabala, comes from a Hebrew word meaning "that which is
received."
2. It views humanity as the result of divine sparks settling over matter
a. Implies the potential for humans to be liberated either through a messianic
redemption or through individual gnosis.
b. same basic concept
i. question God's words or motives; reinterpret scripture, prophetic
revelations.
ii. take responsibility for yourself, your own liberation.
iii. knowledge is vital; knowledge gives you power to achieve liberation.
3. Golden age of cabalism from the thirteenth through the fifteenth centuries
a. Very strong in Palestine, Germany, France and Spain.
b. Was esoteric movement from the twelfth century until the expulsion of the Jews
from Spain in 1492.
4. Cabalism was an occult counterattack against the Old Testament; the occult
counterattack against the New Testament was Gnosticism.

Gnosticism

1. Gnostic groups were the first significant secret societies formed after Christ's
resurrection.
a. Had varying degrees of initiation and the highest level, or inner circle,
worshiped Lucifer.
b. gnosis: Gk "knowledge"
2. Primary beliefs
a. God's two sons: the older was Satanael or Lucifer (Bible: Satan), and the
younger was Jesus.
i. Satan rebelled against God and was ejected from heaven, so he created
the physical universe patterned after the spiritual one.
ii. Jesus came to earth to show men the way to heaven, but he was
ineffective against Satan and his mission was a failure.
iii. Because of this, Gnosticism included a profound hatred of Jesus and his
teachings.
b. Satan is the creator and god of this world, and is all-powerful, so he should be
worshiped.
c. Universe consists of two states.
i. The real world of earth and flesh -- created by Satan.
(1) considered corrupt and imperfect
(2) could only be known through the senses.
ii. The ideal world was the realm of God
(1) could only be approached through gnosis.
iii. Strict separation between these two worlds.
d. Divine Spark
i. Only selected individuals have a divine spark imprisoned in their
physical bodies.
(1) Through gnosis, liberate divine spark from the evil physical
world and be united with the Supreme Being.
(2) Only way to attain salvation.
ii. Remainder of humanity has no divine spark.
(1) Bound to physical body.
(2) No hope for salvation.
e. Initiates chosen only from those with divine spark.
3. All gnostic groups offer knowledge, and in a form or degree found only in their
teaching.
a. The lowest forms of gnosticism offer knowledge related simply to power and
secrets of the future.
b. The highest forms offer knowledge related to abstract speculation on such topics
as how good and evil came into the world.
4. The Gnostics were a closed society.
a. They carried engraved stones or other proofs of initiation
b. Used passwords and secret handshakes to identify themselves.
5. Same basic concepts:
a. question God's Word
i. reinterpret it based on gnostic doctrine.
ii. have to add to God's Word to get the "truth."
b. take responsibility for yourself; responsible for your own liberation from evil
world.
c. knowledge is root of gnosticism; the key that secures liberation.

