Who Were the Albigensians?

Heretics in the History of the Catholic Church

Jun 22, 2009 Marilynn Hughes

The Albigensians and the Arians were the cause of more General Councils of the Church being called than any of the other heretical groups.

Also known as the Cathars, Albigensians dominated Catholic History. And history has shown that of all the heretical groups that came and went through the Catholic Church in its 2,000 year history, only the Cathars and the Knights Templar have remained hugely popular in legends and myth-making.

The Cathars and the Knights Templar

Both groups have also been associated with the many inquiries and bold conquests concerning the Holy Grail.

Additionally, the Cathars and the Knights Templar share some of the most tragic histories in regards to the slaughter and annihilation of their orders and people.

Ironically, it was the Knights of the Crusades who were ordered into Southern France by Pope Innocent III in 1209 to annihilate and slaughter the remaining Cathars. These genocides went on for a period of 16 years from 1220 A.D. to 125 A.D. and were known as the Albigensian Crusades.

And later, the Knights Templar became victims to the very Papacy they had served when they, too, were wiped out by the French King and a later Pope.

The Albigensian Belief System

The Albigensians called themselves "The Perfects," and adopted many unique doctrines in their time. Among them was a doctrine commonly referred to as dualism. They did not believe a good God could create a world filled with pain and suffering.

Therefore, they viewed the Old Testament God as an evil God, while the New Testament God was, in their view, an entirely different God – the true Good and merciful God – two dualities constantly at odds and at war over the souls of men.

Therefore, a natural aversion to the material life resulted manifesting in another belief and way of life which discouraged marriage and procreation. This belief in and of itself would have guaranteed their eventual extinction.

Very few Albigensian texts remain today, but among those that do are The Gospel of the Secret Supper and The Book of the Two Principles.

Heresy According to the Early Church Fathers

The Early Church Fathers and the Apostles spoke a great deal about the false doctrines which would come about in the early days of the church, “There will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Lord who bought them, and bring on themselves swift destruction. And many will follow their destructive ways, because of whom the way of truth will be blasphemed.” (New Testament, 2 Peter 2:1)

Another variation of the Albigensian heresy are the Albaneses. And a fascinating sect which emerged at a later date was the Anabaptists.

Sources:

• Encyclopedia of Heresies and Heretics, by Charles S. Clifton.
• A Catholic Dictionary, by William E. Addis and Thomas Arnold, M.A.
• Fundamentals of Catholic Dogma, by Dr. Ludwig Ott.
• A Short History of Christian Doctrine: From the First Century to the Present, by Bernhard Lohse.
• The Church in Crisis: A History of the General Councils, 325 - 1870, by Philip Hughes.
• A Dictionary of Early Christian Beliefs: A Reference Guide to More than 700 Topics Discussed by the Early Church Fathers, edited by David W. Bercot.

The copyright of the article Who Were the Albigensians? in Catholicism is owned by Marilynn Hughes. Permission to republish Who Were the Albigensians? in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.

Encyclopedia of Heresies and Heretics