The Mystical Foundations of the Knights Templar

[@TheEsotericaChannel]

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[@She_Nanigans]

Yes! I'm so excited you decided to do this. Will you do John Toland and associated people too? Adore me some pantheism.

[@chonesman123]

Hey there Dr. Sledge, when you listen to black metal, do you avoid the Satanic bands or is it all a go for you?

[@MrXeCute]

@Esoterica you take a wilde guess here... there is much, much more nuance to what you tell in this lecture... Between the First Crusade and the Last Crusade... and the annihalation of the Knights Templar... there are many powers at work, all with it's own worldly benefits. The French King, The Portugese King, the Pope, even the Suise, and English .... it's a very complex matter. 1. Why has Suise still has a white cross over a red flagg? This flagg has alsoo different measures of all other standard measures. 2. Why had Portugal all together a nation of nothing immediatly after this supersion of the Knights Templar the knowledge to build up a sea nation, that knew how to progress arround Africa, to reach out to South America.. In short: why is Suisse (still a worldwide capital for all money, even Nazi's in de 1940's could store money over there, It's banner a reverse of the Knights Templar Symbol of arms, a white banner with a red cross) and second a nation that was not a nation and developed into a world power it basicly found the way around the world, even before Spain or Engeland ( the UK didn't exist!). And, as far as I know, nobody can give a definite answer. The Kights Templars just disolved. Some where captured, convicted and killed, other flead. But nobody knows where they went. Some stayed in The East... some went to England. The rest is unknown... Hence the hollywood movies telling the Ark is in US custody, or The Presidents man protects national treasures and such... Good movies, but nowhere near the truth. It only serves US-nationalism. ;-)

[@danielelliott95]

Got my shirt yesterday and it's one of the best made and most comfortable in my collection

[@threeten22]

Gotta say Dr. Sledge. Was going over your early videos, you have grown far more comfortable with your "stage" presence in these videos and its just an absolute pleasure seeing your growth in this space.

[@AtunSheiFilms]

Incidentally, "Bovine Diaper Filler" is the name of the folk metal album I'm writing about the Knights Templar's space war with the black cube wizards of Saturn.

[@TheEsotericaChannel]

*Hurdy-Gurdy Intensifies*

[@Bildgesmythe]

Don't forget to throw in the lizard folk of Canada and our missing socks❤

[@lindasue8719]

​@@TheEsotericaChannel🤣

[@lindasue8719]

​@@Bildgesmytheare you implying that we lizard folk have something to do with your missing socks? 😁

[@Yokar_mova1212]

This channel is a GOLD mine, I solemnly vow to make a donation after finding the Templar's treasure. (Thank you sanctions)

[@Yokar_mova1212]

@@Erizon000 I'm from middle east, believe me you don't want to discourage me or I'll do a pilgrimage to reclaim the holy land instead of treasure hunting.

[@theeccentrictripper3863]

@@Yokar_mova1212 that went from 0 to Jihad really quickly lol

[@DGB120]

@@Yokar_mova1212you won’t

[@Yokar_mova1212]

@pepperchaun2184 Can't a man be ironic?

[@voloswife]

I’ve been listening to your channel for months. I came across it when the algorithm suggested it, probably because I got into more new age things? It’s been so interesting to learn the actual history, and your voice is so nice, it’s gotten me through a lot. Thank you!!

[@michaelo5665]

His voice is truly one of the best anti anxiety meds at my disposal. I'm running out of episodes though....😢

[@mtomat007]

Dr Sledge, just to confirm that as promised I have sent you the link to my now marked MRes thesis where I reference your work and channel. Your knowledge and acumen provided me with the much-needed validation that my thinking and processing were worth pursuing academically. And now, I'm off to a PhD! Thank you, Matilde

[@TempehLiberation]

I recently got interested in Bernard of Clairvaux after finding out how influential he was on Martin Luther. I had no idea strangely of his connection to the Knights Templar! Also, I love when Dr. Sledge just randomly pulls out an ancient book from his collection. Talk about a flex :D

[@OublietteTight]

"Dr. Sledge" sounds like a hip-hop nickname! 😅

[@cuervojones4889]

That is MY kind of sexy flex! "Look at this linen paper book" waves it around. I hear that and come running from the other room to gawk. 🤩

[@davieboy3814]

I’m here for the antique book show.

