Editing Albigensian Crusade (section)

==Cathar beliefs and practices==
{{Main|Catharism#Beliefs}}
The word "Cathar" is derived from the Greek word ''katharos'', meaning "clean" or "pure."{{sfn|Tyerman|2006|p=570}} Partially derived from earlier forms of [[Gnosticism]], the theology of the [[Cathars]] was [[Dualistic cosmology|dualistic]], a belief in two equal and comparable transcendental principles: God, the force of good, and the [[demiurge]], the force of evil. Cathars held that the physical world was evil and created by this demiurge, which they called ''Rex Mundi'' (Latin, "King of the World"). ''Rex Mundi'' encompassed all that was corporeal, chaotic and powerful.{{sfn|Cross|Livingstone|2005|p=303}}{{sfn|Lock|2006|pp=162–164}}

The Cathar understanding of God was entirely disincarnate: they viewed God as a being or principle of pure spirit completely unsullied by the taint of matter. He was the God of love, order, and peace. [[Jesus]] was an angel with only a phantom body, and the accounts of him in the [[New Testament]] were to be understood allegorically.{{sfn|Cross|Livingstone|2005|p=303}}{{sfn|Lock|2006|pp=162–164}}{{sfn|Nicholson|2004|pp=54–56}} According to Cathar teaching, humans originally had no souls. They taught that the evil God, or [[Satan]] in another version, either gave new souls to people or used the souls of fallen angels. Alternatively, God took pity on men and gave them souls.{{sfn|Strayer|1971|p=28}}{{sfn|Nicholson|2004|p=55}}

Some Cathars believed in the [[Metempsychosis|transmigration of souls]], in which the soul went from one body to another. Whether they did so or not, [[sexual intercourse]] under all circumstances was a grave sin, because it either brought a new soul into the evil world or perpetuated the cycle of souls being trapped in evil bodies.{{sfn|Strayer|1971|p=28}}{{sfn|Nicholson|2004|p=55}} Civil authority had no claim on a Cathar, since this was the rule of the physical world. Accordingly, the Cathars refused to take oaths of allegiance or volunteer for military service.{{sfn|Nicholson|2004|pp=56–57}} Cathar doctrine opposed killing animals and consuming meat.{{sfn|Gui|2006|p=39}}{{sfn|Le Roy Ladurie|1978|p=xi}}

Cathars rejected the [[Catholic priesthood]], labelling its members, including the pope, unworthy and corrupted.{{sfn|Costen|1997|p=59}} Disagreeing on the Catholic concept of the unique role of the priesthood, they taught that anyone, not just the priest, could consecrate the [[Eucharist in the Catholic Church|Eucharistic]] host or hear a [[Sacrament of Penance|confession]].{{sfn|Costen|1997|p=60}} There were, however, men selected amongst the Cathars to serve as bishops and deacons.<ref name="Albigenses">{{Catholic Encyclopedia |no-icon=1 |prescript= |last=Weber |first=Nicholas |wstitle=Albigenses}}</ref> Cathars rejected the dogma of the [[real presence of Christ in the Eucharist]] and Catholic teaching on the existence of [[Purgatory]].{{sfn|Madden|2005|p=124}}

Cathar meetings were fairly simple. In a typical gathering, those present would make one or more recitations of the [[Lord's Prayer]], make a general confession of sins, ask for forgiveness, and conclude with a common meal. There were however some special rituals.{{sfn|Strayer|1971|pp=32–33}} Catharism developed its own unique form of "sacrament" known as the ''[[consolamentum]]'', to replace the Catholic rite of baptism. Instead of receiving baptism through water, one received the ''consolamentum'' by the laying on of hands.{{sfn|Costen|1997|p=67}}{{sfn|Gui|2006|p=36}}

Cathars regarded water as unclean because it had been corrupted by the earth, and therefore refused to use it in their ceremonies.{{sfn|Gui|2006|p=42}} The act was typically received just before death, as Cathars believed that this increased one's chances for salvation by wiping away all previous sins.{{sfn|Costen|1997|p=68}} After receiving ''consolamentum'', the recipient became known as ''[[Cathar Perfect|perfectus]]''.{{sfn|Barber|2014|p=78}} Having become "perfect," the soul, upon the death of the body, could escape the perpetual cycle of death and rebirth and achieve salvation.{{sfn|Nicholson|2004|p=55}}

Prior to becoming a perfect, believing Cathars were encouraged but not always required to follow Cathar teaching on abstaining from sex and meat, and most chose not to do so. Once an individual received the ''consolamentum'', these rules became binding.{{sfn|Madden|2005|p=124}} Cathar perfects often went through a ritual fast called the ''endura''.{{sfn|Murray|1998|pp=189–190}}

After receiving the ''consolamentum'', a believer would sometimes take no food and rely only on cold water, a practice eventually resulting in death. The procedure was typically performed only by those close to death already.{{sfn|Murray|1998|pp=189–190}} Some members of the Church claimed that if a Cathar upon receiving the ''consolamentum'' showed signs of recovery, the person would be smothered to death to ensure entry into [[Heaven]]. This sometimes happened, but there is little evidence that it was common practice.{{sfn|Barber|2014|pp=103–104}}

Cathar bishops were selected from among the perfect.<ref name="Albigenses"/> If a person receiving the ''consolamentum'' ever committed a grievous sin, the procedure had to be reapplied. If the bishop who dispensed it committed a serious sin, all of the people to whom he had given the procedure would need to undergo it again.{{sfn|Nicholson|2004|pp=55–56}}