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.

[NotJustAnotherPrettyFace]

The Sword and the Grail: The Story of the Grail, the Templars and the True Discovery of America by Andrew Sinclair

The discovery of a tombstone built by his ancestors set Andrew Sinclair on a trail that was to lead to major reassessments, not only of our understanding of the discovery of America, but also of the origins of the Freemasons and their role in world history. Based on stunning new archaeological evidence, both in the US and in the UK, The Sword and the Grail details the part played by the Order of the Knights of the Templar-here proved to be the true antecedents of the Freemasons-in the discovery of America. As they fled the authorities who wished them destroyed, some of the outlawed Templars carried their treasure to St. Clair Castle, where the knights' relics are still buried. The tomb of their St. Clair Grand Master, with the grail carved on his stone, lies in Rosslyn, the core chapel of the Masonic movement. With the help of the sea skills and wealth of the Templars, the St. Clair Grand Master tried to found a new Jerusalem in the New World, landing with 300 colonists, first in what is now Nova Scotia and then in New England, more than 90 years before Columbus.

About the Author
Andrew Sinclair, a direct descendant of Prince Henry St. Clair, is a leading novelist, historian, and filmmaker and lives in London. He did graduate work at Harvard and Columbia before teaching at Cambridge and London. His books include biographies of Jack London, Warren Harding, and Che Guevera. His most recent work is the epic novel Blood and Kin.

[bert]

...as blasphemous....

Blasphemy is a construct of the Roman Catholic Church intended to quelch disagreement and to provide a baqsis for killing off a search for truth.

[NotJustAnotherPrettyFace]

The book I mentioned above goes into great detail regarding the Rosslyn Chapel and the Sinclair family's history.

[Cultural Jihad]

Thanks for the clarification. I apologize for assuming otherwise, FATC.

[CCWoody]

I'll try to be polite, your insulting tone notwithstanding. ~ Long Cut

Well, it is nice to be corrected by those who engage in emotional based argumentation.

On your side of this argument, the side opposed to Orthodox Christianity and opposed to the Lord, I have been labeled:
1. A one man Inquisition.
2. Called "anal"
3. etc.

In short, it would be nice if your side of the argument did a little more than try to be polite and a little less dependent upon emotionalism.

No, it is something else: a theory. It can, presumably, be proven or disproven by facts and observations of events and records. If the statement can be disproven by OTHER facts and observations, then do so, by all means. Simply calling it "blasphemy" however, misses the point. I presume that it also relieves you of the burden of providing proof that the statement is false, which I note that you have not. ~ Long Cut

Excuse me. First it was stated by your side of this argument that unless something was true then it could not possibly be taught. I shredded that bit of insanity quickly. Now, you are putting forth the idea that theories cannot be blasphemous. Excuse me while I get a good chuckle.


• Theory ~ A set of statements or principles devised to explain a group of facts or phenomena, especially one that has been repeatedly tested or is widely accepted and can be used to make predictions about natural phenomena.

Let's examine this blasphemous "theory" (from the back cover of the book):



• Is it possible Christ did not die on the cross?

• Is it possible Jesus was married, a father, and that his bloodline still exists?

According to the authors of this extraordinary provocative, meticulously researched book, not only are these things possible-they are probably true! So revolutionary, so original, so convincing, that the most faithful Christians will be moved;....

All I can say is wow. The mere fact that there are those from your side of the argument who have called such blasphemous screed fascinating and interesting leads me to believe that many on your side of the argument don't even believe the Bible.

If, Jesus did not die on the cross, then the Bible itself is a lie and anybody who believes that they can find any comfort in what it contains is a fool.



• 1 Corinthians 15 Moreover, brethren, I declare to you the gospel which I preached to you, which also you received and in which you stand, by which also you are saved, if you hold fast that word which I preached to you--unless you believed in vain. For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures,...

Quite obviously, if Christ did not die on the Cross, then He did not become the Propitiation for anybody's sins and there is no gospel. So, this blasphemous "theory" makes the gospel a lie and your faith vain foolishness. It turns the truth of God into a lie.


• 1 Corinthians 15 And if Christ is not risen, then our preaching is empty and your faith is also empty. Yes, and we are found false witnesses of God, because we have testified of God that He raised up Christ, whom He did not raise up--if in fact the dead do not rise. For if the dead do not rise, then Christ is not risen. And if Christ is not risen, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins! Then also those who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men the most pitiable.

"Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die!"

It is not. It could be offensive to one of the faithful, but that hardly constitutes blasphemy. It also does NOT invalidate the statement. ~ Long Cut

It is and I have proved it with direct statements from the Bible itself. It renders your faith empty and futile according the the Word of God, unless you want to now directly blasphemy God by calling Him a liar.