[@swiftcee266]

He was a huge player in the story of the Templars.

[@roseannerainwatersmith12]

So glad you got your music back. Thank you for all you do. ❤

[@James-wg2qm]

Great work. I enjoyed the extra humor in the episode. I'm looking forward to the catalog of books. Maybe a series on Bernard of Clairvaux in the future.

[@johnnoonan4775]

"The king of France you know basically eluding his debts by using the Inquisition to kill his creditors for being uh gay and and worshiping the devil" hahaha

[@clockworkgnome]

Not only a great video, but a beautiful new intro/outro recording!

[@TheEsotericaChannel]

Glad you like it! I think the outro music is really super nice!

[@thescoobymike]

Out of all these great religion or religion-adjacent channels on KZbin, you definitely have the best sense of humor that you casually weave into your videos. Always keeps it engaging!

[@tylerwarwick7975]

I found you because I was looking for a clearer picture of things like Alchemy, Hermeticism, and Gnosticism which I have been binge watching but I also thoroughly enjoyed this video. It has me curious about even more of the "weird" history that gets forgotten or twisted so I get the feeling I will be spending a lot of time on your channel and as nerdy as it sounds I'm super excited, thank you for taking the time to make this amazing content.

[@OfTheVoid]

This very quickly became one of my top channels to watch. Awesome content.

[@nicolesawyer-jm6ir]

One of my passions. Portugal templar monuments and essiteric symbolism is mind blowing. I would give anything to study this ! More plz!

[@baarbacoa]

Interestingly, they avoided persecution in Portugal. They just changed their name and moved on. I believe their successor organization still survives.

[@marcelocouto213]

@@baarbacoa They became the Order of Christ and played a pivotal role in Portugal's development and also in it's Imperial expansion during the colonial era. Pedro Alvarez Cabral, the navigator responsible for the 1st Portuguese arrival in Brazil was a member of the Order of Christ.

[@martinrea8548]

Henri the Navigator was the Master of the Order at the time he organised the first voyages of the age of Discovery,@@marcelocouto213

[@dariogarciafreire8015]

@@baarbacoa my surname "Freire" is said to come from the templars in the north of Spain :)

[@oole0111]

@@marcelocouto213 Their influence on Brazil was immense, shoul've been on the video

[@mythosboy]

Fantastic! This is about as good as it gets, this side of Umberto Eco's resurrection and his completion of sequels to both Name of the Rose and Foucaults Pendulum. Thank you thank you, thank you.

[@grahammeyer-kv4wl]

I loved that history of the templars at the beginning. "...and now the knights templar are off in Ravenloft, battling the undead." That line had me laughing like a lunatic! Great work, good sir. Your videos are an excellent blend of wit and history that are amoung the best content I have ever found on youtube. Keep up the wonderful work. Blessings of love, joy and enlightenment to you and yours.

[@jazztrombone]

Love to hear the Hildegard shoutouts

[@aimeemorgado8715]

Love Hildegard people!!! Digging out the CD with her music right now.

[@josephnardone1250]

Thanks! I really appreciated and enjoyed your opening remarks about the commercial telling of history and specially about the Templars. I've done some reading on the Templars and knew that much of what I heard and read was inaccurate, to say the least. While not totally agreeing with what you said about some issues, I really do appreciate that you bring literacy and logic to your viewpoints. Please do more on Bernard.

[@misterOphilies]

I greatly appreciate your historical materialist approach to these topics, Dr. Sledge. It provides so much depth of understanding. (I also enjoyed your contribution to this mornings Societas Magica discussion - especially your comments on the academic publishing cartel...) Thank you for your work.

[@grizzerotwofour7858]

The phrase "living martyr" is quite evocative

[@TheEsotericaChannel]

Right?

[@AdeebaZamaan]

Thanks! 🪩

[@gmccaughry]

Aaah I see the intro music is back! Yesss! :D

[@TheEsotericaChannel]

Yep, with a slight variation and now with outro music!

