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JUNE — JULY 2004 @ REVIEWS It's also informed by his lifelong study of of Christianity, Catharism was a dualistic B oO oO K Ss popular culture, and here he presents case theology that was the heir to Manicheaism, 7 studies that highlight how materialistic cul- Mazdaism and Zoroastrianism; in other Reviewed by Ruth Parnell ture is ripping away at the deeper currents of _ words, its roots could be traced to Persia IN THE BELLY OF THE BEAST: human soul and spirituality. He looks at the —_ (where earlier versions of the Jesus story Holding Your Own in Mass Culture influence of gangsta rap, where music cor- emerged). The "heresy" was gaining in pop- by Sevak Edward Gulbekian porations and the rappers themselves are ularity in Europe and was a rival to Hampton Roads, USA, 2004 motivated by money, not social conscience; —_ Christianity in some areas—before the y y the spiritual leadership of Prince Charles, Albigensian Crusade was declared. ISBN 1-57174-305-7 (270pp tpb) which has been so trivialised by the mass The Cathars and their treasure have been Availability: Australia—Brumby Books, tel jnedia: and the latterda fusion of David __ linked : : : Paraaians 5 'y confusion of Davi inked to the Knights Templar via a secret (03) 9761 5535; NZ—Peaceful Living, tel Icke, whose interest in shapeshifting reptil- pact, and one answer Markale considers is (07) 571 8105; USA—Hampton Roads ian aliens is a descent into materialism on that the treasure (of interest to both secret Publishing, http:/www.hrpub.com another scale. Gulbekian offers a middle societies) was a genealogy establishing the oO" modern-day mass culture is in the path where we can evolve via our commit- sacred bloodline from the deposed grip of The Beast, characterised by ment to transforming society from within. Merovingian line back to Jesus and King materialism, consumerism and celebrity David. Thus Grail tradition, Arthurian worship. What it needs, says esoteric book MONTSEGUR AND THE MYSTERY OF — romance, the Parzival legend, the Rennes-le- publisher Sevak Gulbekian, is an injection THE CATHARS Chateau mystery, Bulgarian Bogomils and of spirituality; the science of materialism by Jean Markale even Hitler's SS are woven into this story, as needs to be replaced by the science of spirit. nner Traditions, USA, 2003 are comparisons between beliefs and rituals Acknowledging that we do live ina physi- —_ jgpny 9.89284 -090-4 (298pp tpb) of the Cathars, Celts and Druids. cal world, Gulbekian proposes a way that we Availability: Inner Traditions website, Markale's scholarship challenges us to dab- can healthily and constructively engage ble in diverse schools of thought. modern culture from a spiritual perspective and maintain our sanity and balance in the process. The basic premise is that as human pyrénées in 1244 is the stuff of legend. beings our task is to tread the spiritual path Following a year-long siege, these austere am in a material world. In order to do this, we eretics were burned in a pyre at the hands MYSTERY need to develop heightened capacities of of the French Army on the orders of King ron perception so we can have clear insight into |_gyis IX in an alliance with the papacy and CATHARS the machinations of the material world. This — jts Inquisition. As the story goes, the night requires, as any true spiritual path does, self- before, four perfecti escaped, spiriting away discipline, study and meditation. It also a treasure of some kind. What that treasure involves learning to appreciate the fine line comprised has been the subject of endless between truth and illusion and to understand _ speculation, as has this secret sect. http://www. innertraditions.com he demise of the Cathar community at the Montségur fortress in the French MONTSEGUL kk thought as a spiritual force. Brittany-based philosopher/historian Jean Gulbekian's perspective is especially Markale (Templar Treasure at Gisors, informed by Manichaeism, with its insights 10/06) sets out in his 1988 book (recently into evil and how to transform it, as well as translated into English) to sift the fact from ca’ nw eis mall the spiritual philosophies of Rudolf Steiner. _the fiction. Far from being an heretical sect It's also informed by his lifelong study of popular culture, and here he presents case studies that highlight how materialistic cul- ture is ripping away at the deeper currents of human soul and spirituality. He looks at the influence of gangsta rap, where music cor- porations and the rappers themselves are motivated by money, not social conscience; the spiritual leadership of Prince Charles, which has been so trivialised by the mass media; and the latterday confusion of David Icke, whose interest in shapeshifting reptil- ian aliens is a descent into materialism on another scale. Gulbekian offers a middle path where we can evolve via our commit- ment to transforming society from within. of Christianity, Catharism was a dualistic theology that was the heir to Manicheaism, Mazdaism and Zoroastrianism; in other words, its roots could be traced to Persia (where earlier versions of the Jesus story emerged). The "heresy" was gaining in pop- ularity in Europe and was a rival to Christianity in some areas—before the Albigensian Crusade was declared. The Cathars and their treasure have been linked to the Knights Templar via a secret pact, and one answer Markale considers is that the treasure (of interest to both secret societies) was a genealogy establishing the sacred bloodline from the deposed Merovingian line back to Jesus and King David. Thus Grail tradition, Arthurian romance, the Parzival legend, the Rennes-le- Chateau mystery, Bulgarian Bogomils and even Hitler's SS are woven into this story, as are comparisons between beliefs and rituals of the Cathars, Celts and Druids. Markale's scholarship challenges us to dab- ble in diverse schools of thought. MONTSEGUE MYSTER' Lt ATH ARS NEXUS +65 www.nexusmagazine.com