Q: What is known about the Cathars?

Recently I was wondering about what I know about this religious group (Basically what I was told at school.) and so I decided to ask anyone here for help (Write what you know, list books I should read or whatever else you think could be useful.).
To put it in the words of Starship Troopers: I would like to know more.
Thanks.
 
Emmanuel le roy Ladurier's book Montaillou is a good text on the subject, mostly compiled from the records of the Inquisition actually, and well, Gnosticism sharing to nihilism. The hard core of the Cathars seem to have believed that the world was irredeemably corrupt, Satan had too strong a hold, nothing could be changed for the better and the only honourable thing to do was to leave it all behind and make your way to the next world as neatly as you could.
 
There was a branch of Cathars on Sardinia who were exterminated after Papal excommunication. They were strict pacifists and most refused to defend themselves though a small number died fighting.
 
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