[@gmccaughry]

@@TheEsotericaChannel Great successs!

[@bobblehead67]

Wonderful stuff, Dr. Sledge. Thanks. I'd love it if you took a deep dive (high ascent) into The Cloud of Unknowing sometime. That text shook me up in ways I'm still working out. Baptized, raised, and educated as a Catholic, I note that we were overdosed with doctrine, seasoned with a little church history, but almost completely starved of exposure to the considerable body of Catholic mystical texts.

[@TheEsotericaChannel]

Definitely Worth a deep dive, but only after pseudo-D

[@bobblehead67]

@@TheEsotericaChannel Ain't no D like pseudo-D.

[@CareyKuhlmey-qj5vi]

As a female descendant of a known Templar Knight, this extended my knowledge of the sect considerably. Thank you.

[@petegdula4749]

Talk about timing! We just watched the WF? episode of The Knights Templar (One of the shows that debunks conspiracy theories) and now I have this pop up in my feed this morning! Another excellent presentation. I'm off to order one of those books. Much Peace from your friendly Third Order Franciscan!

[@jessecatrainham6957]

The notion of making war on evil in defense of the good holds an interesting resonance for me right now. The egyptian goddess Sekhmet has recently come to the center of my practice, and her driving force as "Lady of Slaughter" is to defend and uphold ma'at. It may be too much to wish for, but I dearly hope someday for a deep dive on any surviving texts about my beloved lioness-goddess! It is my understanding she even gets a mention among the spells of the Greek Magical Papyri. That her images are among the most prolific in ancient Egyptian art attests to her popularity, but accessible, scholarly material about her in English is woefully hard to come by. Anyway-- Thank you for this refreshingly factual take on the Templar order! Keep up the amazing work, Dr. Sledge.

[@AC-dk4fp]

Finding books on Ma'at or any actual bronze age Egyptian thought that aren't potentially interesting Afro-centrist works in need of serious double checking was pretty much impossible last time I checked. Deities and afterlife stuff is relatively easy to find but too easy to misunderstand with modern context. Modern contexts are fine for personal practice I guess but seeing old black and white photos of Golden Dawn members acting like Isis and Osiris were supposed to be some kind of achievable middle class nuclear family ideal seriously weirded me out. Taking the Sekhmet-Hathor syncretism as some kind of hard encylopedia fact and not just a single myth in a tradition where all sorts of syncretisms are normal but not necessarily 100% definitive annoys me too. Almost as much as looking for sources on supposed Aphrodite syncretisms and finding that someone just made a guess 200 years ago. Which would be a valid guess if it didn't usually amount to classicists not bothering to actually study semetic religions. Egyptian art has a massive survivor bias. Being common in stone statuary only shows popularity with people who can afford stone statuary, hence Bes being one of the most popular gods but hard to find larger expensive images of. The sheer length of Egyptian history can also massively distort things and make 1 statue every 100 years look like a lot of statues when actually its barely any. Bast seems really popular if you judge by some museum collections but those tend to be ones associated with digs at Bubastis and actually Bast was a really unpopular Egyptian goddess who just happened to have a single large temple that quietly stuck around for centuries.

[@mrgame97]

So you believe Sekhmet exists?

[@jessecatrainham6957]

@@AC-dk4fp I retract what I said about the impressive survival of her images; you are quite right. I am no archaeologist, and should probably keep my mouth shut about matters that I don't fully understand. And I agree, there is a frustrating profusion of 'academically disappointing' books out there on the subject. Developing and improving my sense of historical context will be important as I study and grow... but ultimately, this is a search to enhance my own life and practice: I'm neither a reconstructionist, nor looking to add my unqualified voice to legitimately academic discussion. I'm just a pagan on the hunt for good sources to help me deepen a personal connection. ^_^

[@gnarlantlers70]

I ordered in praise of the new knighthood by Bernard of clairvaux after i saw the notification for this video. Thanks for doing this one. Knights Templar are so interesting that people will make stuff up just to talk about them. It's great to have the real thing!

[@frankjimenez4601]

Plus, the Order wasn't all knights, only a small percentage were actual knights I learned.

