Religious offshoot of Christianity
Existed between the 12th and 14th centuries
Posited that in the universe there existed two equal and opposing forces: one evil associated with matter and a good force that was pure spirit
Followers rejected the material world attempting to attain holiness and go to heaven
Also known as Albigensians after the town of Albi, France
Most prominent in France but had members in eastern Europe as well

Their religion was an unimaginative continuation of the early Christian heresy of Manichaeism.
The idea of two opposing forces in the universe is also found in Taoism and Star Wars.
They, or one of their supporters, assassinated a papal legate sent to negotiate with them.
They discouraged sex and having children.
They were vegetarians.
They believed in reincarnation.
They rejected the Old Testament as being written by the bad god.
Despite all this, they considered themselves the only real Christians.
They were officially pacifists.
Their only surviving text is 'The Book of Two Principles.'

The papal legate may have been murdered by one of their secular supporters and not a member of their religion.
They inspired St. Dominic to start his order, although he won few converts among them.
They were brutally massacred during the Albigensian Crusade along with many others who had the bad luck of living in the same towns as them.
The leader of the Albigensian, asked how to tell the Cathars from the Catholics, reportedly replied, 'Kill them all. God will recognize His own.'
Their rejection of materialism is exactly what Jesus Christ taught.

Credit: tom_jeffords

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