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Rudolf Steiner e.Lib
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The Anthroposophic Movement
Rudolf Steiner e.Lib Document
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The Anthroposophic Movement
On-line since: 19th August, 2008
The Anthroposophic Movement
Rudolf Steiner e.Lib Document
Lectures Section
The content of the lectures which are published here can be taken
as complementing the material which Rudolf Steiner included in his
autobiography, The Course of my Life.
They were delivered in a lively, informal and conversational tone,
and as such were not conceived of in book form. But because of their
exceedingly important content and historical context, their significance
should not be underestimated. This is true not only insofar as it
applies to anthroposophists, who will find illuminated the background
of the movement to which they belong and who will thus acquire a firm
standpoint through their insight into the necessity of events which need
no justification.
By Rudolf Steiner
Translated by Christian von Arnim
Bn 258, GA 258, CW 258
The content of the lectures which are published here can be taken
as complementing the material which Rudolf Steiner included in his
autobiography
The Course of my Life.
They were delivered in a lively, informal and conversational tone,
and as such were not conceived of in book form. But because of their
exceedingly important content and historical context, their significance
should not be underestimated. This is true not only insofar as it
applies to anthroposophists, who will find illuminated the background
of the movement to which they belong and who will thus acquire a firm
standpoint through their insight into the necessity of events which need
no justification.
These eight lectures are the entire lecture series entitled,
The History and Significance of the Anthroposophical Movement
to the Anthroposophical Society,
published in German as,
Die Geschichte und die Bedingungen Anthroposophischen Bewegung
Im Verhaeltnis zur Anthroposophischen Geselschaft. Eine Anregung
zur Selbstbesinnung.
They are based on transcripts which remained unrevised by
the lecturer. They are reproduced with permission of the Rudolf Steiner
Nachlassverwaltung, Dornach, Switzerland.
Translated by Christian von Arnim, abridged by Richard Seddon and
edited by Joan M. Thompson. Diagrams in the text by Assia Turgenieff
are based on blackboard drawings by Rudolf Steiner.
From Bn 258, GA 258, CW 258.
Copyright © 1993
This e.Text edition is provided with the cooperation of:
The Rudolf Steiner Press
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| Cover Sheet |
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| List of Contents |
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| Description of Contents |
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| From the Foreword to the First Edition (1931) |
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| Editorial Preface |
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Lecture One: | THE HOMELESS SOULS
Characterization of the anthroposophical movement. Souls who can make
themselves at home on earth and homeless souls. The cult of Richard
Wagner as a cultural phenomenon for homeless souls. Rudolf Steiner's
observations in these circles: “I never lost my connection with
the spiritual world.” His acquaintance with theosophists of
Blavatsky's persuasion. He himself used Goethe's
Fairy-tale
as a way to speak about the spiritual world. Blavatsky's
Isis Unveiled
and
The Secret Doctrine;
Sinnett's
Esoteric Buddhism;
Herman Grimm's novel
Unüberwindliche Mächte.
Rudolf Steiner's lectures in Berlin on mysticism.
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June 10, 1923 |
Lecture Two: | THE UNVEILING OF SPIRITUAL TRUTHS
The homeless souls of the nineteenth century inclined towards
spiritualism, the writings of Ralph Waldo Trine and the Theosophical
Society. The corporate cohesion and self-awareness of the
Theosophical Society. Ideal of the Anthroposophical Society: Wisdom
can only be found in truth. On the central ideas of
The Philosophy of Freedom
and the
endeavour to find a link with contemporary civilization in order to
speak about a spiritual realm which is justified on its own terms.
The philosophies of Fichte, Schelling, Hegel, Solger, Robert
Zimmermann. Rudolf Steiner took the name of Zimmermann's
Anthroposophy.
Topinard. Lecturing
activity in the Die Kommenden group. The founding of the German
Section of the Theosophical Society. Blavatsky's writings, Schelling
and Lawrence Oliphant; Jakob Boehme.
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June 11, 1923 |
Lecture Three: | THE OPPOSITION TO SPIRITUAL REVELATIONS
An assessment of the phenomenon of ‘Blavatsky’ requires
real powers of judgement. About the lack of judgement of our time as
exemplified through Ohm, Reis, Stifter, Julius Robert Mayer, all of
whom were denied official recognition for a long time. The effect of
Blavatsky's writings on the secret societies. Jungian psychoanalysis
and anthroposophical research in relation to Blavatsky. Jakob Boehme.