[@maggiemae7539]

@@frankjimenez4601the Templars were guardians over the pharaohs treasure

[@gabba-hey]

Fascinating to hear how one of the most enduring archetypes in European culture was formulated in one document trying to reconcile spiritual needs with material realities. Also, I had heard one of the motivations for the first crusade was to get the knights to be some other continent's problem, but I didn't realize how deep the Church's contempt for them was before this rehabilitation as holy warriors.

[@thomasfields2082]

I don't always agree with everything you have to say but it's always interesting and I always laugh out loud. Greatly entertaining.

[@TheEsotericaChannel]

I don't even agree with everything I say

[@dafost3r]

Wonderfully done. Thank you. Respect for your scholarship. Love your humour. We need more channels like this.

[@sanfordschoolfield710]

Thanks

[@CrazyPablo44]

Great video! The new version of the Chopin & outro are perfect! You are a veritable scholarly Lenny Bruce, Dr. Sledge.

[@masterc338]

Thanks!

[@davepayne2024]

You had me laughing out loud on my drive home from work. I appreciate your historical standup.

[@VoidTower_]

Happy to hear that intro music again!!

[@NerdishNature]

As a very much not spiritual atheist myself, your videos are a great resource to combine with the classical studies of religion and philosophy. While I’m a firm atheist and architect by trade, it’s fascinating to see all these aspects of the human experience. May it be in history, releigion or spirituality. Fascinating. You have a great way of explaining a multitude of topics. All the while staying grounded in actual science/academia. Glad I now discovered your content.

[@hedgehog3180]

Being an atheist is probably why I became interested in religion in the first place, it's fascinating to try to understand why people thought the way they did in past socities and in other cultures. I did after all grow up in a culturally christian society so that has undoubtedly influenced me and when I learn about different religions it helps me see beyond that. Plus it's fairly easy for me to learn about when I don't have a personal stake in it.

[@bordenfleetwood5773]

It has taken me four DAYS and multiple attempts to get through the first two minutes of this video. I keep laughing so long and hard that I need to stop. I'll expand my comment to something worthwhile after I finish the video, but for now just know that you, Dr. Sledge, have made my entire weekend.

[@sisteroflilith5302]

19:51-19:55 I don't think I have ever commented. I love your content and your delivery. This little snippet slayed me. Come for the knowledge, stay for the slay.

[@marykayryan7891]

If this whole "history thing" doesn't work out, you definitely have a second career as a comedian. Reeling out that long list of drivel about the Templars was like George Carlin meets spiritual hogwash. So funny.

[@TheEsotericaChannel]

That's a helluva compliment :)

[@databattlesz]

As a knight warrior dude for Christ, I wholeheartedly agree 😂

[@NevisYsbryd]

​@@TheEsotericaChannelOccult comedy playlist/second channel when

[@3eees]

@@TheEsotericaChannel great response! I loved this video. 😁

[@bretrohde7300]

Don’t forget “Templar cozy” 😆

[@geraldmeehan8942]

Thank you for yet another fascinating episode of Esoterica

[@Humorless_Wokescold]

For the record don't approach the Knight Templars in Ravenloft. Nine times in ten, Strahd has already turned the grand master/grand collar into a thrall.

[@pitchforksdragon1252]

The knights Templar weren't in Ravenloft before but if I run Ravenloft they are ABSOLUTELY gonna be there now 😂

[@theaetherium]

I’m glad you make your content. It’s nice to just get the cut and dry academic perspective (even though objectivity is kinda not possible) for people to be able to either just know and/or make their own assessments

[@albertortiz5277]

Great to have you back. I stumbled with your channel and now i come back whenever i feel the need to have more obscure yet interesting knowledge of religion and mysticism. Thanks.

[@Victorwater]

What an amazing video. Thank you so much, Dr. Justin. Bernard of Clairvaux was truly a great figure in the mystical and spiritual world. Thanks again!

[@kahlinn8460]

I am by no means a religious person, but I absolutely love the history and the depth in which religion has shaped our history as humans. Your channel as become an absolute pleasure to pine over and dive into. Thank you for what you do sir.

