Dualism

Two Deities

Two Deities Both the Good God and the Devil are of equal power and they struggle for supremacy. The reason there is so much suffering in this world is that the whole physical universe is the domain of the Devil. The Devil has created this world with the malicious intent of frustrating the Good God's plan that there should be eternal peace and harmony.The Cathars believed that the creation of the material world was a collossal accident, a by product of the conflict between good and evil.

Both the Good God and the Devil are of equal power and they struggle for supremacy.  The reason there is so much suffering in this world is that the whole physical universe is the domain of the Devil.  The Devil has created this world with the malicious intent of frustrating the Good God’s plan that there should be eternal peace and harmony.

The power of the universe  is everywhere ,in everything. The power behind the universe is infinite but a delicate balance between good or evil, in consequence in every entity there is  the ability to exert extreme good or evil.

Both the Good God and the Devil are of equal power and they struggle for supremacy.  The reason there is so much suffering in this world is that the whole physical universe is the domain of the Devil.  The Devil has created this world with the malicious intent of frustrating the Good God’s plan that there should be eternal peace and harmony.

Hell

Hell is here and now. The material world is hell and the experience is made worse by man's inhumanity to man. The Devil is a domineering and vengeful God who continually invents ways to turn mankind one against the other. Different gods, different ways of worshiping those gods, different features and skin colours,different nations are all examples of how the Devil can achieve his ends. Natural tradgedies, storms, droughts, floods, earthquakes, eruptions are used to create suffering and gererate tension between neighbours.There is no escape! The normal course of events is that all living things will be reincarnated again and again until the time when the universe will cease to exist.

The power of evil delights in the material world and the misery and suffering which is perpetuated within it.  The material world is hell and the experience is made worse by man’s inhumanity to man. The Devil is a domineering and vengeful God who continually invents ways to turn mankind one against the other. Different gods, different ways of worshiping those gods, different features and skin colours,different nations are all examples of how the Devil can achieve his ends. Natural tradgedies, storms, droughts, floods, earthquakes, eruptions are used to create suffering and gererate tension between neighbours.

Reincarnation

God is within Cathars believe that because everything was made from the pure energy of the Good God, the Good God is part of every one of us. The Devil is not capable, try as he might, to separate us from the Good God who will eventually triumph and we will all be totally reunited In everlasting pleasure and peace.

There is no escape! The normal course of events is that all living things will be reincarnated again and again until the time when the universe will cease to exist.

We are all living in hell and trying to escape from it.  We are not Guilty of sin, the desire to be evil is thrust upon us.  The thing which distinguishes the human race from the other animals is that there is within every human a consciousness of the difference between good and evil. here on earth however the temptations are so great that it is difficult to lead a good life.

The Gift

Cathars believe that we can all gain total happiness in union with the good god if we totally reject the material world. This is best done late in life to avoid the risk of a relapse. Sexual activity is the only part of the material world not contaminated by evil. it is a gift from the good god to give us some idea of what union with him might be like. Sexual activity must therefore be kept strictly under the control of women so that unwanted pregnancy can be avoided. cathars of both sexes are trained in sexual etiquette and the ability to experience sexual pleasure without procreation. For this belief alone they are reviled by the church of rome

Thus Cathars strive to control the population limiting it to just enough to spread the cathar message.  This sets them apart from the non cathar world which encourages an expanding population to provide soldiers for armies and customers for industry.

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Extract from The Prisoner of Foix--Chapter 43 -The EntranceNo need to buy a Kindle. Read it on your computer or tablet

John Stanley-26th April 1355

 

'Looks like we are going to see a bit of excitement, John. The Captain tried to get an agreement from the Prince that if there is surf running across the channel to Arcachon we will turn back to Bordeaux, but the Prince would hear none of it. Instead, he has offered to provide insurance for all three ships. If they are damaged or sunk, the owners will be compensated and every sailor who makes the passage will be given a bounty payment. What none of this seems to take into account is that if we sink in rough, fast-flowing waters we might all drown.'

John raised his eyebrows. 'But that is what we are going to do?'

'Yes, despite the fact that surf running accross the entrance is not uncommon and the deep water channel moves continually. In the end, the Prince attacked their captains on their weakest point, their professional pride! He threw down the gauntlet. He offered to take the Sally first through the channel, and to take control during the passage.' He raised his brow. 'We are going into the Bay of Arcachon, come what may! '

Extract from The Eagle of Carcassone -- Chapter 24-- A Real GoddessNo need to buy a Kindle. Read it on your computer or tablet

John Stanley - 22 July 1355

An hour later John walked with Ximene close to the river along the valley below St Feriole. It was the very essence of a summer’s day. The sun was fierce but in the shadow of the trees, it was cool and fragrant. The trees and shrubs along the riverbank hid their progress, from the Château, from St Feriole.

Eventually they reached a point where John thought it was safe to emerge from cover. To his satisfaction the stream extended into a pool with a sandy beach, shaded by trees. Where the stream entered the pool there was a flat grassy area, almost circular. Behind this, the bulk of two mountain ridges provided a splendid backdrop. He looked around once more ‘Not just a good training ground but a great training ground. If the Greek heroes knew about this they might be tempted to join me, to train with me’

Ximene laughed out loud. He turned to look at her. She had removed her outer clothes and was wearing a white chemise, cut short so that it barely reached her knees. Around her waist, she wore a plaited leather belt, obviously fashioned from the multitude of leather straps to be found in the tackle room.

She ran her hands down over her breasts. ‘When you were unconscious I heard you muttering about gods and goddesses, so  I have decided that from now on, for you, I will be the goddess.’

The Prisoner of FoixVol 1 of the series—The Treasure of Trencavel

Aquitaine, an English possession, is in crisis. It is under threat from neighbouring nations and internal dissension.

The Black Prince, King Edward III’s eldest son has been given the task of taking command in Aquitaine.

Suddenly there is an opportunity. Ximene Trencavel is the heiress to the lands of Occitan, to the east of Aquitaine: lands controlled by the Franks. Ximene wants independence, both for herself and for Occitan.

A union between Aquitaine and Occitan would be mutually beneficial. The Black Prince undertakes a secret journey to meet Ximene to negotiate a marriage contract. It is, however, a marriage neither of them really wants.

Meanwhile, the  Franks plot to murder Ximene to prevent ,not just the marriage, but any kind of union between England and Occitan.

The Eagle Of CarcassonneVol II of the series—The Treasure of Trencavel

The loose alliance between Ximene Trencavel and the Black Prince is under threat.

The Prince invades Occitan, to show his support for Ximene but it becomes an invasion which creates more problems than it solves.

The Prince has fallen hopelessly in love with Joan of Kent and Joan is now determined to marry him and become the next Queen of England.

Joan is therefore  determined to convince Ximene that she should not marry the Prince.

Part of her strategy is to encourage Ximene’s relationship with John Stanley—one of the Princes bodyguards—not an easy task as both John and Ximene have doubts about their compatibility.

However, John is grievously injured in a battle and Ximene commits herself to nurse him back to health.