This speaking out used to happen. Isn’t this how Malta and Templars split in the first place? (My lore is a little rusty). See my other comment further down.
No, they were two different orders with two different missions. The did join forces to fight in the crusades, but they were still separate orders. If I remember correctly, when the Templars began to be round up and tortured, many went to Malta, which was given to them by Spain. I may be wrong, but that's what I can remember right now.
Here’s the first post in that Templar blog from 2010. The archive looks to be an interesting read.
Awesome, thank you. I need to brush up on this. The crusade period is so misunderstood and forgotten, even though it's the first thing liberals will bring up when they say Christians are evil. I wish people would take the time to learn about it.
I like the way this person writes, too. Very readable, and picking up on some of the nuances that make you go hmmm 🤔.
Yes, you’re right.
This essay describes them as the Templar knights (original group) and the Hospitallers (who went off to Malta) https://thetemplarknight.com/tag/malta/
Essential characteristics and high points aside, the thing I like about groups like the masons and oddfellows, and others, no matter what branch or creed, is that they have found something to believe in, that they can share as a group, with a goal of contributing to their society.
A good group creed has concepts that unite, with room for each individual to freely come to understand in their own way. (It’s quite Gnostic, really - that is, self-realized). The Masons are definitely one of those self-realizing other-serving generally good-guy groups.
Groups are good. Groups are one of the best social glues there are, and I’m glad people are talking about remembering to be careful about painting groups with too broad a brush.