Premium 44 - The Cathars pt. 2: Cistercian Preaching Missions, “Is It OK to be a Luddite?”, and Medieval History as Parapolitics

[originally published on Patreon Sep 10, 2022] In part 2 of 4, I revisit and reiterate the Cathars' cosmology and the situation leading up to the Albigensian crusade. Along the way I discuss Thomas Pynchon and his essay on the Luddites. Then I discuss the period of time immediately before and leading up to the Albigensian Crusade, namely two Cistercian preaching missions to the Languedoc. One of these was spearheaded by Bernard of Clairvaux. In particular, I utilize a dissertation which posits alternate or additional, dare I say parapolitical reasons for these preaching missions. This, too, is setup for the following episode. Songs: Balferd Baldrs by Burzum