charles wilbourn charles wilbourn is offline

Oh yeah, those stories... Though to be totally fair Cathar's blood was mostly on thr king of France who wanted to control Provence. Church gave him and excuse and premission, but mostly his kinghts killed Cathars and everyone they could call Cathars after they were dead... That was a specail crusade - most of the kinghts who came to fight for religion soon left the Provance (because you needed to fight only 45 days to get absolution for this), and French knights, who fought for lands, stayed.
By the way, have you read "Song of the Albigensian Crusade"? I really love this thing. Very beautiful poetry (at least in Russian translation) and it really gives an idea of what people felt about it in those time (since "Song" most probably was finished before the final of crusade).

And, you see, we know about Cathars mostly from what inqusition wrote about them too. Which is kinda discrepant. But the main thing is that it's nearly the same what Irenaeus, the 2-th cenrury author, wrote in his "Against Heresies" about different gnostoc sects. It's also very close to accusations to other heresies - before and later. Could it be that inquisitors just used Ireneas as model, thinking that all the heresies are the same and not trying to learn what Cathars actually belived?
But especially interesting, that many of this accusations (like incest, group sex after lights are out, eating embryos and such) were known even befire "Against Heresies" - that's what pagan romans told about christians in Nero's time... You see what I mean?

Well... It's a long talk, and I'm really nor sure If I would be able to discuss it in English... Firstly, gnostics were different; but most of them didn't belive all people are equal - in fact they thought that there are special people with part of the God in their souls, who can be saved from this evil world, and others, who just can't.
Part of the problem is that about some gnostic sects we know something, about others - just a little, and untill the middle of 20 century we haven't any gonstic texts (apart of Pistis Sophia) and knew about them only from what christians wrote about them. (cont.)

Thanks for advice! I'll try to listen some of it.
The most interesting thing for me is albigensian crusade, yeah! I've also tried to learn more about inqusition, especially before Torquemada. ^^ I was going to study heresies and little sects for some time, which explains this interest (or that interest explains my plans, may be). That's really an interesting qiuestion - were Cathars really related to ancent gnostics... Too bad I'm bot sure if I would be able to discuss it in Eanglish properly. ^^;

By the way, I PMed you about playing "house". Let me know what you think about my story, please. )

Sounds interesting. "Cupid and Psyche" surely played a big role in christian culture, and later in secular culture too, thanks to allegoric interpretation. One of a few texts focused on pagan mythology, that were welcome in Medival culture.
I know it, but I'm adtaid I can'r discuss it properly...

I'm mostly intrested in Medival and especially Antique history, Basically, the closer period is to nowdays, the less I know. Mostly I like and know the early Rome empire, partly because here my interest to history and religion coincide - Christianity, Judaism in modern sence and less known, but very interesting gnosticism were born.
Bible is a wonderful book regardless of one's religious views, in my opinion. My favorite part of Old Testament is the Book og Job, though I must confess I know New Testament better. (I've tried to learn Hebrew language, by the way, but didn't succeed really).
It's interesting! I've read "Cupid and Psyche"; what exectly your articles were about, may I ask? If it's not too hard to understand without soecial knowledges, of course.
I've heared Wagner's "The Ring of the Nibelung", yeas, but... I guess, I just don't lisen enough of classic music, so I can't understand it well. (

Well, that wasn't that bad, I must say, or at least I'm nor temembering it that way... Though I can't really remember if the idea of spanking already was exiting for me. And if the kid don't cry after spanking, it wasn't done right, don't you think so?
I've mentioned earlier, there was one time I played "house" with one girl... That's kinda odd and rather embarrassing, but I'm not sure how interesting story. I can tell you it, if you want. )

Oh, mythology (well, religion in general) nearly became my profession, and I'm still really interested in this. As well as history, though I'm not sure my knowledge is really good. Too bad, I don't lnow classic music at all.

I value your trust. ^^

Well... From very beggining. My granddad spanked me a few times then I was like 6-7... I can't remember reasone in any of this cases, but I remember very well how it was going. He was sitting in the armchair facing the sofa. I pulled down my pants and briefs (I should do it by myself) and bended, leaning against the sofa. So he took his belt, folded in two, and spanked my advanced butt... Somehow I wasn't frightened with it - of course, it was painful and I didn't want to be spanked, but if he said the panishment awaits me, I didn't protest too much and tried to endure it... Though of course I was crying loudly then it was over.

And, of course, you still can ask me about anything, if you want to, though I haven't such an interesting stories, I'm afraid... ^^;

I would gladly hear those stories. )