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152nd out of 210 books
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6 voters
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The Hiram Key
by
Christopher Knight,
Robert Lomas (Goodreads Author)
s/t: Pharaohs, Freemasonry & the Discovery of the Secret Scrolls of Jesus
When the authors, both Masons, set out to find the origins of the Freemasonry they had no idea they would find themselves unraveling the true story of Jesus Christ and the original Jerusalem Church. Their startling and unexpected conclusions are presented here--backed by rigorous analyses of anc...more
When the authors, both Masons, set out to find the origins of the Freemasonry they had no idea they would find themselves unraveling the true story of Jesus Christ and the original Jerusalem Church. Their startling and unexpected conclusions are presented here--backed by rigorous analyses of anc...more
Paperback, 400 pages
Published
August 1st 2001
by Fair Winds Press
(first published 1996)
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the authors are both masons and amateur historians who have done quite a bit of research. However, the more amazing the claim, the more proof is required. This book should have had at least 20 pages of bibliography of primary and secondary source material, along with an 'Additional reading" section if it wants to be taken seriously. There was no bibliography of any kind, and what references the authors make as the basis for their claims were done using footnotes throughout the text, without...more
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Christopher Knight and Robert Lomas, both Masons, set out to find the origins of Freemasonry and ended up at Rosslyn.
An interesting study of the history of Freemasonry, but they allow their speculations to get more than a bit wild.
Nice pictures of the inside of the chapel though.
An interesting study of the history of Freemasonry, but they allow their speculations to get more than a bit wild.
Nice pictures of the inside of the chapel though.
The author's take the freemasons and the origins of things like the Knights Templar and put together a conspiracy theory that is interesting. Despite this, their arguments lack proof. The proof they do provide is sketchy and not completely verifiable. They also paint their ideas to seem like fact when they need to do a better job of pointing out that this is just a thought, belief , idea, theory that they developed. They paint a different picture of Jesus as " one of the pillars of the q...more
I enjoyed reading this one. The book starts off with the authors tryign to figure out the origins of masonry and the rituals there in. Thier journey takes them back through time all the way to Egypts when the Hebrews were still slaves in Egypt. Apparentally Sequenare the Pharoah of Thebes during Hyskso occupation had the secret ritual that officailly made one king of Egypt. Appophis sent some to geet the secret from him but Sequenare would not budge. He was killed. Later Masonic ritual depicts t...more
I read this at an interesting period of my life where things I know I no longer know if I know for sure. This book only added to questions I have about life, God, and what we really know about history.
Although, the purpose of the book is to show the lineage of the Masonic order, which it does convincingly, it also discusses iconic biblical figures such as Abraham, Moses, Joseph, and, extensively, Jesus. This book illustrates these acnient figures, who I have been taught to revere...more
Although, the purpose of the book is to show the lineage of the Masonic order, which it does convincingly, it also discusses iconic biblical figures such as Abraham, Moses, Joseph, and, extensively, Jesus. This book illustrates these acnient figures, who I have been taught to revere...more
If you're looking to see where Dan Brown stole all of his dim-witted bulls#!t from for that debacle of a book that has wasted more paper than the IRS, read this book! I give it two rather than one star, because at least it's a hoot to read. But these guys have absolutely no grasp of any structure for research or historical method, and it jumps from one completely hapless and misguided "ergo" to the next. Air is 21% oxygen, ergo Freemasonry was formulated by ancient Egyptians. You get t...more
I loved this book. I have no idea whether anything that the authors claim is true or even accurately researched, but it reads well and the ideas are largely plausible. I'm certain that Dan Brown derived a lot of his material from this book. But most essentially it is a gripping yarn.
I also have a soft spot for this book as I was reading it in conjunction with Umberto Eco's Foucault's Pendulum, which is not only an extremely concise and informative text on the Abrahamic cults, sects and...more
I also have a soft spot for this book as I was reading it in conjunction with Umberto Eco's Foucault's Pendulum, which is not only an extremely concise and informative text on the Abrahamic cults, sects and...more
Honestly not what I expected, It's somewhat billed as fiction within the much overdone "Da Vinci Code" genre, whereas the book should sit well within the non-fiction section. That said, as a non fiction book, it's well researched, considered and is an interesting and engaging read. The authors being masons themselves, expose a world hidden to those of us female or less than affluent. If you're interested in the subject then I'd recommend reading it. However, it's no summer read and if ...more
I started reading this book almost 3 months ago. But then I picked up a book for book club and read that, then I read another book, and another book, and another book... you get the picture. Then last week, I came back with renewed gusto and determination. And now I've set it down again. But instead of putting on my nightstand so I could guiltily be reminded that I haven't read it yet, it has been shelved in the living room. Here's why: It is rather dry reading, written very much like a textbook...more
Easily the densest book I've ever read. The authors go to great lengths to establish the depth of their research, and at times it can completely obliterate the prose.
The basic theory of this work is that Jesus was a Freemason, at least of some sort, and that Masonry goes back at least that far. The authors claim that the "raising" of Lazarus was not actually bringing him back from the dead, but was an allegory akin to teh "raising" of a Master Mason.
