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Summary: The Templar Revelation
Review: While i agree with Mr. nomo23, a reviewer who sounds very learned, about the pettiness between authors, I found the book very intriguing. It brough to light alot I didn't know about the dead sea scrolls, and Madonna worship among other things. However, I wonder just how far some things were 'stretched' to make a point at times during the book. I also must agree with one of the other 'Reviewers' that it DOES tend to leave you feeling 'beaten up' at times, as well as seeming to be 2 different books..the first 1/3rd and last 2/3rds. Over all, I'd still recommend it as a good read for anyone with an open mind, and curiosity.
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Summary: Nice beginning - terrible follow through!
Review: The Templar Revelation began with a very interesting theory - if thats what you call it. Perhaps I should say it began with some interesting points. For example, it details quite clearly a symbolic message Leonardo Da'Vinci painted into his works. One of these messages deals with the upward pointing index finger of John the Baptist whenever he was depicted. At any rate, the beginning was highly interesting and well delivered. However, the authors must have taken a lesson from the teachings of Freud and attempt to explain away the "Secret of the Templars" through various sexual rituals. To be honest, I almost felt as if they "Picked" out the most unlikely of secrets and tried to expound upon it (unconvincingly I might ad) for the sole purpose of shock value alone. For whatever reason, they decided to make the sex aspect the only "real" aspect worth writing about. In a nutshell, the books reads almost like two different books - the first 1/3 and then the last 2/3rds. If you have a seriously open mind, this book will spark your curiosity but then leave you bloodied and beat up along the way. A difficult read at best.
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Summary: The Search for Truth
Review: If you are an open-minded person, that has always asked "too many questions," this book is for you! Whether you are a Philosopher, Theologian, Freemason, Wiccan or Occultist, this book is a welcome addition to your collection. This book makes you think, so Fundamentalists should probably skip this one. The theories expressed in this book should be compiled in the mind along with the writings of Henry Lincoln ("The Holy Place: The Mystery of Rennes-le-Chateau...." & his more recent works), "The Hiram Key," by Knight & Lomas & the other books of this genre. Right or Wrong, this book will get your wheels turning...which is all that really matters, right? To think for yourself is to be Free. Research the genre and decide for yourself, but this book is an exciting read, I promise.
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Summary: Would have made a good X-File episode
Review: I was completely disapointed in this book. It is a work of fiction which tries very hard to appear objective. While some of the research is interesting, the premises are so far fetched, and full of holes that the conclusions lack any plausibility whatsoever. The authors will take bits and pieces of information, weave them together with "perhaps" and "this could be an indication of..", or "one might assume" and then use these "facts" to form the foundation of even more theories and hypothesis. The faith required to beleive anything in this book is exponentially higher than the faith required to believe the book it tries to refute - the Bible. If you are looking for a work of fiction and if you can completely suspend your disbelief while reading, you may find it interesting. However, if you are looking for some factual evidence against the Bible, you won't find it here.
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Summary: Handle with care
Review: The most important thing when you start reading this book is to keep an open mind. This openmindedness applies not only to your traditional interpretation of the history of christianity but also to you are being told in this book. The authors, in their investigative quest, challenge many of the established dogmas of the catholic religion and the relation of historical characters to those dogmas. However, in their plight to shake the established convictions, the authors indulge in extensive spells of speculation. Most of the evidence supporting the derived conclusions, is highly subjective. Therefore, the extracted conclusions end up being nothing more than an interpretation alternative to the established one and as subjective as this last. I would judge the main contribution of this book to be the illustration of how a history full of loopholes can be moulded to fit the convictions of the reader.
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Summary: Parts of this book are valuable, others seem less so...
Review: The first few chapters of this book were an outright disappointment. Having recently read 'The Hiram Key' and 'The Second Messiah' by Knight & Lomas, I found 'The Templar Revelations'' interpretation of the roots of the Shroud of Turin to be far less convincing than those offered by the aforementioned authors. However, I persevered and I recommend any prospective readers do the same. The insights this book offers regarding the Esoteric/Alchemaic/Johannite traditions which have covertly spanned Europe's past generations are well worth appreciating. However, Leonardo as Shroud fabricator? I don't think so.
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Summary: A Revelation of some facts and some errors.
