A member of a medieval Christian dualist sect that flourished in southern France from the 12th-14th centuries, believing in two opposing principles of good and evil.
From Greek 'katharos' meaning 'pure,' reflecting their belief in spiritual purification. Also called Albigensians after the town of Albi, they practiced strict asceticism and rejected material world as evil.
The Cathars were so committed to their beliefs that many chose ritual suicide by starvation called 'endura' rather than renounce their faith during the brutal Albigensian Crusade—Europe's first crusade against fellow Christians!
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