Talk:Cathars

There is a much better article under Albigensians that I plan to bring over here -- JHK

The two should be merged. The 1911 article on Albigensians is infected with the British variant of "medieval heretics were proto-protestants" problem - note paragraph 3 -- before the author explains (what little) is known about their beliefs, he sets them up as an anti-sacerdotal party protesting the corruption of the clergy. HMPH. The new article has its good points, but it suffers from a modern variant -- you know, "medieval heretics were proto-moderns", and thus we're told that the Cathars treated women as equals (though at least the author gives a good reason for it - the fact that they deprecated the real body). The evidence for 'equal treatment' is about as useful as the evidence for sacrificing babies - it comes from the inquisitorial processes, and has to be treated like all legal evidence. I think the explanation of what is known about Cathar theology isn't at all bad. --MichaelTinkler

I think you're right -- I was swayed a bit by the LeRoy Ladurie ref -- and the fact that this article is pretty weak... JHK

The article mentioned this was an outgrowth of neoplatonism, but shouldn't its similarity to gnosticism also be mentioned? Wesley 15:16 Dec 10, 2002 (UTC)

The Cathars originated with the followers of Novatian, and were originally excommunicated in 251. So the article starts off very badly. The movement was over a thousand years old when the CC exterminated it. the librarian

Is the text at the bottom: "Initial text from 1911 encyclopedia -- Please update as needed " still relevant???

kh7 Mar 23, 2003