Knights Templar

Twelfth century:
1. Several groups of knights formed military orders
a. Goals included protection of Christian pilgrims in Holy Land.
b. Vows of poverty, chastity & obedience.
c. Chartered by the Pope, subject to no one else.
2. Poor Knights of Christ, one such group
a. Founded in 1119 by French knights
b. Specific goals:
i. protect the Holy Sepulcher
ii. protect pilgrims
iii. fight the infidel
c. King of Jerusalem gave them a house on site of Temple of Solomon
i. They became known as Knights of the Temple, or Knights Templar.
d. Military order
i. Secret initiation rite, including vow to never retreat & vow of absolute
obedience.
ii. Most initiates were European nobles.
(1) Considered honorable for a noble to risk his life defending Holy
City, take vow of poverty, etc.
(2) Ranks grew rapidly during 13th century.
e. Material wealth
i. Properties & moneys donated to the Order as rewards for their exploits.
ii. Began conducting business activities: security deposits for national
rulers, money transfers to finance military operations in Middle East,
and so on.
iii. Individual knights, vow of poverty; but Order became extremely
wealthy.
iv. By late 13th century, had 20,000 members & owned 9000 valuable
properties in Europe & Middle East.
3. Knights Templar deteriorated
a. Strongly influenced by Gnostics & an Arab sect called the Assassins.
b. Adopted religious beliefs of gnosticism.
c. Order's focus shifted
i. Already had strong, closed Order.
(1) international membership; offices located all over Europe &
Middle East.
(2) rigid military discipline; not subject to local laws.
ii. Specialized in secrecy: military actions, financial transactions.
iii. Incorporated occult beliefs & practices.
iv. Arena changed from Middle East to the world.
d. Templars became the first large-scale attempt to use wealth & occult practices to
control the world.
4. 1307
a. Pope ordered the Templars to relocate their headquarters from Jerusalem to
France.
b. Later that year, after Templars relocated, King of France arrested all Templars
in France & subjected them to years of torture & trials.
i. Probably jealous of their wealth & independence.
ii. Charged Templars with heresy, idolatry, homosexuality.
c. King persuaded Pope in 1312 to abolish the Order.
d. In 1314, King had Templar Grand Master, Jacques de Molay, burned at the
stake.
e. Surviving Templars went into hiding.
i. Used their existing network to help individual knights.
ii. Already had system of secrecy, including passwords & handshakes.
iii. Became a secret order to help individual knights survive.
f. Not only forsaken, also persecuted by Church & governments; became strongly
opposed to Christian church & civil government.

Rosicrucians

1. Surviving Knights Templar either founded or merged with a secret order
a. Order of the Rose-Croix, or Rosicrucians.
b. Mystic sect that adopted the esoteric structure, rituals & goals of the Templars.
c. A continuation of Knights Templar without military & business responsibilities.
d. Goal: establish what they called a New World Order.
2. Needed to enlist more people to accomplish their goal
a. Took on outer appearance of benevolent organization of good works.
b. Continued occult traditions in secret.
i. Two doctrines: one public, one esoteric; just like gnosticism.
c. In 1640's, Rosicrucians infiltrated the stone mason guilds of Europe.
d. Retained existing 3 categories of stone masons, added several layers above them
with Rosicrucians filling the higher levels.
e. Maintained dual doctrines:
i. Publicly & to initiates, organization of masons dedicated to good works.
ii. Secretly, higher ranks:
(1) specialized in occult practices
(2) worshiped Lucifer,
(3) developed their plan for a New World Order.
f. Birth of Freemasonry.

