Templars Were NOT an Occult Society

French inquisitors accused the Templars of quite a few really weird religious practices (such as worshipping Baphomet, for example) and of being not as much secret (although it did have a totally secret component – Ark Templar – of which existence inquisitors had no clue) as secretive.

Hence, it is not surprising at all that at some point (albeit centuries after their demise), Knights Templar began to be perceived as a secret esoteric (if not outright occult) society dedicated to mystical knowledge and relics such as Holy Grail. Some esotericists even claimed that the latter was not a physical object at all, but a symbol of the secret knowledge that the Templars allegedly sought.

Reality – as if often happens – was nothing of the sort. First, Knights Templar were anything but secretive. Witness statements demonstrated that outsiders were regularly invited into Templar houses and chapels, and that the Templars were happy to chat, gossip or to engage in business just like other men.

Testimonies at their trials demonstrate that, far from being secretive, the Templars were in close contact with other parts of society and led a far more sociable existence than one might expect from monks.

Outsiders such as other members of the local community and servants could attend mass at the Temple churches and their chapels were open to the outsiders except during special occasions.

Contrary to charges against them, admission ceremonies to the order were anything but secret – they seem to have been joyful family celebrations (open to outsiders) rather than sinister occult occasions.

But the most powerful evidence that refutes the “occult” claim are the inventories of Templar possessions seized by King’s men on October 13th, 1307. As the Templars had no warning of their impending arrests or thorough searches of their living quarters, they had no time to hide or throw away anything.

To a great surprise of inquisitors, no occult/esoteric (or heretical) books, documents or objects (let alone idols) were found. None at all. There was no hint of any occult activities or pursuit of a secret/occult/esoteric knowledge or worship. All books & objects were surprisingly Catholic – and in excellent condition.

Which proves beyond the reasonable doubt that Templars were NOT an occult society, but a regular, Catholic, Christian, military-religious order. And the Ark Templar religion was a Unitarian (Arian) Christian heresy without a hint of any occult/esoteric influence (let alone component).