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Michael Baigent (born Michael Barry Meehan,〔Obituaries, page 15, ''The Bulletin, The Magazine of the Nelson College Community'', December 2013 ()〕 27 February 1948 – 17 June 2013) was an author and speculative theorist who co-wrote a number of books that question mainstream perceptions of history and the life of Jesus. He is best known as co-writer of the book ''The Holy Blood and the Holy Grail''. ==Biography== Baigent was born in 1948 in Nelson, New Zealand and grew up in the nearby communities of Motueka and Wakefield. His upbringing was Catholic, and he attended church three times a week, as well as being tutored in Catholic theology from the age of five years. His father left the family when he was eight years old and with his mother Jean, Baigent went to live with his maternal grandfather, Lewis Baigent, a sawmill owner, and took his surname.〔(Michael Baigent Obituary, ''The Guardian'', 30 June 2013 )〕 His great-grandfather, Henry Baigent, had founded a forestry firm, "H. Baigent and Sons". His secondary schooling was at Nelson College, and then he moved on to the University of Canterbury, Christchurch, initially intending to study science and continue in the family career of forestry, but then switched to studying comparative religion and philosophy, studying Buddhism, Hinduism and Christianity. He traveled to Australia and Southeast Asia, occasionally living on the street. He then returned to Auckland, receiving a BA in Psychology. Baigent worked briefly at the BBC photographic department, and worked night shifts at a soft-drink factory. Later in life, Baigent earned an MA in Mysticism and Religious Experience at the University of Kent.〔(Michael Baigent from HarperCollins Publishers )〕 A Freemason and a Grand Officer of the United Grand Lodge of England, he was editor of ''Freemasonry Today'' from April 2001 (deputy editor Matthew Scanlan), which he used as a platform for a more liberal approach to Freemasonry.〔''Michael Baigent, editor of ''Freemasonry Today'', said he had always felt odd "meeting with friends dressed as though I am attending a funeral". Referring to the origins of the black tie tradition, he added: "This period of mourning became enshrined in tradition, and we have mourned ever since."'' (Masons end their black tie affair )〕 He was a trustee of the Canonbury Masonic Research Centre. Baigent lived in Bath with his wife, Jane, with whom he had two daughters. He died from a brain haemorrhage in Brighton in 2013.〔 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Michael Baigent」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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