I’m feeling guilty over the Templars’ Innocence

Seems like every other day, or at least every other week, there is some new article in the media announcing the Templars’ innocence based on the Chinon Parchment.

Generally, and I’m sure hardly coincidently, it is usually tied in to the release of some new book on the Templars.

Problem is – the information really isn’t anything new – at least not to the likes of say Malcolm Barber or Helen Nicholson, who have written great works on the Templar trials.

While the Chinon Parchment may have been misfiled since the seventeenth century, historians have long known the general information it contains, particularly when you consider that the papal bull that dissolved the order - Vox in Excelso – pretty much dismisses the idea that they were heretics.

Rather, Clement and his council felt the Templars’ reputation was too sullied for them to continue.

With all this new-fangled interest in their innocence, I wouldn’t be surprised if some modern-day Templar Order tried to sue the Vatican …. Oh, you say that’s already happened?

Last year, a British Templar Order demanded that Pope Benedict apologize for the Church’s actions against the Templars, and now we have an outfit in Spain trying to sue for the restoration of their good name.

We all get it - the Templars were innocent. But if these little groups claiming to be the real deal keep popping out of the woodwork, the Templars may get a new reputation, and one that requires the wearing of white mantles with sleeves that tie in the back.

Outremer: The Saga of the Knights Templar

Outremer: The Saga of the Knights Templar is a project near and dear to my heart.

Being a long-time comic fan, I decided that the story of the Knights Templar was every bit as heroic and epic as the best comics on the market.

Sure, I could tell the story, but I certainly couldn't draw it. That's when Edmonton artist Bob Prodor was brought on board to add his art to the script.

The resulting combination will be a four issue story arc that will tell the story of the Templars' origins in words and pictures.

Although the story has some fictional elements to it, the background is solid in its history and Prodor has taken great pains to produce a visually appealing and historically accurate treatment of the proto-Templars and the world in which they lived.

The final pen and ink work was completed in July of 2008 and has now entered the coloring phase, with the hopes of a fall 2008 release for the first issue.

The first 1,000 copies will be signed and numbered and can be ordered in the Templar Store on this web site.

Christopher Hodapp is a Dummy again

My good friends Chris Hodapp and Alice von Kannon have another book in the Dummies series due out this month.

Conspiracy Theories & Secret Societies For Dummies is the second Dummies book for the writing duo and Hodapp's third with the popular line.

Last year Hodapp and von Kannon wrote Templar Code For Dummies and previously Hodapp wrote Freemasons for Dummies.

I haven't read the latest book yet, but if it is anything like the previous two - it will do the topic justice with plenty of humour added for good measure.

The "X" Zone Radio Show March 17th

Christopher Hodapp (author of The Templar Code for Dummies) and I will be talking to Rob McConnell, host of the 'X' Zone Radio Show, on Monday March 17, from 9 - 10 p.m. Pacific Time.

McConnell couldn't have picked a better date to have us on. Sure, it's St. Patrick's Day, but March 18 marks the 694 anniversary of the execution of Jacques de Molay, the last Grand Master of the Templars.

Hodapp and I will, of course, be talking about de Molay. but we'll get into greater detail on the Templars and the many myths and conspiracies associated with them.

The 'X' Zone show is heard on the TalkStar Radio Network throughout the United States, Canada and the Caribbean. The 'X' Zone is also available via TalkStar Radio streaming audio at http://www.xzone-radio.com/ and then clicking on the red flashing "ON AIR."

Hope you'll tune in.

Website redesign

If you are a regular visitor to TemplarHistory.com, you have no doubt noticed some significant changes to the look of the website.

After a long absence due to a number of commitments, including completing the manuscript on my next book, I've spent the last few days redesigning the website.

One of the changes is the addition of this blog, which will allow me to add content that may not necessarily warrant an entire page on the main portion of the site.