Freemasonry Main article: Knights Templar (Freemasonry) Since at least the 18th century, Freemasonry has incorporated Templar symbols and rituals in a number of Masonic bodies,[5] most notably, the Order of the Temple the final order joined in The United Religious, Military and Masonic Orders of the Temple and of St John of Jerusalem, Palestine, Rhodes and Malta commonly known as the Knights Templar. One theory of the origins of Freemasonry claims direct descent from the historical Knights Templar through its final fourteenth-century members who took refuge in Scotland whose King, Robert the Bruce was excommunicated by the Roman Catholic Church at the time, or in Portugal where the order changed its name to Knights of Christ, other members having joined Knights of St. John. There have even been claims that some of the Templars who made it to Scotland contributed to the Scots victory at Bannockburn. This theory is usually deprecated on grounds of lack of evidence, by both Masonic authorities[88] and historians.[89] The Roman Catholic Church has historically opposed Freemasonry since it began to emerge, under the belief that the group is a Secret Society and has a deeply hidden agenda that opposes the church and its beliefs. Members of the Church found to be Freemasons were, in the early 20th century, commonly excommunicated. This has often led to the misguided belief that the Church somehow also opposed the Knights Templar, however the Church makes distinction between the Templars, a public monastic order, and Secret Societies. Excommunication as an action taken against Catholics who were found to be Freemasons was lifted by Pope John Paul II in the 1980s however, in the same Papal Bull, he reiterated his predecessors strong opposition to Freemasonry, stating that any person who is involved in a secret society and takes communion is putting their soul in grave danger.
Posted on: Fri, 13 Jun 2014 12:43:05 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015