What is a "Knight Templar"?

Music to Go with the Article

Sometimes, the Forces of Light and Goodness get too hardcore. In a deadly combination of a Fundamentalist, and the phrase He Who Fights Monsters, they get blinded by themselves and their ideals, and this extreme becomes tyrannical sociopathy. It's not the Forces of Darkness' fault, but they are laughing their butts off. It doesn't mean that they won't still fight to their own demise, but they take great satisfaction in the fact that they were right.

Usually, the Knight Templar's primary step (or objective) to his perceived "utopia" is to get rid of that pesky "free will" thing that is the cause of crime and evil. Many Knight Templar types are utterly merciless in dealing with those whom they consider evil, and are prone to consider all crimes to be equal. The lightest offenses are met with Draconian punishments such as full imprisonment, deastruction or brainwashing. Note that the "minor offense with staggeringly out-of-proportion punishment" is jaywalking. If you're in a story like this, don't jaywalk.

It's important to note that despite being villains/villainous within the context of the story, Knights Templar believe fully that they are on the side of righteousness and draw strength from that, and that their opponents are not. Trying to reason with one isn't much good either, because many Knight Templar types believe that if you're not with them, you're against them. Invoking actual goodness and decency will have no effect, save for making Knights Templar demonize your cause as the work of the personification of Evil. After all, they are certain that their own cause is just and noble, and anyone who stands in the way is a deluded fool at best and another guilty soul to be "cleansed" or evildoer to be killed at worst, and doing so is not even Dirty Business.

The Knight Templar is the ultimate incarnation of Light is Evil, and in series where Dark is Good, you can count on this guy being the villain who believes that the "dark" characters are evil and must be destroyed. If they are still nominally good, expect them to be a Hero Antagonist.

The Evil Equivlant of the Well-Intentioned Extremist

Wow what a surpride with the music=Really liked it

The article was really detailed i liked the examples that you provided t the reader

I like how you explained tha the knghts templar eally felt that they were on the right side-plus they had someone powerful supporting thier efforts.

Good article