The Knights Templar

The Knights Templar: Influences from the Past and Impulses for the Future

“It is becoming more and more important to add truth to the plethora of distortion that surrounds the Knights Templar. The Order’s spiritual legacy therefore needs voices that make conscious the impulse they carried, and to show how these impulses have reappeared and metamorphosed in later times, and how they continue to be of pressing relevance today in all spheres of life—from spirituality and the arts to politics and the worlds of banking, commerce, and business.” (from the introduction)

The beginning of the Templar Order is shrouded in mystery. Little is known about its foundation, inner workings, or its rapid growth. Such a lack of knowledge can lead to all sorts of speculation and, at times, bizarre theories. This book—the result of a conference on the theme at Emerson College in England—offers new, well-grounded perspectives that utilize both esoteric and exoteric sources. From varying perspectives, the contributors tackle key questions relating to the formation of the Templar Order, as well as its goals and intentions. The authors explore the spiritual and historical background of the Knights Templar, as well as the Order’s significance today and its continuing impulse for the future. With its broad scope, this stimulating anthology encourages independent, open-minded inquiry and research.

The Knights Templar features contributions from Peter Tradowsky, Gil McHattie, Horst Biehl, Margaret Jonas, Rolf Speckner, Sylvia Francke, Simon Cade-Williams, Jaap van der Haar, Alfred Kon, David Lenker, Peter Snow, Christine Gruwez, Frans Lutters, Walter Johannes Stein, and Siegfried Rudel.

C O N T E N T S:

Preface by Gil McHattie

THE PAST

Peter Tradowsky: The Templars as Knights of Christ and the Opposing Forces
Gil McHattie: The Link between the Order of the Knights Templar and the Early Cistercian Order
Horst Biehl: The Knights Templar in Britain
Margaret Jonas: The Knights Templars and the Grail
Rolf Speckner: The Temple of Solomon and the Knights Templar
Sylvia Francke: The Knights Templar, Shipley, and the Mission of Albion
Simon Cade-Williams: Bound with Gold: Jacques de Molay and King Philip the Fair (a play)

THE PRESENT

Jaap van der Haar: Finding Inspiration in the Twenty-first Century through the Wisdom of the Knights Templar
Rolf Speckner: The Knights Templar and their Meaning for the Twenty-first Century
Alfred Kon: Knighthood’s Contribution to Future Spirituality
David Lenker: Templar Courage Comes of Age

ADDITIONAL MATEIRALS

Peter Snow: Rosslyn Chapel and the Sephirotic Tree
Christine Gruwez: The Contemporary Relevance of the Message of Mani
Walter Johannes Stein: What is Happening in the World Today?
Siegfried Rudel: An Observation / Meditation Exercise

Gil McHattie spent many years as a deputy head teacher in a school for children and young people with special needs. She then undertook training’s in counseling and in facilitation of biography group work at the Center for Social Development. She lectures and leads workshops on various themes and has a lifelong interest in ancient and medieval history. She is especially interested in the figure of Bernard of Clairvaux.