Danny, thanks for a good read: especially the bit on statistics and life expectancy.

I have often wondered if the Knights Templars were Cathars and your writing helps to confirm this.

There were two leadership cadres within the Cathars:

“Perfecti — those who had renounced the world, the priests and bishops

Credentes — believers who still interacted with the world but worked toward renunciation

(from https://www.ancient.eu/Cathars/)

I think the Templars were the latter.