The Lost Teachings of the Cathars: Their Beliefs and Practices (A Detailed Guide to the Cathar Religion)

A beautifully presented and well researched book into the history of the Cathars. A lot to be learned within and overall a great read. History was terrible to them but they will never be forgotten. ☀️

A most enjoyable read. This book on the Cathars is an enthusiastically open-minded overview of the subject with a healthy dose of critical inquiry and a smattering of subtle humour. It is not an academic archeology, more an impressionistic vision of the scene but has oodles of references, sources, and pointers for a reader who is interested in taking up a more detailed trail of any of the narratives or topics. The author who is sympathetic to the essence of non-dogmatic spiritual exploration without being credulous, also includes an impressive cross-referencing to a variety of related areas of interest drawing from what is clearly an extensive knowledge about the heart of a variety of global religions and cultural movements.

I enjoyed reading this. I've read several books on the Cathars, this one is believable. Well written and researched, Recommended.

I found this book to be both fascinating and easy to read. There are very few books that actually tell you what the Cathars believed; most books focus on their tragic persecution and extinction. I am puzzled by those people who think that they are modern day Cathars. The Cathars believed that the world and everything in it was evil and no good. It is not surprising that the Cathars left no art or music or anything else material as all matter was corrupt. I don't think you could build a great civilisation on such negative beliefs about the world. If you are interested by the Cathars, do read this book.

A reaonably good overview of the history of the Cathars. In terms of 'lost teachings ' not much is really known, but the author does as good job in bringing out what is known of this fascinating medieval religious movement

I like this book and am glad I bought it. It makes the Cathar religion more comprehensible without taking away the sense of mystery. Fascinating.

Andrew Phillip Smith tells the evocative story of The Cathars in Occitane with an acquired knowledge and an innate insight.

I used this book for research to help me with a novel i am writing.

When I first came across the "Cathars" in my studies, they were vaguely mentioned outside of the incredible violence bestowed upon them by the Catholic Church, who of course, called them heretics, but the very little that was mentioned about them was very intriguing, and hinted at a different kind of truth. Though I researched them periodically, it was difficult to find any meaningful information, which is true of all sects that didn't write down their beliefs and practices, or, those who did but their work was stolen and destroyed by the Church of the day. This book seems very well researched and is well written! Everything that the author talks about resonates within me and helps me form a deeper understanding of what I believe was one of the last true divine cults, and their refusal in denouncing their beliefs while being threatened with horrific public crucifixions, makes me swell inside with respect and admiration. I appreciate the research Smith put into this to make this knowledge available to those seeking answers to deeper, often troubling, wonderings about a group of people who, like the Druids, were erased from history. Great book, well-written! My only critique, is that the font size is small, and having poor eyesight, it was a bit difficult to read. But other than that, this is a very informative book!

A well researched book distinguishing fact from fantasy but without becoming dryly scolarly. The Cathars have inspired much romanticising which,whilst it isn't necessarily a bad thing, can nevertheless cloud our understanding of who they were and how they lived - this book sets the record straight

Packed full of interesting information you won't find in any documentary. This is the second book of Smith's that I've read, and highly recommend his other book on Gnostics. His style is very readable unlike most scholarly works. Occasionally, his bias comes out, but at least he justifies them with examples and logic.

ein sehr informatives Buch, und sehr gut zu lesendes über die Religion der Katharer. Über ihre Geschichte, ihre Glaubensinhalte, ihre Praxis, ihre mögliche Herkunft (die noch immer sehr unklar bleibt) und ihr mögliches Fortbestehen in der heutigen Zeit. Der Autor sympathisiert mit den Katharern, bleibt aber trotzdem größtenteils sachlich, besonders was die Gewissheit der Aussagen betrifft, die man über sie treffen kann. Ich finde ihre Geschichte interessant, und besonders woher wohl ihr Glauben gekommen sein mag. Wie hatte diese Religion in dieser Form zu dieser Zeit auftauchen können? Das wird man vielleicht nie wirklich beantworten können. Persönlich spricht mich ihre Religion eigentlich nicht wirklich an, obwohl ich ein Anhänger des manichäischen absoluten Dualismus bin. Aber ich finde die Trennung der Katharer der zwei Sphären (Gut und Böse, Licht und Finsternis) zu grob, und auch ihre grundsätzliche Ablehnung der katholischen Kirche teile ich nicht (obwohl die Ablehnung vielleicht auch mit ihrer Behandlung durch die Katholiken zu tun gehabt hat). Aber wer von den Katharern fasziniert ist (was ich durchaus nachvollziehbar finde), oder auch nur mal mehr über sie wissen will, wird meiner Ansicht nach mit diesem Buch zufriedenstellend bedient werden.

I went to a Southern Baptist Military Academy in Southern Virginia. I was raised a Catholic but they forced their cult upon us. The head of the religion department was a very nice if confused man named Mr Cather. I always knew there was irony there but until I read this book I didn’t know how much. I know,I know! It was part of the Inquisition that the Catholics persecuted them but then the Catholics persecuted EVERYBODY. I’m a 75 year old atheist these days but I still enjoy learning about different religions