Freemasonry

1. High gear.
a. To speed their progress, formed an ultra-secret order from the highest degrees
of Masonic order:
i. the Illuminati, or "enlightened ones."
(1) Remember: in esoteric groups, adepts were considered
enlightened; access to "true" knowledge, translates into power.
ii. specific goal: abolish Christianity, overturn all civil governments.
iii. Ironic: gained support of Christian leaders by representing itself as a
Christian organization working to unify the world for Christ.
b. Formed alliance between higher degrees of Freemasonry and Rothschild
banking network; about 1780.
i. Gave Masonic Order & Illuminati financial means to advance world
goals.
c. Illuminati was exposed within 10 years & disbanded.
d. Masonic Order continues.
2. In America
a. In late 1700's, Freemasonry gaining power in America.
b. Many founding fathers were Masons.
c. Masonic order extremely influential in politics, successful in placing Masons in
highest levels of government.
d. In 1800's, America became world headquarters of Masonic Order.
3. Albert Pike (American)
a. A 33rd degree Mason (highest degree attainable).
b. At one time, was head of all the Masonic organizations.
c. Wrote a "bible" of Freemasonry, Morals and Dogma, in 1871; latest edition
1966?
i. Traces the spread of secret society religions from ancient Babylon to the
Masonic Order.
ii. Claims Masonic Order is latest in succession of occult orders that have
guarded this ancient knowledge.
(1) In other words, its members are enlightened by esoteric
knowledge.
iii. Considers Cabalism & Gnosticism very important, roots of modern
Masonic rituals & beliefs.
iv. Quoting Pike, Morals and Dogma: Masonry, like all the religions, all
the mysteries ... conceals its secrets from all except the adepts and sages
or the elect, and uses false explanations and misinterpretations of its
symbols to mislead those who deserve only to be misled, to conceal the
Truth, which it calls Light, from them, and to draw them away from it.
v. Masonic Order is esoteric, uses deception to hide real meanings of its
symbols.
4. Henry Clausen (American)
a. 33rd degree
b. until recently the Sovereign Grand Master of Freemasonry, the leader of all
Freemasons in the United States
c. wrote in his book Emergence of the Mystical: Today we are at the threshold of a
new era. All signs point to this fact.... We look toward a transformation into a
New Age using, however, the insight and wisdom of the ancient mystics ... and
the mysticism of Eastern religions.
d. Idea of New Age based on ancient mysticism of Eastern religions.
e. Notice:
i. Pike compared Masonry to all religions;
ii. Clausen anticipated New Age based on Eastern religions.
iii. Masonic Order definitely is religious, in spite of its denials.
5. Manly P. Hall (American)
a. 33rd degree
b. in his book Lost Keys of Freemasonry (1931) reveals the real god of Masonry:
When a Mason learns that the Key ... is the proper application of the dynamo of
living power ... the seething energies of Lucifer are in his hands and before he
may step onward and upward, he must prove his ability to properly apply this
energy.
6. Lucifer is the real god of Masonry
a. Lower degrees have rigid policy of religious tolerance
b. Higher degrees increasingly occult
c. Highest degrees are Luciferic; worship of Lucifer and none other.
7. Masonic Order is secretly & intensely occultic, but instead of publicly promoting occult
practices, spawned Theosophical Society in 1875.

Theosophical Society

1. Influence of Freemasonry on Theosophical Society
a. Books studying history of Theosophical Society show that each theosophical
center was founded by members of the Masonic Order.
b. Doctrines taught by both organizations are virtually identical.
c. Masonic Order not officially responsible for founding Theosophical Society, but
Masons intimately involved since it was formed.
2. Purposes of Theosophical Society
a. form a nucleus of a universal brotherhood of humanity
b. study ancient and modern religions, philosophies & sciences
c. investigate the unexplained laws of nature and man's latent psychical powers.
d. "Theosophy" comes from Gk word theosophia, "divine wisdom."
3. Success
a. Theosophical Society has been major vehicle for bringing occult wisdom of the
ancients & the East into 20th century Western civilization.
b. Legitimately considered the forerunner of the New Age movement in the U.S.
i. hundreds of New Age cults, religions, organizations have sprung from
it.
c. Theosophist Alice Bailey
i. Extensive writings, based on revelations from two spirit entities.
ii. Founded the Arcane School in 1923 to promote the teachings of her
spirit guides.
(1) Graduates of Arcane School are the elite of the New Age.
iii. At direction of her spirit guides, she founded the Lucis Trust, World
Goodwill and Triangles.

Lucis Trust

1. Originally incorporated as the Lucifer Publishing Company
a. Publishes & promotes writings of Alice Bailey.
b. Reorganized as Lucis Trust — more acceptable name.
c. Now oversees Lucis Publishing Company, World Goodwill, Arcane, School,
Triangles, Lucis Trust Libraries, Radio Lucis.
2. Extremely powerful
a. Lucis Trust defines its purpose as establishing a New World Order.
b. Closely linked with the UN.
i. Until recently was headquartered at United Nations Plaza in NY.
c. Over 6000 active members including Robert McNamara, Donald Regan, Arther
Burns, Henry Kissinger, David Rockefeller, James Baker, Paul Volcker, James
Schlesinger, Harold Brown, George Schultz
i. leadership of U.S. government, Federal Reserve, World Bank.
ii. power & money
d. Extremely occultic, but operates behind facade of love & goodwill.
3. World Goodwill
a. Works closely with UN.
b. Political lobby.
c. Goal: promote New World Order and New International Economic Order (both
terms appear frequently in UN publications).
d. UN is actively working on both NWO & NIEO.

