Holy Blood, Holy Grail: The Secret History of Christ & The Shocking Legacy of the Grail

Interesting reading, not finished yet.

I approached this book with an open mind as the writers did with their investigation into the book's material. I caught a documentary on Amazon about Leonardo Di Vinci and the authors of this book were in it. It peaked an interest in me I didn't know I had so I purchased the book both on Audible and a hard cover copy. I could not put the book down and/or stop listening once started. I have been raised a Christian my entire life. This book does raise some serious questions into the historical belief system we as a society have come to live in. Call it a heretical unorthodox point of view, I don't really care, but regardless of what you believe, I still believe this book doesn't diminish any of the divinity in Jesus. So what if it humanizes him. Historically, we know he was indeed a person that walked this earth. We know through historical documents and scientific research that he was indeed crucified and died. So with keeping an open mind and a scientific approach it is safe to say in my opinion, he still lived in the traditions of being a man in the time he did walk this earth. Traditions of life, love, family, marriage, and procreation. Who are we to say otherwise when no one alive today obviously wasn't alive then. The gospels are of small piece of how Jesus lived his life and are indeed a magnificent and beautiful way to live one's life yet there is still so much we don't know of him. It is true that there are known contradictions within the scriptures and gospels we hold to be true. Yet we still follow them as to be self evident. Let's not also forget the gospels we have grown to love, read, quote, and follow were debated and fought over by a group of Bishops centuries after the period Jesus was even alive. Men with their own agendas who decided and on their own accord defined the divinity of the Messiah. Men that are just as corruptable as the next. Anything "they" believed contradicted their beliefs or took away from their view of what it means to believe in the Messiah, or even who he was as a man or god, was disregarded and destroyed. That is just my opinion as misguided as most if not all devout Christians would think. That is also just one part of a long a line of questions this book raises for me. I still believe in God. I still believe in Jesus Christ. I also choose to lean more on the human side of his existence and the existence of a bloodline after his time on this earth. I also choose to believe that the Holy Grail and/or Royal Blood was indeed his heir the Magdalene carried with her and then entrusted to the Templars to protect. We may have been interpreting the second coming of Jesus Christ wrong for centuries and may just in fact be his true heir announcing his or her existence to the world. I also believe this way of thinking as I see it doesn't detract from the prophecy of Jesus's return but supports it. We will never know until it happens. Who knows, maybe with how crazy 2020 has been now is as great a time as ever to unite the world. Regardless of that, I have been raised that if you have a question about something find an answer. I have a scientific mind with a Christian heart. The message of the bible and the gospels are a beautiful thing to live by. This book indeed comes across as outlandish but doesn't take away my love for God and/or Jesus. It raises serious questions and further deepens my investigative mind. God made us in his own image. He gave us free will and the ability to seek and find the truths of the world. And with having a scientific open minded view of Christianity only self assures me in my mind that he gave me that way of thinking as well. No one has the right to say otherwise. I will continue my search for the truth, be it through my own Faith and belief system or through any and all scientific means. Final thoughts...I really loved this book.

I enjoyed reading this book, and found the research fascinating. I found the last part of the book to be too apologetic and repetitive. The Knights Templar were fascinating and mysterious. The theory that the Merovingians were descended from Jesus was unconvincing. The history of the period before, during and after Jesus lived was well presented. I found that I am an Arian Christian, since I do not believe that Jesus was the son of God, born to a virgin and raised from the dead in a literal way. This is ancient sun god religious thought that was appended to the man. So much has been suppressed by the Roman Catholic church that we will never know. This book did a good job of demonstrating how religions relate to politics, power, and cultural control.

"Holy Blood, Holy Grail" by Michael Baigent, et al., New York, Delacorte Press 2004, ISBN 0-385-33859-7 - HC, 489 pp, 8.5" x 5.5"This 2nd book by 3 experienced authors first published Jan. 18, 1982 in England (Feb. 26, 1982 in USA) firstly aired Jan. 17, 1982 on BBC's OMNIBUS where authors' commentary (as panel members) was heavily edited, leading to the the book's stigmatization as "irresponsible"... & "poorly researched" & at this time Bishop Hugh Montefiore labelled it shameless exploitation of sex & sensationalism upon reading only 2 chapters.The book, taken as a whole, makes for difficult reading. Fortunately, it has been divided into 3 major parts: Part I The Mystery, Part II The Secret Society & Part III The Bloodline. Additionally, there are other component sections (contents, appendix, biblio., notes/references, index) which makes it even more scaleable.The book begins with an untitled 13 page 'preface' of sorts discussing the book's reception upon being published & the flap over the BBC airing -- it is written as an apology or ?subjective interpretation of events evoked by the book's publication and from the viewpoints of the Church, the various people factions including scholars. The viewpoints & interests varied between countries. This apology is, by itself, a masterpiece of debate written in riotous & hilarous prose -- it is delicious to read, an antipasta to set the mood (not to change beliefs).Part I covers Rennes-le-Chateu (Fr. villa) & Priest Berenger Saugniere, The Cathars, Knights Templars (Warrior-Monks) & The Dossiers (secret documents). There is a lot of conjecture & "What ifs...?" Part II covers founding of Knights Templar, Grand Masters, Conspiracies, Secret Society, Monarchs (Long-Haired) including Merovingians, Dagobert II, etc. There is a lot of conjecture & "What ifs...?" Part III covers Holy Grail, Priest-King (Palestine, Gospels, Jesus' marital status, His wife Mary of Bethany, aka Magdalene), "Beloved Disciple" Lazarus, brother-in-law of Jesus, Crucifixion scenario (hoax with Pilate?). There is a lot of conjecture & "What ifs...?"The authors tell us the British were mostly interested in Part II, the Knights Templar, Crusades & the likes, whereas Americans focused more on Part II, origination of Christianity, the Early Church & details concerning Jesus & His life.Anytime we claim or encounter conjectures, controvery is sure to follow -- & the media is stirring the pot & fanning the flames in frenzy. There is no presently known method od determining truthfullness (part or entirety) in this book except to walk in the shoes of the authors or talk to your Priest. The exposition, herein, appears to be some sort of literary reverse engineering attempt. It is interesting to read & then go on to something else.It has been claimed, & rightly so I think, that THIS book, "HB,HHG" was the start of a series of spin-offs that included "The Da Vinci Code", the latter projected to garner more than 1 billion dollars for its author Dan Brown.

Libro escrito para mentes y corazones abiertos, para incansables curiosos. Todo un tratado de investigación histórica que no lleva desde el siglo uno de nuestra era en común, hasta nuestra actualidad.Proponen hipótesis muy interesantes que pueden no ser del gusto general. Crea dudas y mueve sentimientos profundos.Recomiendo esta obra ampliamente.

Personal interest and knowledge.

Still reading but very interesting

Good readibg

Informative .