[@lolaloliepop]

that one liner "that's just wilful stupidity pretending to be values all while failing to learn from the mistakes of the past" at the end is incredibly relevant today

[@Gates9]

Separating the wheat from the chaff, as always. Benedicite!

[@neophytedubious]

The intro was hilarious, and I will definitely take the opportunity to learn more about Bernard of Clairvaux---thank you for providing those resources! One of my favorite videos on this channel explores the Philosophy of Mysticism in dialogue with Richard Jones' book of the same name; considering that, any content this channel recommends to appreciate mysticism more deeply basically jumps to the top of of my reading list immediately. There are interesting apparent parallels with the "holy warrior" attitudes you describe here and the bushido code of Samurai--- shout-out to the Paladins in the party on a campaign to kill evil itself. (On that note, "malicide" is a metal term) Happy Friday the 16th, and thank you for thought proviking content Dr. Justin Sledge!

[@laceybug2524]

sorry if this is weird but i watch this video every night to fall asleep and it helps so much. i’ve been watching your channel and been falling asleep to videos for a while now but for some reason i sleep the best with this video

[@xiana.6322]

Very comprehensive. Thank you!

[@stehfreejesseah7893]

This maybe be one of your best episodes yet!

[@Bildgesmythe]

Absolutely love the new music, especially the outro

[@infinitumneo840]

I appreciate your work. Thanks!

[@spiritualanarchist8162]

I feared yet another one of my cherished childhood fantasies, The knight Templar's juicy mysteries ,to be rudely debunked by Dr.Sledge. Luckily It also contained an interesting talk about Bernard of Clairvaux's mystic side to ease the pain ;)

[@jonathanmichaeldavis4405]

I’ve been a follower of your channel for awhile. It goes so well with my coffee after my morning prayers. Your historical humor is so niche and gratifying! And I swear you should have quotes on shirts as merch! There’s like 5 quotes in this video alone that should be on a shirt!

[@hannahberg3251]

Thank you for introducing me to the mysticism of Bernard of Clairvaux and the Knights Templar!

[@naomiseraphina9718]

Yes, we ARE Hildegard people here! Rock and roll.

[@geezerdude4873]

Ah yes -- then there is Monty Python's "Pass the Holy hand grenade."

[@jamesmihalcik1310]

Fantastic dive!!! Thank you. Glad you have your music again.

[@QUIRK1019]

My goodness what an intro. You have a special talent for summarizing and teasing your content.

[@junkequation]

I love learning about the knights Templar for some reason. This is the best vid I've come across about them.

[@ponyote]

Holy order. Yes, I mean holy order. Truly perfect comedic delivery. As foretold.

[@stephanieparker1250]

So glad you got your theme music back. I was about to request that you hum it.

[@locochingadero]

What a lovely eloquent presentation. Thanks so much!

[@blackhossproductions]

Oh HECK yes. Thank you for another great lesson!

[@matt_cummins28]

Excellent episode, thank you very much.

[@MrSomethingElse]

The perks of being one of the cool kids! Hit that like button cuz!

[@jbaquinones]

Thank you for another great episode. You tell those History Channel Loonies. Do you know of a book, in any language, of templars in Portugal? Thank you again Sir. Nice new tune too. Keep on rocking. 🤘

[@TheEsotericaChannel]

I don't know of any historically reliable ones.

[@williammartinactor]

Too damn dazzling. I believe you’ve inspired me to check out some of Bernard’s Mystical Union Sermons. So grateful for you Dr. Justin!

[@fourthsoul8713]

This is by far my favorite channel ever.

[@ogma107]

Thanks for this piece and others related to Christian mysticism. I especially appreciate the suggested reading lists that you provide. Maybe it’s my age, but I love the Reading Rainbow-esque dare for us not to take you at your word but to read it for ourselves.

[@pedroarroyo345]

Your videos are absolute gems...they have been utterly indispensable to my learning process. The way you combine deep scholarship punctuated by well executed comedy/sarcasm are truly unique and make learning this complex subjects that much more enjoyable. I will definitely will be donating soon ❤

[@AzraNoxx]

Thank you, Dr. Sledge for continuing to encourage me to try learning Latin. Weirdly, this channel is a huge mine of things worth learning Latin for.

