Science Fair Project Encyclopedia Catharism was a Gnostic
movement that originated around the middle of the 10th century,
branded by the contemporary Roman Catholic Church as heretical.
It existed throughout much of Western Europe, but its home was
in Languedoc, in southern France. The name Cathar most likely
originated from Greek catharos, "the pure ones". Another
suggested origin was from Latin cattus, for "cat", which were
usually associated with witches and heretics. Most likely this
is just a myth initiated by the Roman Catholics. One of the
first recorded uses is Eckbert von Schönau who wrote on heretics
from Cologne in 1181: "Hos nostra germania catharos appellat."
The Cathars are also called Albigensians. This name originates
from the end of the 12th century, and was used by the chronicler
Geoffroy du Breuil of Vigeois in 1181. The name refers to the
southern town of Albi (the ancient Albiga.) The designation is
hardly exact, for the centre was at Toulouse and in the
neighbouring districts. The belief