Time to Beware of Many Things

Rudolf Steiner

Rudolf Steiner (1861-1925) came gradually to believe in spiritual perception independent of the senses, and later taught how human consciousness can rise above attention to matter, even though at a slow pace, in case.

Minding that Steiner asks us to investigate by ourselves, let us try.

Steiner is very much aware that in the experience of oneself as an ego, an "I", one is in the world of the spirit. He has also furnished a "science of the spirit," Anthroposophy ('wisdom of man' (from Greek: anthropos, man + sophia, wisdom). He maintains there is a spiritual world that can be comprehended in thought but only fully accessed by the soul above-inside most of our common thoughts. Steiner teaches that subtle perceptions may arise in an enhanced consciousness. Steiner stresses that inside perception of spirit things (phenomena) is independent of nature, that is, independent of the senses as they normally work.

Steiner's Spiritual Science (Anthroposophy) is claimed to complement the Natural Sciences, even though there are conflicts on some issues. The conflict issues include continent of Atlantis - In essence, Anthroposophy is "a quite modern religious system growing out of theosophy and centring on human development" [Merriam-Webster]. That is basic.

There is much rewarding and enriching thought in the works of Steiner.

"Starting with our capacity for thinking, anthroposophy leads to an experience of the spirit in each human soul who would follow the path," says Steiner, who means to foster the life of the soul and looks on life as a means for working towards higher development, and in so doing getting much better karma [a sort of life-to-life ballast] too.

Steiner points out that the Church fell from spirit sides to man in the course of time, even though it talks of spirit and soul. To lots of people, the church is a ceremony-ridden crib only. Ritual-fostering to some who are fond of candles too. But it largely ignores the spirit, or god.

Steiner talks and writes of 'Christ' in "an enhanced way" in that he teaches that Jesus was a couple of boys, and not one. There is no relevant Bible evidence of what Steiner taught and organised his own denomination around, The Christian Community (German: Die Christengemeinschaft.

Steiner appears to put a lot into the Bible in addition. Also, parts of his teachings on how the earth and moon came into being, do not coincide with those of modern science. And Steiner's Atlantis looks suspect.

Those who believe in Anthroposophy may teach in Steiner schools (Waldolf schools). You are free to ask, "Why would I send my child to a Waldorf school or Waldorf kindergarten?" The fit answer seems to be, in short: Many pupils and students from Steiner Schools get better results on public tests than pupuls and students from public schools." [More]

Waldorf Education is for developing consciousness of self and the surrounding world, well adapted to inborn stages in humans. While anthroposophy forms the theoretical basis to the teaching methods used in Waldorf schools, it is not taught to the students.

Those who have the opportunity to learn about the self-schooling, nurturing, educative, curative, and retirement sides of Anthroposophy and its bioorganic gardening methods, could welcome such an opportunity. There is much good in Anthroposophy. Many of the writings and talks of Rudolf Steiner are online at the Rudolf Steiner Archive.

In her foreword to Rudolf Steiner's Earthly and Cosmic Man, Marie Steiner in December 1932 speaks of the wealth of ideas and spiritual treasure bestowed on people by Rudolf Steiner. Parts of his lectures are difficult to arrange under one category and heading, however. His vistas and key themes are much like "concentrated foci of energy from which sparks shoot out in every direction," yet reaching the field of concrete, practical living.

Rudolf Steiner created a science of knowledge that has got manifold branches of practical doings in life. He spoke repeatedly against succumbing to the failings into which occult societies so easily lapse. Steiner's teachings demand strict truthfulness instead of drifting into vanity and ambition..

It was on 20 October 1902, in Berlin, that Rudolf Steiner gave his first lecture on Anthroposophy, says Mrs. Steiner.