Rating: 
Summary: Jesus, Knights Templar, the Shroud, and the Catholic Church
Review: After my review of "The Hiram Key" was published here I received an email from Christopher Knight inviting me to read his and Robert Lomas's next books "The Second Messiah" and "Uriel's Machine." I just finished "The Second Messiah." I start "Uriel's Machine", tomorrow."The Second Messiah" presents the reader with massive amounts of evidence to show that the Catholic Church has, for centuries, covered up the true facts concerning the Shroud of Turin, (among other things), how the Shroud came to be and who's image is imprinted on the cloth. Knight and Lomas present a strong case that the Knights Templar, King Philip the Fair of France, and Pope Clement V had as much to do with the creation of the Shroud as did the person who's visage appears upon it. The authors go to great lengths to explain what physical forces created the image on the Shroud of turin. They even attempt to create a "Shroud" themselves. "The Second Messiah" is a ride through history, with stops along along the way to visit Herod's Temple, and learn about the secrets which were hidden for centuries underneath, to Scotland and Rosslyn Chapel and the secret of the West Wall, to London and the formation of the Grand Masonic Lodge and its break with the Scotish Lodges. Here, Knight and Lomas explain in fascinating detail the secrets of the 33 Masonic degrees. "The Second Messiah" is very interesting, extremely well written and painstakingly researched. I suggest that you read this book holding "The Second Messiah" in one hand and the Christian "Bible" in the other. Keep a pad and pencil handy to jot down the questions you want to ask the Pope, the next time you see him!
Rating: 
Summary: Interesting
Review: Book: The Second Messiah
Writer: Christopher Knight & Robert Lomas
Style: Hardback
Length: 259 pages
Rating: *** (3 stars, good) The book asks some hard questions for hard core Christians. Questions like, is the Bible the true word of God? Should it be considered to bring forth the only true form of Christianity? What happened during the "missing years" right after the crucifixion of Jesus? Did Peter or Jesus' brother James actually lead the "approved" church of Jesus Christ. How do the two differ and why would or could the wrong on prevail? Why is there no record in the Bible of the almost annihilation of the Jews (God's chosen people) by the Roman's? These are some of the tough questions asked in the first chapter alone. Through painstaking research many of the questions are answered in with historical reference. There is quite a case presented for the "Shroud of Turin" being the image of a master mason and not that of Jesus Christ. Read the history of the shroud that was tracked down along with the many missing years and it's first documented appearance. Find out the origin of the Temple in Roslyn Scotland. This book also offers much of the history of the freemasons and the persecution and flight from Jerusalem to Scotland and their spread across the world. It offers historical and analytical presentations on many subjects involving and surrounding Christianity. The book was enjoyable as one of many possibilities involving Christianity over the years. There are many books out there regarding the subject of Christianity's evolution and this should be read as only one of the many. It goes without saying that this book will offend many. It will be written off as hogwash by many. But I believe that any student of Christianity, Religions or Freemasonry should certainly read it. Read it with an open mind and consider what is presented before passing judgment on the book.
Rating:
Summary: Interesting
Review: Book: The Second Messiah
Writer: Christopher Knight & Robert Lomas
Style: Hardback
Length: 259 pages
Rating: *** (3 stars, good) The book asks some hard questions for hard core Christians. Questions like, is the Bible the true word of God? Should it be considered to bring forth the only true form of Christianity? What happened during the "missing years" right after the crucifixion of Jesus? Did Peter or Jesus' brother James actually lead the "approved" church of Jesus Christ. How do the two differ and why would or could the wrong on prevail? Why is there no record in the Bible of the almost annihilation of the Jews (God's chosen people) by the Roman's? These are some of the tough questions asked in the first chapter alone. Through painstaking research many of the questions are answered in with historical reference. There is quite a case presented for the "Shroud of Turin" being the image of a master mason and not that of Jesus Christ. Read the history of the shroud that was tracked down along with the many missing years and it's first documented appearance. Find out the origin of the Temple in Roslyn Scotland. This book also offers much of the history of the freemasons and the persecution and flight from Jerusalem to Scotland and their spread across the world. It offers historical and analytical presentations on many subjects involving and surrounding Christianity. The book was enjoyable as one of many possibilities involving Christianity over the years. There are many books out there regarding the subject of Christianity's evolution and this should be read as only one of the many. It goes without saying that this book will offend many. It will be written off as hogwash by many. But I believe that any student of Christianity, Religions or Freemasonry should certainly read it. Read it with an open mind and consider what is presented before passing judgment on the book.