Increasing hardening of the human brain so that the inner revelations
cannot penetrate to the surface. Personal illustration of the
inability of our time to make a true judgement: lecture by Rudolf
Steiner to the Giordano Bruno Federation about Thomas Aquinas.
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June 12, 1923 |
Lecture Four: | SPIRITUAL TRUTHS AND THE PHYSICAL WORLD
Blavatsky and her effect. Her spiritual but exceedingly antichristian
perspective, similar to Nietzsche's. The reasons for this
anti-christian attitude. Up to the close of the Middle Ages the
spiritual world was sought in ritual images, including musical and
mantric forms. The development of intellectualism from the fifteenth
century onwards introduced a more critical attitude. Many souls
contain a yearning for the spirit as a consequence of earlier lives
on earth. The urge among modern human beings to follow up their
dreams as a consequence of pre-earthly experiences. The social order
of earlier periods coincided with the wisdom of the Mysteries. Todays
social order drives people to search for something beyond physical
existence. Blavatsky revealed the wisdom of the ancient heathen
religions. From the start, anthroposophy took the path from heathen
to Christian wisdom.
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June 13, 1923 |
Lecture Five: | THE DECLINE OF THE THEOSOPHICAL SOCIETY
Anti-christianism and, how to cure it. Necessity of a new esoteric
path to come to terms with the Mystery of Golgotha. Guiding forces of
the first two periods. Until 1907 every step made by anthroposophy
had to be taken in opposition to the traditions of the Theosophical
Society. Example: the concept of time in relation to kamaloca and the
book Theosophy. The Munich congress of 1907. Indian influences on
Blavatsky and Annie Besant and the culturally egoistical attempt to
defeat the West spiritually through the East. The Order of the Star
of the East and the exclusion of the anthroposophical movement from
the Theosophical Society. The developmental periods of the
anthroposophical movement.
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June 14, 1923 |
Lecture Six: | THE EMERGENCE OF THE ANTHROPOSOPHIC MOVEMENT
First period: the development of the basic content of the science of
the spirit. View of natural science. The journal
Luzifer-Gnosis.
The second period:
exploration of the Gospels, Genesis, the Christian tradition.
Expansion of the anthroposophical understanding of Christianity as
such. The spread of anthroposophy into the artistic field through
performance of the Mystery Dramas in Munich. Reasons which led to the
expulsion from the Theosophical Society.
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June 15, 1923 |
Lecture Seven: | THE CONSOLIDATION OF THE ANTHROPOSOPHIC MOVEMENT
Summary of the first two phases. The opposition which grew in
strength after construction of the Goetheanum began. Development of
eurythmy. The booklet
Thoughts in Time of War
and the inner opposition which it provoked within
the society. The being of Anthroposophia. The third phase:
fertilization and renewal of the sciences and social relationships.
The conditions governing the existence of the Anthroposophical
Society. A more open-hearted form had to be found for the three
objects of the society: fraternity, comparative study of religions
and the study of the spiritual world.
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June 16, 1923 |
Lecture Eight: | RESPONSIBILITY TO ANTHROPOSOPHY
Review of the previous seven lectures. The spiritual substance of
anthroposophy comes from sources other than Blavatsky, but the
terminology is the same in order to promote understanding. Rudolf
Steiner's
The Philosophy of Freedom
and Goethe's world conception. Anthroposophy was able
to build on Goethe's scientific writings and his
Fairy-tale.
In Egypt the human being was
the focus of the world order, social conditions were regulated
according to the stars and the moral impulses also came from there;
in science today the human being and the divine are excluded. Rudolf
Steiner's analysis of Nietzsche and Haeckel. Julius Robert Mayer,
Paracelsus and van Helmont. The twenty-one year rhythm and the danger
of sinking into a state of latency; the necessity of responsibility
and self-reflection.
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June 17, 1923 |
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| Notes |
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| Chronology of Rudolf Steiner's Life |
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| Back Cover |
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Last Modified: 07-Oct-2024
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