Rating: 
Summary: A lot of good information
Review: In my research of the templars, I often wondered about the significance of John The Baptist. Why do they always celebrate his "day"? Now, I think I have a pretty good idea why.
This book starts out at a good pace with leonardo da vinci et al being implicated in some sort of odd conspiracy. It then quickly moves to a confusing array of what I felt were poorly substantiated and copious amounts of data to prove a point that gets lots amongst the names and titles. In the second half though, all of the slogging through names and making flow charts just to keep up is rewarded by a page turning wrapping up of facts both obscure and obvious.
It's a completely engaging book. If you haven't read the nag hammadi texts, dead sea scrolls, or are a staunch christian, then you should proceed with care. It will make you think and ask questions. Maybe even want to burn the authors at the stake. For me, it was eye-opening and great fun to read.
In lieu of accepting masonic conspiracies that abound (not to mention the accepted common views of papal authorities), the authors sought out, as often as possible, a fresh perspective. They even took a look at the life and times of Jesus in as neutral a way as possible.
I consider this money well spent.
For the Templar conspiracist, it's not a lot of data but bears looking into for it goes in a different direction than oak island or Rosslyn chapel. God knows that's been done to death. For the christian with questions, it's a rabbithole. For the person of unerring faith, it's a challenge. For a gnostic, it's a pleasure. For me, it was great fun just to ask what if and go on a ride with the author's imaginations.
I'd give it to you for ST.John's day if I could.
Rating: 
Summary: Interesting Reading and Breezy
Review: The first 2/3 rehashes some common theories notably that Christ and Mary Magdelane were involved in a mystical marriage ceremony re-creating the Isis and Osiris myth ( as well as other Pagan variations of the dying/rising God myth) and that this mystical oral tradition has been preserved for centuries through various Secret Societes. There is considerable rehashing of the Holy Blood Holy Grail material in the process. The book is at its strongest when it suggests this alternate tradition does not necessarily conlfit with traditional Christianity but enrichens it. The book falls apart in the last 1/3 when it tries to portray the existing Gospels as untrue and to posit an animosity between John the Baptist and Christ. They may open a few doors and ask some intriguing questions but their research is so shoddy and their conclusions are so laughable and in many cases so illogical and contradictory that they are easily dismissed. The first 2/3 is worth reading (along with Holy Blood and Holy Grail) to get some insight into the post-Gnostic mystical Christian tradition and its relation to Secret Societies and oral tradition.
Rating: 
Summary: Don't bother with this book
Review: There is a lot of fiction written about the supposed history of the Templars and if you like that kind of thing, all well and good. However if you want to know the true facts about the Templars, as apposed to speculation, I would suggest that you look elsewhere at other books, such as those written by Barber or Piers Paul Read.
Rating: 
Summary: One step towards extermination of the holiness of religions
Review: Even though I was brought up a Christian, I had always questioned the validity of the dogmas established. I never believed in any godly personification of Jesus and as far as I was concerned he was just another leader who was able to get followers because he preached what people wanted to hear. If we could convince the world that religions are just a way of a few controlling the masses, may be we could stop these senseless wars fought in their name.
Rating:
Summary: Gross inaccuracies, a "con" job!
Review: The book is full of unproven suppositions. They make a poorly proven case for a point in one chapter, then in the next, they allude to it as "as we have proven previously". Most of their
"revelations" are such: Poorly proven.
One example: They say the "Gospel Of Mary" refers to Mary Magdalene, and say it says so. They don't provide the quote. Well, I HAVE a copy of the Gospel Of Mary, and it clearly states it was wriiten by Mary, wife of Joseph, mother of JEsus.
This is only one example of shoddy research writing. They fail to prove any of their points in the book, in fact they should make a discerning reader very skeptical!
Rating:
Summary: Generally, quite disappointing
Review: In the first few chapters I thought the authors were doing a pretty good job combining their research with a relaxing vacation along the Southern coast of France. As I read further the (not-so-subtle) mood of the book began turning into one of Feminism and, in my humble opinion, as least, to wild speculation that Jesus Christ may have been preaching a blended version of the Isis-Diana cult instead of the Jewish religion. There is this strong undertone in the book that seems to imply that somehow Jesus was nothing more than a bystander or someone with little influence over the events which would lead to his crucifixion. Rather, the women in his life, especially Mary Magdalene, is the heroine of the play - but on what evidence? It is too simplistic to say that just because there were cults like that of Diana and Isis around in Palestine at the time of Jesus, that there is a linkage between the crucifixion and these cults. I think Picknett and Prince did not do sufficient research into the religious aspects/significance of the events leading to the crucifixion and event before and after the crucifixion of the book and instead appears to have written the book in some haste and for little literary reason. Also a large portion of the book appears to b little more than a review of other books written on the links between Freemasonary, Christianity (and Jesus Christ himself) and the Templars.