Rating:
Summary: Tarot, Arthur, Shroud, Scrolls, what DIDN'T they have??????
Review: Christopher Knight and Robert Lomas present a clear, well-documented model of religious and Masonic history. I read this a long time ago... Then I read the Hiram Key... Then the Templar Revelation.... and then the Head of God.... and tonight I read this again. (The Second Messiah, and oh, for the un informed these books are a few of the many focusing on the Templars Jerusalem treasure and great heresy) I find this book more believable than its prequel (Hiram Key), though much of its work is based on the conclusions of that piece. And this is MUCH MUCH MUCH more credible than "The Head of God." It has the same idea of the royal blood line however, but doesn't take as far back as Akhenaten/Moses. First the authors set out to show that Paul's theology was at direct odds with the Jerusalem church, which was completely Jewish, not viewing Christ as anyone supernatural. But Paul's religion conquered it, which further expounds their idea that there were many secrets to Jame's church. If you haven't read the Hiram Key, this is their formula [Nasorean=Essene=Christian] They also get into the feature of all the books I mentioned-Rosslyn Chapel. Their finds in the ancient decorations of this temple prove that Freemasonry is centuries older than the English Lodge says. In fact, their dogma is rather evasive. It claims 1717 was the birth of modern Masonry, and doesn't appreciate Freemasonry historians to look further in the past than this date. It is amazing how all the books on these same subjects come up with such different conclusions. The engraving of the "Veronica" was interpreted by "The Head of God" to be just that (a severed head) and here it is identified with the Shroud of Turin. And speaking of the Shroud, here they establish that the most feasible theory regarding its origin is the image of Jacques de Molay. (And they at the same time debunk "The Templar Revelation"'s theory surrounding its mystery) It is surprising to note that in Templar history we find an interesting alternative in interpreting eschatological fulfillments-specifically the book of Revelation. And that is their big claim. Jacques De Molay became the "Second Messiah." He was their High Priest of Yahweh. I'm not going to get into detail explaining this, but it is profoundly interesting. By now you will not want to put this book down. And once you hit the last chapter it is utterly FASCINATING. And that is of course, if it is all true. But the jigsaw puzzle fit of most of their theories certainly suggests that they have found something rather arcane and revolutionary.
Rating: 
Summary: A book written by an athiest...
Review: Here we go...For every topic, there are always 2 answers. Positive and negative. One always is the truth and one is false. After reading 'Resurrection of the shroud' by Mark Antonacci, I was stunned and amazed at the methods of testing the shroud. They proved in a billion to one chance that the shroud did belong to Jesus. The only scientist who disagreed, was in the 70's and a hater of Christianity. He refused to hand over any data, and the piece of the shroud he tested, and instead claimed to newspapers that the shroud was false. He refused to let anyone know the 100 percent proof that Jesus did exist! He soon was discredited and had to turn over the test piece, which was miniscule anyhow and he did damage it so nobody could test it. Scientist since have tested the whole shroud and proven that Christianity is the one true religion and Jesus did live and die on the cross. Of course, I knew after reading that book, that ther would be another liberal athiest liar out there with a book of lies with no scientific proof and behold...I'ts by christopher knight and robert lomas.(I didn't capitalize for a reason)These two are just 2 of millions that cannot accept proof of anything they hate. If a coin landed heads, they would refuse to accept and say it was tails. A book that is a total bore and a lie. If you want to read a book of lies with zero proof, try this or book of mormon.
Rating:
Summary: A must read indeed
Review: I came across this book by accident when I was 16. It opened my eyes to a world I had never known. The side effect of this great read was that I lost all belief in Christianity. I learned how religion can be manipulated to the likings of people in power and how it can easily be distorted through the ages. I am 19 now and I call no religion my own. But I try to follow basic principles of Freemasonry to enrich my life.
