Cathars clearly regarded themselves as good Christians, since that is exactly what they called themselves. On the surface, their basic beliefs seem unremarkable. Most people would have difficulty in distinguishing the principle Cathar beliefs from what are now regarded as convential orthodox Christian beliefs. However, pursuing their fundamental beliefs to their logical conclusion revealed surprising implications, (for example that Roman Catholics were mistakenly following a Satanic god rather than the beneficent god worshipped by the Cathars.)
Like the earliest Christians, the Cathars recognised no priesthood. They did however distinguish between ordinary believers (Credentes) and a smaller, inner circle of leaders initiated in secret knowledge, known at the time as boni homines, Bonneshommes or "Goodmen" , now generally refered to as the Elect or as Parfaits . Cathars had a Church hierarchy and a number of rites and ceremonies. They believed in reincarnation, and in heaven, but not in hell as it is now normally conceived by mainstream Christians
|
The Cathar view was that their theology was older than that of the Roman Church and that the Roman Church had corrupted its own scripture, invented new doctrine and abandoned the beliefs and practices of the Early Church. The Catholic view, of course was exactly the opposite. But in addition to accusing the Cathars of faulty theology, they imagined a range abominable practices which would have been amusing exept that, converted into propaganda, they led to the death of countless thousands through the Cathar Crusades and the Inquisition. The Roman Church seemed to have successfully exterpated Cathars and Cathar beliefs by the early fourteenth century, but the truth is more complicated. For one thing, modern historians have shown that many Catholic claims were false, while they have vindicated many cathar claims; and there is a case that the Cathar legacy is more influential today than has been at any time over the last seven hunded years. | Anotated English translations of primary documents: Canon
Three of the Fourth Lateran Council (1215) Accusations
against the Albigensians by Raynaldus (13th C) The
Cathar Right of Baptism by the Holy Spirit |