Unworthy of response. I can see that you are unwilling to discuss this with any degree of objectivity. Does one unproven hypothesis so shake your faith, that you attack it so? Refute it on the merits, use some facts, but please, spare us the Hellfire and Brimstone. It hardly contributes to the debate. ~ Long Cut

From the jacket cover of the book:

According to the authors of this extraordinary provocative, meticulously researched book, not only are these things possible-they are probably true! So revolutionary, so original, so convincing, that the most faithful Christians will be moved;....

I guess that the only logical conclusion is that this book has moved you. You don't even recognize blasphemy when you see it, but resort to emotional based arguments.

Woody.

[CCWoody]

I finally realized (for myself) that it's not just all about the Resurrection, but about His Life and His Teachings. ~ Velveeta

• 1 Corinthians 15 And if Christ is not risen, then our preaching is ~EMPTY~ and your faith is also ~EMPTY~. Yes, and we are found false witnesses of God, because we have testified of God that He raised up Christ, whom He did not raise up--if in fact the dead do not rise. For if the dead do not rise, then Christ is not risen. And if Christ is not risen, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins! Then also those who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men the most pitiable.

If Christ did not die on the cross, then He did not die for your sins and He was not raised from the dead. Your faith is empty and you are still dead in your sins.

Woody.

[CCWoody]

Nope. You just saw fit to throw in something hoping to trip me up. As you say, checking to see if I recognize basic Bibical doctrines. Guess I gotta establish my "Christian Street Cred" before I stick my head into one of these discussions, huh? ~ Green Knight

See my last 2 posts. If Christ did not die on the Cross, then you are still dead. I am merely testing the spirits to see if they are from God, just as the Bible commands.

Woody.

[CCWoody]

Woody, relax a little.... you're among friends and no one here is attacking Christianity. ~ Lloyd227

Anybody who denies that Christ died on the cross is not my friend.

Woody.

[CCWoody]

Well Woody, I have read this book and, although it's been several years ago and I could have a faulty memory, I certainly recall no such claim made by these authors. ~ Lloyd227

Found on the back cover of the book:


• Is it possible Christ did not die on the cross?
• Is it possible Jesus was married, a father, and that his bloodline still exists?

According to the authors of this extraordinary provocative, meticulously researched book, not only are these things possible-they are probably true! So revolutionary, so original, so convincing, that the most faithful Christians will be moved;....

Woody.

[CCWoody]

Blasphemy is a construct of the Roman Catholic Church intended to quelch disagreement and to provide a baqsis for killing off a search for truth. ~ bert

The Lord Jesus speaking (not the RCC):

"And so I tell you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven men, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven."

So much for your false theory that blasphemy is a construction of the Romanists.

Woody.

[FateAmenableToChange]

No worries. You just caught me in the middle of getting sniped for not ascribing to all the post 1300's KT global conspiracy theories.

[johnny7]

Correct... along with some nails of the crucifiction.

[RightWhale]

St. Louis bought from Latin Constantinople the crown, cross, spear, robe, sponge, and shroud in 1240. Where are they now?

[RightWhale]

the Pathans won't rest until they own Jerusalem outright.

Lots of different groups have owned Jerusalem over the years. When the Mongols owned it they were destroyed by the Muslims, who possibly saved Europe from invasion. The remianing Mongols stayed on in the ME and blended into the population. Is Mongol ancestry still present in the ME?

[curmudgeonII]

What you said - I'd already said more than most people care to read. You York or Scottish?

44 years York Rite [Past Commander, Illustrious Master,current High Priest, belong to York Rite College, charter memeber of the latest Allied Masonic Degrees council, etc.] 6 Years Scottish Rite.

[Ciexyz]

The Sword and the Grail, by Andrew Sinclair (Post #201)

Thanks for the info on this book and the link to Amazon.com, I added it to my Amazon wish list.

[Oberon]

When the Mongols owned it they were destroyed by the Muslims, who possibly saved Europe from invasion.

You mean, when they weren't trying to invade it themselves... =]

[RightWhale]

when they weren't trying to invade it themselves

Good they considered Europe a primitive, barbarian, backwater region of earth with no redeemable values, or they probably would have.

[chilepepper]

Eventually, as all non-monarchical powers, they were deemed a threat by the French monarchy, and Philippe le Bel had the Order suppressed in the 1300s, burning alive Jacques DeMolay, the head of the Order in France. (That's where the Order of DeMolay comes from today.)

The evil French king made his move against the Templars on Friday the 13th, which is where the superstitions circling that date come from...

[Velveeta]

"Your faith is empty and you are still dead in your sins." ~Woody

~Velveeta~ pinching self (needles and pins, needles and pins)

Ouch, Woody....please don't ever presume that you have the first bit of knowledge about my faith.

Woody, are you quoting to me from the newly revised Bible? No, I guess you wouldn't be since the VATICAN SCHOLARS are still working on it and have not finished re-writing it yet.

It will be *fascinating and interesting* to see which revelations make it into the revised copy.

Vatican scholars prepare to rewrite the Bible

http://books.guardian.co.uk/news/articles/0,6109,550132,00.html