Turning the Templar Key

The Hiram Key #7

by Robert Lomas

s/t: The Secret Legacy of the Knights Templar and the Origins of Freemasonry
Discover the truth about the connection between the Knights Templar and the Freemasons!

The third volume in Robert Lomas's Key trilogy, this book explains the relationship of the Knights Templar to modern-day Freemasonry.

The contemporary view of the Knights Templar, according to Lomas, has been romanticized and glorified to the point where it does not resemble the reality: namely, that the Knights Templar were uneducated religious zealots more akin to Al Qaeda than a true monastic order. The order only existed for a couple of hundred years, and was disbanded seven hundred years ago. Lomas asks the question, Why do people even care about them anymore?

Lomas draws on Freemasonic information to answer this question and to explore the rituals and myths of the Knights Templar and how they relate to Freemasonry. Along the way, he delves into the mysteries of Roslin chapel, the history of agriculture, and the role of women in spreading it. At the heart of the book is Lomas' exploration of how the tolerant and inclusive spiritual practices of modern Freemasonry managed to grow out of what was effectively an order of suicide bombers

Genres: History, Religion, Conspiracy Theories, Nonfiction

384 pages, Paperback

First published October 25, 2007

Reviews

[Fredrick Danysh · Rating 3 out of 5]

The author claims to be a Freemason and a member of the Templar degree of the order. He mixes perceived history of the Knights Templar with that of the Freemasons to claim that the Knights Templar still exist today.

[Andrej Drapal · Rating 4 out of 5]

Promising beginning. But then Robert Lomas gets lost in too many side stories. Although each one is interesting and important for history of freemasonry, one cannot get a common ground. But then final chapters are not only revealing but utterly important. Connecting contemporary quantum mechanics with principles of freemasonry is not something new, but Lomas is able to make it clearly visible.

[Mike Smith · Rating 3 out of 5]

An investigative history to see if the Templars survived to become the basis of Freemasonry. The first half to two thirds concentrate on the ending of the Templar order and the beginnings of Freemasonry. The final third focuses more on the concepts of Freemasonry and this is where it seems to lose focus. I would recommend this only to hardcore fans of Freemasonry and the Templar order.

[Karlie Nyte · Rating 3 out of 5]

I am one of those people who is fascinated by all things Templar, so I was pleased to read this book. I admit to my own romantic notions about the historical Templars being colored by wonderful stories such as those told by Dan Brown, but I have also expanded my knowledge of these men by reading books of research and insight, and am in no way near complete with my own personal delving into who these men were and what they may have done in the past.

This book brought to light many interesting topics that have circled around the mythology of the Templars, and its aim was to search for the validity behind these myths, or to disprove them entirely. The author really got his hands dirty in his research. As a Freemason himself, he was uniquely placed to lay his hands onto some probably otherwise more difficult to obtain tidbits, and as a scientist, he is able to sift through the various scores of information out there, to tie together some very intriguing ideas. His research led him from the beginnings of freemasonry to Rosslyn Chapel, to William the 12th Baron and his secret ambitions to claim a crown of his own, to the extreme past of the beginnings of farming over the nomadic lifestyle that humans had led until farming took hold. And as varied as many of these topics may seem, the author ties them all together nicely.

While some of the information put forward in this book was far more complex and intimate in the workings of Masons, I enjoyed this book quite a lot, and I am looking forward to reading more books by this author in the future, as it appears that his interests seem to mirror many of my own.

[Dick · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book focused on the history of Masonry and the catacism, etc of the craft. Mr. Lomas in this book makes a strong case for the Masons not being connected to the Knights Templar. Most of what he writes about rituals, et al - is accurate to my knowledge as a mason. Some of what he talks about is not known to me, so I cannot verify it, but some seems out of what I would call logical as a Mason.

Having visit Rosslyn Chapel twice and with an abiding interest in it, I was disappointed that he trashed the Sinclairs. But alas, his reaearch while seemingly good, remains open to others researching and refuting. It did make me want to return to the chapel again, however. Still wonder what is beneath the walls of that chapel. Will we ever know?

[Chuck Springer · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is indeed a fascinating book. I confess that I am one of those people who is intrigued by all things Knights Templar. I freely admit to my own notions about the historical Templars. To that end, this well-researched book is more concerned with the origin, history and rituals of Freemasonry than it was with the Knights Templar. Otherwise, this is a must read for anyone who is interested in the topic.