Point Out:
1. New World Order & New International Economic Order eventually will require a
world government & world monetary system.
2. These have been goals of esoteric societies at least since Middle Ages.
a. These groups have developed & promoted their plans very successfully.
b. Based on worship of Lucifer, occult rites & practices.
c. Today there exists a Constitution of the Federation of Earth and a World
Parliament.
d. Parliament has passed legislation on range of topics from ecology to economies.
e. Has not become official world government because needs more nations to ratify
its constitution.
f. Effects of world government:
i. loss of national sovereignty
ii. loss of leadership's accountability to constituents -- no elections
iii. new layer of taxes on top of federal, state, local.

It's been a long while since I've read this history. Long while meaning I was in high school. In any event, here's the first link that came up on Google:

Greek colonists in the Middle East always formed a local militia when needed. In the last challenge to Greek rule, there were no Greek local militias available. They were killed in the last Persian war. Not only were the Byzantines exhausted, but their native troops deserted or turned against them. They were also without their local Greek auxiliaries.⁴

Native troops cannot desert or betray if they don't exist.......

⁴[Yarmuq - ]Alfred Guillaume, op. cit. p.19

Bump for a later read/history reminder.

Oh, I forgot to include the actual link in that last post..

bookmark bump

Greek colonists in the Middle East always formed a local militia when needed. In the last challenge to Greek rule, there were no Greek local militias available. They were killed in the last Persian war. Not only were the Byzantines exhausted, but their native troops deserted or turned against them. They were also without their local Greek auxiliaries.

I'm afraid this doesn't do much for me, considering some of the shoddy writing elsewhere in this article. Here's an example:

"...The local Christians had to struggle for the acceptance of their monotheism. The large majority of local Christians belonged to one of the Southern Christian churches, Nestorians or Monophysites. Their dogmas were far from the official Christian creed, which attempted to prove that three is equal to one. Indeed, the Monophysites violently opposed the official creed."

This is simply dead wrong. The Monophysites were trinitarian. Where they differed with the Chacedonians was that they assigned only a single nature to Christ, whereas the Chalcedonians (and the Orthodox and Catholics today) ascribe two natures to Christ--True God and True man.

At any rate, I'll need to see a primary source confirming this--not the writings of some internet crank with his own pet theories.

The History Channel had it on tonight, was supposed to start yesterday (Sunday)not sure what happened, but part 2 was tonight.

Oh, and btw, the aforementioned crank also wrote this in his article:

"There is no doubt that the Arab conquest was fast, decisive and extraordinary in its extent. However, to give it its due, it should be called liberation and not conquest."

Who exactly were the Islamics liberating? Perhaps this guy writes for the History Channel today...

Thanks. These threads are why FR is so great!

Well, you're right. So much for that!

I don't have a primary source to give you. What I know is that I had an inexplicable fascination with the Byzantine Empire back in my teens and read several big fat books about it, from Constantine the Great to Constantine XI Paleologus. I was especially intrigued by the Arab conquests of the 7th century and by the Fourth Crusade. My remark (and the exerpt I linked to, notwithstanding the tangential drivel about Monophysites & "liberation") was consistent with my recollection of what I read.

Oh, and you are incorrect about that thema system. It was set up by Emperor Heraclius in the 610s as a response to the invasions by the Persians. Heraclius has always intrigued me more than any other Byzantine emperor except Julian the Apostate. With Julian, I can't help but wonder how the course of history would've been altered if he'd ruled for, say, 45 years. With Heraclius, it's tragic how he pulled the Empire out of its death throes and stood at the very peak of triumph, only to see it all crumble around him in the final years.

But in any case, the thema system was introduced in the 610s. Look it up!

To be very clear though, I do concede that my recollection may be faulty (and that particular source is impeached enough that I wouldn't rely on it either). I am curious to take a look at the cited source if I can track it down, or the source that I know I was thinking of before. The parts I was remembering involved the pathetic initial concession of Egypt BTW.