[@edward2175]

A wonderful rant, the most animated yet as I listen, clutching my pearls. Your enthusiasm is beyond academic interest, I am not a scholar but will check this guy out. Clint Eastwood maybe an echo of the KT in a Fist full of Dollars etc seeming to rise from his bloody deaths to sort out the bad guys and save the oppressed. Your humorous asides temper your intensity.

[@borisbadinov7757]

I love your channel so very much. You are skilled at uncovering subjects that intrigue me. Well done sir.

[@bennevelynt4718]

Love your channel dude, I've seen like all your stuff. So much mystery in the world, what you provide is fuel for the imagination

[@beepbow8444]

This incredible video answered so many questions!

[@caclaxton66]

Absolutely fascinating... Thank you Justin! 🙏

[@MonsterPainter]

I so love your sober and thoughtful examination of these subjects that are utterly plagued by the wackadoodle.

[@randallpetroelje3913]

Love ya dear sir that expounding upon many subjects I hold dear; some are just out of curiosity. Your knowledge is to counterpart to the library . Thank you kindly.

[@flopimus]

U make the journey through epistemology fun Dr. Sledge! Gezundheit!

[@forcelightningcable9639]

35:26 this has been my struggle with reading Adam Smith. His casual racism requires a maturity that I still labor to muster.

[@israeltovar3513]

The first 1:22 were the best brainstorm for videogames, comic books, movies, novels, and music videos ever...

[@the_Maenad]

The socks part is however correct.

[@tee_riggles_b6114]

Thank you Rabbi for enlightening everyone on the Templars. This was an amazing topic you brought to my attention. i was unaware of Bernard. I totally agree with your last words. It definitely worth a read to contemplate basically the power of LOVE. Much love to you Rabbi.

[@mehryaarvid]

Wonderful content, what’s fascinating for me, is that these mystic concepts, especially emphasis on the pure love towards the divine,is almost exactly what you find in the Sufi tradition and other similar near East mysticism. Probably best expressed in the Persian classic pottery, like the works of Rumi, and Hafez

[@aaron6178]

Magnificent work, Doc. Well done. It's so good to have found your channel.

[@zakofthenorth2587]

Genius intro ser.. I appreciate everything you do. Cheers

[@thescoobymike]

15:12 oh this is fascinating to me! Where can I learn more about Ulfila’s thoughts and considerations he had in doing his translation?

[@TheMarkRich]

He would have made a perfect American lawyer twisting definitions.

[@christopherjcarson]

Very interesting talk, well researched and well delivered!

[@pentagrammaton6793]

I came for a mystical breakdown of the Templars, but I stayed for the Ravenloft reference.

[@tannershipman7406]

I definitely enjoy listening to your videos! I’m always learning something new each episode. And I’m always willing to talk Freemasons with you.

[@Harlemworldboy]

As a Knights Templar I found this video and channel very fascinating.

[@waltersstreet]

Debunking pseudohistory and misinformation?! Outstanding! Much obliged, good sir. Proceed.

[@annhenry6056]

Brilliant work! Love this channel! I just got my tshirt!!

[@s1nningjezus207]

"After waging a space war with the black cube wizard guy out by Saturn" 😂❤

[@makeitlastify]

Tahnk you sir, please keep making these videos, I like hearing your reports

[@angusmacdonald7187]

Back when I studied medieval history, I remember learning the tripartite vision of knighthood -- warrior, lover, devout Christian. Bernard did a lot to solidify that third definition, although it was starting to creep in through literature of the era, albeit not as overtly monastic. The Templars are a fascinating order and an intriguing concept, which is what drives me to distraction with the ridiculousness of things like the DaVinci Code.

[@jbaquinones]

Thanks for another great episode. Do you know of any books on Templars in Portugal? Like the new tune. Keep on rocking. 🤘🤘🤘

[@cthulhupr]

For the record: there are not many, but some studies of the relations of cistercian and templar spirituality in cirstercian scholarly journals like "Citeaux" in french and in spanish. Generally excellent. Anglophone research is just about everything you have stated here .