Rating:
Summary: timely...
Review: QUALIFIERS: yes, Picknett and Prince challenge traditional Christian views. yes, I have no idea if Picknett and Prince have some hidden agenda in creating this book. yes, many of their conclusions are deductions lacking the proof required for a typical courtroom. yes, there is a lot of information in there, and it can get a little dull for those without a penchant for history. yes, for some, the ideas in this book will be very unpopular. MY VIEW ON THIS BOOK: I was raised in a traditional Christian household and find a lot of the interpretations of the Christian church hard to swallow, and thus found the ideas in this book refreshing in their consistency with popular views on human nature and organizational behaviour. (eg - can a powerful orgainization like the Roman Catholic Church be trusted to be completely forthcoming with facts that might convince their devotees to put their convictions and their money elsewhere?) I am convinced that the authors have done a lot of research. They have also included the Bible as a large source of evidence for their ideas. And they have clearly read the Bible in a manner more discerning than most devout Christans do. I'm not convinced that all of their theses are correct, but I am convinced that the Church is not giving people the whole story. In a time when religion is bidding not for our intellects, but rather our emotions, it seems like high time a hard look into our religious past for the sake of truth and understanding.
Rating: 
Summary: Revelation of misconceptions
Review: I did manage to read the book "cover to cover", but not in anticipation of any great revelation. The authors suggest Christians are unwilling to see objectively the evidence for a pseudo-Egyptian mystery school as the foundation for the emergence of the Christian "cult". As there were many splinter groups of Judism (and a great many self proclaimed, or otherwise, messiahs), it is unreasonable to assume Jesus was not what the Bible says He was. The conflict between Peter, James, Paul, Barnabas, etc. of Acts and the letters, shows no hint of anything but the problems related to the mission to the Jews and Gentiles and interpretation of Jewish Law for the Gentile believers.
It is true that Jesus was a Nasorean or Nasorite, but the term initially meant one who was dedicated to God. His life as recorded in the Gospels depicts one so dedicated.
The authors seem to be unaware that there are many aramaic idioms in the Bible which are improperly translated. Jesus did not cry out for Helios, nor did He believe God had abandoned Him, in the last hour on the cross. (See the excellent books published by the Noohra Foundation.) They also seem to be unaware that the gospels contain redactions which fit the viewpoint of the one(s) who did the writing.
It is unfortunate that the Church which finally emerged so vehemently condemned all of gnosticism. The teaching has been it is difficult to experience God. For all those who have had mystical experience(s), the opposite is true. The problem is that mystical experience cannot be translated into the four-dimensional physical world of ours in language that is exact, so that another can taste, feel, or see what the mystic has experienced. While the sages of the past taught methods which could bring one to the threshold, the experience is ultimeately a give and take between the devotee and the One who is sought.
Actually, for me the teachings of Jesus are similar to teachings found in the body of Jewish mysticism, The Kabbalah.
Rating:
Summary: Must read! But not for the 'earth is flat' ideas..
Review: Long beginning..lots of historical reference but the last section of the book is a real page turner! The reader is taken to places in the mind that defies all accepted knowledge. Jesus is not the Messiah? Mary Magdalene more than a converted sinner? Somehow the authors are able support this theory with documentation that makes the educated reader think more than twice! If you insist that what you learned as a child of Jesus and Mary Magdalene is the literal truth, stay way! The earth may still be flat. But if you need more answers to the 'mysteries' in the Bible, better read this one!
Rating:
Summary: Revelation Rubbish
Review: As a Christian I was intrigued with the sub title,"Secret Guardians of the True Identy of Christ. Having no knowledge of Masonary, I thought this book might have some interesting information. After reading the first chapter I knew this was a bunch of [stuff]. The Authors take great liberty in assuming Leonardo da Vinci had somehow left subliminal messages in his paintings, especially the Last Supper. How can they assume such things painted Centuries before without speaking to da Vinci himself. If you are a Christian dont waste your time, stick with authors who are well respected in the field of Christianity.
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