02-21-2025, 12:33 AM
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Planar Protector
Join Date: Dec 2021
Posts: 5,898
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Trexller
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This is what the world needs in 2025
Templar Knights with Iron Man suits
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Quote:
The Templar Knights, formally known as the Poor Fellow-Soldiers of Christ and of the Temple of Solomon, were a medieval Christian military order founded in 1119. Their beliefs were deeply rooted in the religious and cultural context of the 12th and 13th centuries, and some of them would indeed seem unusual or strange to modern sensibilities. Here are a few examples:
Veneration of Relics: The Templars, like many medieval Christians, placed immense spiritual value on holy relics—objects believed to be connected to Jesus, the Virgin Mary, or saints (e.g., pieces of the True Cross, bones, or clothing). They believed these relics had miraculous powers, such as healing or protection in battle. Today, this intense focus on physical objects as conduits of divine power might strike many as superstitious or bizarre.
Chastity as a Sacred Duty: Templars took vows of chastity, viewing sexual abstinence as a way to maintain spiritual purity and devotion to God. They were forbidden from any contact with women, even casual conversation, which was seen as a potential source of temptation. In a modern world where personal freedom and relationships are highly valued, this extreme rejection of basic human instincts might seem alien or excessive.
Martyrdom as an Ideal: The Templars glorified death in battle against "infidels" (non-Christians, particularly Muslims during the Crusades) as a guaranteed path to heaven. Their Rule stated that dying for the faith was a noble and holy act, earning them eternal reward. This willingness—even eagerness—to embrace violent death contrasts sharply with contemporary views that prioritize preserving life and avoiding conflict.
Communal Living and Rejection of Personal Property: Templars took vows of poverty, surrendering all personal possessions to the order. They lived communally, sharing everything from clothing to food, and individual wealth was forbidden. In today’s individualistic, consumer-driven society, this complete renunciation of personal ownership would seem radical or impractical to many.
Secret Initiation Rituals: While much of the Templars’ mystique comes from later myths, historical evidence suggests their initiation ceremonies were secretive and included symbolic acts—like spitting on a cross—to test obedience or humility (though this was wildly exaggerated by their enemies during their downfall). Such rituals, even if misunderstood, would feel arcane and unsettling to a modern audience accustomed to transparency and skepticism of secret societies.
Divine Right to Violence: The Templars believed they were divinely sanctioned to wage war in God’s name, blending monastic piety with martial aggression. This fusion of monk and warrior—praying one moment, slaughtering enemies the next—was unique even in their time and would seem paradoxical or disturbing to people today who often separate spirituality from violence.
Obsession with Jerusalem: The Templars were fixated on protecting Jerusalem and the Holy Land, believing it to be the literal center of the world and God’s chosen place. Their entire existence revolved around this mission, which might seem oddly specific or geographically obsessive to a modern globalized society less tied to single sacred locations.
These beliefs made perfect sense in the medieval Christian worldview, shaped by intense faith, feudal loyalty, and the Crusades’ fervor. Today, however, they stand out as strange due to shifts in cultural norms, secularism, and a broader understanding of the world. What strikes you as the most unusual of these?
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Reiwa
Plenty of Toads to go around in the Mushroom Kingdom.
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