Nothing to see here, dear Messalians

From an old blog post: 

>>>I did get one insight, for all it´s worth, while reading the book. Johansons points out that medieval guilds, including powerful merchant guilds such as the Hansa, had initiation rituals featuring ordeals. The stone-masons had secret recognition signs, and many guilds had fictitious founder myths which the members were supposed to learn (perhaps as another sign of recognition). Thus, the stone-masons claimed that Moses was the first of their trade! 

>>>What this means, of course, is that we can lay all conspiracy theories about the Knights Templar to rest. The fact that the Templars might have had secret initiation rituals and “heretical” lore (“heretical” to the heresy-hunters of later centuries) doesn´t prove that they were a truly occult-heretical brotherhood. Their practices seem to have been medieval Catholic commonplaces! What a pity.

Exactly. Note also that the Knights Templar were accused of worshipping a severed head named Baphomet. Which sounds like a wordplay on John the Baptist (Ioannes Baptista) and Mahomet (the Turkish name of Mohammed). Bunk, of course. But note that the Knights Hospitaller, who were never accused of anything, openly venerated...wait for it...the severed head of John the Baptist! 

Note finally that Bernhard de Clairvaux, the original inspirator of the Knights Templar, had an almost "Tantric" bride-chamber mysticism. Which wasn´t considered heretical either at the time.

Are we on to something here?

Oh, and the Templars sometimes wore "Abraxas stones", but I´m sure that´s just a co-incidence!