...more
The basic theory of this work is that Jesus was a Freemason, at least of some sort, and that Masonry goes back at least that far. The authors claim that the "raising" of Lazarus was not actually bringing him back from the dead, but was an allegory akin to teh "raising" of a Master Mason.
...more
I started this book about 3 years ago when my husband got it as a Christmas present from his sister. The first three chapters are really captivating about the history of Freemasonry. But then it gets sketchy. I quote from chapter 13, page 267:
"Some years earlier, when we had first developed the theory that the Knights Templar had found something under the Temple ruins, we had stared backwards to a gulf of over a thousand years wondering what might have been placed there to find. Now w...more
"Some years earlier, when we had first developed the theory that the Knights Templar had found something under the Temple ruins, we had stared backwards to a gulf of over a thousand years wondering what might have been placed there to find. Now w...more
Omerakhayyam
added it
I don't know if its the same book I read- since it was a while back that I read it, now there is a plethora of books out there on these topics. The facts and documentation of some of the things that are said, could be contested but it does give you a perspective on the world of secret societies, in a much more intimate way, and the cultish mythology built around it.
One thing you should get from this book: ancient ruins and civilizations never die, they just continue in some other form...more
One thing you should get from this book: ancient ruins and civilizations never die, they just continue in some other form...more
To be honest, I read much but not all of this book. This book appears to be poorly researched although the authors often say that "they read this or they discovered that" yet never actually cite the sources of any of these "major discoveries". There may be those out there that will say that the authors cite several sources however those that are cited only reinforce minor premises in the book. Couple with this the fact that many so called discoveries are mere conjecture and o...more
Read sometime in the late 90s. At the time, I found it a fascinating deconstruction of the history of freemasonry, linking the society to ancient Egypt, Jesus Christ and the Knights Templar, including a bonus explanation for the Shroud of Turin. It really appealed to my inner conspiracy freak. But ultimately I think it's a work of fiction.
never finished it. A lot of speculation and vast assumptions. The authors are not academics and it shows. They make leaps of logic that made me shake my head. Don't get me wrong. They have done a lot of research, and they presented a lot of historical facts, however, they really left solid ground when they want to prove their hypothesis.
This was an early book - for me - on the history of the craft, written by Chris Knight. I got to know Chris through this book. We have over time, traded a number of emails. This book traces the craft - with several leaps of faith and "fact pointing" to the Egyptians and the pyramids. This book has been signed by Chris Knight.
"Il codice Da Vinci" ha fatto molto scalpore, ma le teorie ventilate in quel romanzo sono molto antiche. Questo è uno dei saggi dove si propongono visioni diverse del ruolo di Gesù. Un filo conduttore legherebbe la cultura Egizia, la predicazione e la vita di Cristo, i Templari e l'ordine della Massoneria.
An excelent book detailing certain elements of Masonic ritual & history. Written by 2 Masons, they make sure to to keep true to their Masonic vow of not revieling the real secrets... as if they really know. They did a horrible job of "debunking" some conspiracy "theories" ...but a great read!
This was so interesting. If you can wade through the detailed history at the start (I knew nothing about it) it presents a plausible alternative history. Even if you're not convinced, it definitely opens your mind to question why people blindly believe whatever they've been told for no reason.
Dull. Boring and longwinded. I bought this book because of misguided friendship and I'm sorry I did. I was never truly a fan of alternative (possible) history timelines, and this book almost made me completely dig a deep and unending mental grave for the people that believe in that theory.
Awesome book, lots of possible facts, but not actual facts. It exaggerates and bends the truth to bend it's views, but it does indeed touch on fact from time to time and it makes for a very very entertaining book.
I've loaned it out to a ton of people, and they've all liked it.
I've loaned it out to a ton of people, and they've all liked it.
All of the books written by these authors could very well be the most important scholarly text written on the gnostics in modern times. They have lifted so many stones for me, I could not possibly thank them enough for the illumination.
This book changed my life. Another of a few books that helped me see the fraud of religion. One book couldn't do that for me, because I've learned that you cannot always believe what you've read. This book added pieces to an ever growing puzzle..........mgc
A book that starts as the results of two men's research to find the source of Freemasonry...leads to places I never expected this book to go! Awesome information, a great eye-opener! Very good stuff!
Romer V.
added it
A good and entertaining book to read. However, some of the author's points are not supported by evidence.
While it was very enjoyable the scholarship is very poor, it does not do justice to Masonry or to Christ.
Wow! If you are into searching for truth and are not afraid of what you might find...this is a good book.
can't really believe it all....but by far the most original theory i've read in years
totally fictional but has some really neat ideas in it none the less.. great volume for anyone looking to write a pseudo-historical adventure novel ala Clive Cussler or Dan Brown..
Decent read, I tried to treat this particular read as fun instead of academic. This books reads more as a story about the authors' research and not a research work. There are some footnotes, but I would have loved to see citations for what they were writing about often. I'd recommend this book to other Masons but ask them to read it with a critical mind and not be too quick to accept every word as truth. I did find the argument for the true identity of Hiram Abiff to be especially interestin...more
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Christopher Wright is the author of dozens of horror fiction books for children and young adults. He writes under the pseudonyms Johnathan Rand and Christopher Knight. Almost all of Wright's books (save American Chillers) take place in his home state of Michigan.
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