There are just too many reasons for one to read this book. It contains history, science, and a lot about human behavior. I was shocked to learn of the things people can do to one another and about how perverse the Church can be. Many other things prevail in my mind though I read the book so long ago. One especially interesting account was the one about how a symbolic virgin, Mary, became the "Virgin" of Christianity. Though this story came to the authors by word of mouth and without any proof, it is just so plausible that it makes one's heart throb with uncertainty. If she was not really a virgin, then Christianity is all a lie, a story, a tall tale told to keep us behaving a certain way.
In the end, read this book not only to learn about the origins of the shroud of Turin. Read it to learn about Freemasonry and the flaws in Christianity.
Rating:
Summary: Entertaining read....but sketchy research
Review: Many of the claims made by Knight and Lomas in their book the Second Messiah, gripped my attention, and caused me to read on, but I felt as if some of their connections were loosely drawn and pretty much unsubstantiated. For one thing, they come up with something Rex Deus hypothesis in regards to modern freemasonry. The Rex Deus hypothesis argues that those in the know so to speak in modern freemasonry are direct descendants of the bloodline of Jesus through his brother James, but they make this assertion based simply upon hearsay. I doubt whether many of the claims made in the Second Messiah would hold up in a court of law, although the book does give its readers something to think about.
Rating:
Summary: A book every Christian should read.
Review: This book has the means to upset so many readers who have adhered to a blind and inaccurate idea of what it means to be "faithful." This book is historically accurate, factual in it's depth, and so being will no doubt be ignored by many with a vested psychological or social interest in the accepting of fairytales and dogmatic. As a writer of similar historical books, there are many that do not wish to face uncomfortable facts. After re-reading this book, the historical facts it contains will be ignored, or more likely, denied by those unable or more likely, unwilling to understand the implications of it's history. It will be denounced as "the work of atheists", as a fable by "unfaithful" and perhaps labeled "Unchristian." These terms cannot detract from its scope and accuracy, despite the frightened words of its detractors. If history, real history has taught humanity anything, it is that the unpopular ideas are often most importantly studied, and we often find that they are based on truth: and in religious dogma, truth is unwanted, unnecessary, and at times dangerous. This is an excellent companion book to "The Hiram Key" which also speaks to the political power of the Christian Church, and the monetary and social control it has garnered over the past 1400 years. I cannot recommend this book strongly enough, despite that fact that the mystics, the pseudohistorians, and the overly faithful will dismiss it. And that, in itself is a shame. For knowledge is free to anyone who seeks it. Yet so few do. I wish I could give this book 6 stars. Rev. Dr. W. S. Davis
Author & Historian
Rating:
Summary: A book every Christian should read.
Review: This book has the means to upset so many readers who have adhered to a blind and inaccurate idea of what it means to be "faithful." This book is historically accurate, factual in it's depth, and so being will no doubt be ignored by many with a vested psychological or social interest in the accepting of fairytales and dogmatic. As a writer of similar historical books, there are many that do not wish to face uncomfortable facts. After re-reading this book, the historical facts it contains will be ignored, or more likely, denied by those unable or more likely, unwilling to understand the implications of it's history. It will be denounced as "the work of atheists", as a fable by "unfaithful" and perhaps labeled "Unchristian." These terms cannot detract from its scope and accuracy, despite the frightened words of its detractors. If history, real history has taught humanity anything, it is that the unpopular ideas are often most importantly studied, and we often find that they are based on truth: and in religious dogma, truth is unwanted, unnecessary, and at times dangerous. This is an excellent companion book to "The Hiram Key" which also speaks to the political power of the Christian Church, and the monetary and social control it has garnered over the past 1400 years. I cannot recommend this book strongly enough, despite that fact that the mystics, the pseudohistorians, and the overly faithful will dismiss it. And that, in itself is a shame. For knowledge is free to anyone who seeks it. Yet so few do. I wish I could give this book 6 stars. Rev. Dr. W. S. Davis
Author & Historian
Rating: 
Summary: Interesting read
Review: This book is enlightening especially about the death of the leader of the knights templar, Jacques DeMolay. I think anyone interested in Templar lore will really get a lot of information out of this. The shroud of Turin and its connection with the Templar legends is also interesting. You will learn about how Jacques De Molay was tortured and see some potential proof that there may be a relation.
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