Review: The significant fact that the authors depict is that the origins and purpose of Christianity (and most religions) differ from those issued to us by organized/conventional/orthodox religion. They point up the FACT that much was tacked onto Christianity in 325 a.d.and thereafter, while much was also deleted (that which is mystical proving that man's journey through "the valley of the shadow" is one of growth/evolution and not of condemnation and the stupid and spurious notion of "eternal hell-fire.") in order to render mankind obedient to a "church" instead of to God who is lodged in the center of his soul as Jesus or the higher-self or "super-ego." The error depicted in this work is that the authors fail to realize that the Bible does not portray veridical history but that of esoteric parable instead. Q: Would the authors of the New Testament elect to follow a policy of which Christ would have adamantly disapproved? A: Certainly NOT. Christ states matter-of-factly that he speaks to the "multitudes" in "parable" and to the elect in open meanings. Therefore, the authors of the NT would have penned their messages in parable and not LITERAL disquisition. The authors' allusions to the feminine aspects of the Savior has nothing to do with flesh and blood people, but, instead, with androgeneity or humanity finding the other gender-halves of their souls ("Anima" in women and "Animus" in men)so that they might re-integrate the halves toward wholeness (vide: Dr. Carl Jung's works.) They do underscore the fact that there is much more to Christianity (Churchianity and religion are to good spiritual health what Twinkies and Slurpies are to good physical health) than we've been told. By the way, observe how the majority of the reader's reviews from Texas and other Bible-Belt states are negative reviews regarding this idea. Christian fundamentalism is situated where mainstream Christianity was 700 years ago.
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Summary: Entertaining, but meaningless
Review: This book starts off with an exciting tour through the works of Leonardo that culminates in the conclusion that the great painter was a heretic who believed Jesus was a false prophet who essentially betrayed John The Baptist by usurping his role and mission. Indeed, the book exposes that the legendary priory of sion was, and has been, the keeper of this supposed secret truth for centuries. While the book does an excellent and, as I said, entertaining job of proving that the above mentioned did indeed believe this heresy, it all but totally fails to prove that this heresy has any amount of truth to it. In fact, the revelation that this book pompously purports to bring us is nothing more than conjecture and often, hollow speculation. Not to say that it does not present interesting evidence like, for example, the apparent parallels between ancient egyptian theology and the Christian resurrection story. Only that the evidence, while thought provoking, does not come anywhere near the threshold that would allow the theory to be taken seriously. One interesting aspect that the book does delve into is the possible connection between Mary Magdalene and Isis. Very little, of course, is known about this Mary and I suspect there are probably very juicy secrets hidden somewhere about this mysterious, and underestimated woman. I also appreciate the authors attempt to re-examine her role and importance in the Christian story as I am a firm believer that she is to return to Earth in the end-time as one of the two witnesses of Revelation, along with the prophet Elijah.
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Summary: If you smell something smoking ...
Review: This one absolutely blows the cover on the whole of Christendom. It should be required reading for every wannabe Christian minister and believer (read: dupe) within that "faith" -- and for every elected official in the nation. With no axe to grind the authors set out to learn the truth. They found it. Hoo boy. Clive and Lynn, praise and gratitude to you both. Keep that attitude of clear-sighted objectivity ... and do this sorry world a favor -- give lessons. Oh, and keep writing! if you don't receive at least one death threat a week, you're not doing your job. Again, my enduring gratitude. I'm telling everyone I kow about this one.
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Summary: A Fresh Investigation
Review: Once I got started I just could not put this book down. 'The Templar Revelation' explores the often misty background of ancient and medival history. If you feel the need to protect sacred articles of faith this book is not for you. If you are looking for a fresh new perspective on western mythical and religious heritage this book will fascinate. The book certainly delivers on its title subject, the Templars ... but goes MUCH farther. You are definitely in for more than what you might judge by"~ this book's cover. Picknett & Prince cut to the bone with suggestions that the Dead Sea Scrolls were not the devotional material of any one particular religious group; the Essenes - but could just have been a collection rescued from the library at Jerusalem ... and not only that heretical themes are present in the work of Leonardo da Vinci - but that the Shroud of Turin was actually an early experiment of Leo's in photography. looking for something new - and did I find it! As a student of history I applaud the fresh approach to history and literary criticsm this book embodies. The nature of this work is admittedly controversial - but then it must be as 'The Templar Revelation' breaks bold new ground.
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