Ordo Templi Orientis claims the mediaeval order of warrior monks, the Knights Templar, as one of the antecedent groups whose wisdom is perpetrated through its mysteries. Apparently other organizations with somewhat less lofty motives are also styling themselves (in their minds at least) upon this ancient and holy order as NPR reports:
“[NPR host Arun] RATH: Wow. Now, the self-defense force sprung up to fight against this drug cartel. They call themselves the Knights Templar. They appear to have made more of their money through extortion and illegal mining than drug trafficking. What can you tell us about the Knights Templar?
“[NPR correspondent Carrie]KAHN: They’re a very interesting group. They are unlike any of the drug cartels that are in Mexico controlling parts of Mexico right now. They model themselves after medieval crusaders. So they sort of have a quasi-religious ethos to them. They’re very interesting. They would preach, and at the same time, they would continue their drug running. But as their drug running, they control the meth trafficking in Michoacan.”
Read/listen to the whole report here:
http://www.npr.org/2014/03/08/287869159/why-getting-el-chapo-wasnt-the-end-of-the-drug-war
Thanks to Soror Hypatia for the tip!
Vice.com reports that subsequent to this NPR report the leader of the Knights Templar Servando Gomez Martinez, aka “La Tuta” was captured:
https://news.vice.com/article/leader-of-knights-templar-cartel-la-tuta-is-captured-in-mexico
So I guess that leaves OTO as the main lineage claimants – YAY!
