Today's materialistic, technological, scientific, and information-overloaded culture, yearns not only for the alluring prospect of an intellectual grande idee, but more so, for a sense of purpose and mission. Western society, in a search for some long lost spiritual id, some elusive raison d'etre, seems readily, to delve ever deeper into the pages of modern popular literature.
Harry Potter, Lord of the Rings, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Dr Who, HB&HG, DVC, Secret Supper, et al, are all of course largely fiction, yet all parallel the classical hero's journey, together with, that certain zeitgeist. Such narratives can be viewed by way of, myth, archetypes, symbolic language, and religion, as the modern Odyssey. Their characters not only save the world, but keep its most precious secrets safe and free from falling into the hands of Evil Doers, whilst in the process growing in their own personal knowledge of, self and purpose. Some might even contest that, 'The 30 minute [Holy] Bible', should also be added to this list.
Throughout our colective histories, extremes of tension and apprehension, as were brought about by events such as: the wars of the 20th century; the Industrial Revolution with it's exploitation of labour; the Napoleonic rape of Europe subsequent to the French revolution; the Renaissance; the Crusades; the Inquisition; the rise of Catholic Rome; the romantisised, heroic exploits of the Arthurian era; the fall of Imperial Rome after it's long and cruel domination of the then known world; right back to the pilage of The Palastine; and most particulaly, the several Diaspora of the children of Abraham; all of which have caused, down the generations, immeasurable afflictions on the western psyche. Subsequent to the end of The Cold War and the devastation of 9/11, we once again find that we are living in a period, when the Quest for, and the need of, a resurrection of essoteric, romantic ideals, becomes itself,a compelling raisons d'etre.
Now let us turn to the heresies, the treasures, and inevitably, the debate:
Every summer for countless years, on Friday nights, June through October; the Jardin du L'Abbey Beringer-Saunier, at Rennes-le-Chateau; becomes the venue of choice for an international band of Treasure Hunters, Ghost Hunters, Mystics, 'Esoterics', and numerous fellow-travelling, Ne'r-do-wells; all doing what they enjoy doing most, - Expressing their opinions on what happened in this village during a 40 year period leading upto the fatal heart attack of L'Abbey Saunier (one time priest of this parish), on 17th January 1917 - .
Euphemistically refered to as a debate, these open air conferences, chauvenistically presided over in French (to limit Anglo Saxon influences or participation), provide a splendid opportunity in otherwise congenial surroundings, for those present, to indulge their intelect, whilst entertaining their families, sampling the haut cuisine, and sadly, for many, getting very drunk; all as guests of Le Patron, Jean-Luc Robin.
These conferences are scheduled by a number of societies, clubs and specialist discussion groups, like L'association Terre de Rhedae, Le 17 Janvier Pommes Bleues, and the Saunier Society. Each Friday, conferences are addressed by a knowledgable speaker from the relevant organisation, through to the first week in September when the Saunier Society hopefully invites Henry Lincoln to address the faithful.
In organising this debate my choice of venue will be here in the ' Blogosphere'. As for the guest speakers, just like Claude Raines, I 'll "round up the usual suspects".

Let's kick off this Debate by asking:

What really brings up to 30,000 visitors a year, to the middle of no where, in order to see this hideously wierd little village Church, - Ste Marie Magdelene ? Is this the source of some dreadful heresy ?
Then which one ? You must decide.