Gospel of st.mark, Steiner, Rudolf

The third volume of Peter Selg's comprehensive presentation of Rudolf Steiner's life and work begins with Steiner's invitation to lecture in the Theosophical Society during the summer of 1900. From the outset of his theosophical involvement, Steiner was resolved to serve and develop the Western path to the spirit, traversed in full, conscious clarity of thought. He was therefore critical of the tendency to avoid the modern standards of a sound knowledge process in matters of spirituality and esotericism, and instead emphasized the importance of idealist philosophy as groundwork for understanding spiritual cognition.

Although his approach did not always harmonize with theosophical pursuits, Rudolf Steiner recognized the sincere striving at the basis of this movement and agreed to take on increasingly greater responsibility for the German Section. Marie von Sivers, who would later become his wife, was his most supportive colleague during this time. At a decisive juncture, Steiner broke from the Theosophical Society to found the Anthroposophical Society, through which he would continue the development of modern spiritual science more freely in accord with his original intentions.

This volume covers the period during which Steiner wrote some of his foundational works: Christianity as Mystical Fact (1902); Theosophy (1904); How to Know Higher Worlds (1904); and An Outline of Esoteric Science (1909). Peter Selg also describes the building of the first Goetheanum in Dornach as an artistic embodiment of esoteric wisdom, giving rise to an international working community, as well as the performance of the mystery dramas and Rudolf Steiner's profound Christological lectures known as the Fifth Gospel.

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"What was needed, according to Rudolf Steiner, was a deeper understanding of life and of social questions, an esoteric approach that could, and needed to, become fruitful exoterically. 'Spiritual Science does not and will not educate stay-at-homes or outsiders but rather active, effective people who step out into the world.' A theosophist or anthroposophist in the 'true sense of the word' was someone who was close to the 'nerve of the time, ' he said." --Peter Selg (from the beginning chapter)

For many centuries, the teaching of Mani was hidden behind the distorted picture that had been created by the adversaries of Manichaeism in East and West. In the course of the twentieth century, new light was shed on Manichaeism by the discovery of several Manichaean scriptures. These have shown that Manichaeism was a true, distinct world religion that, in the question of good and evil, for instance, offers insights that complement and deepen Christianity.

Also in the twentieth century, Rudolf Steiner brought Anthro-posophy, Spiritual Science, which is a continuation of a stream of esoteric Christianity that has run through human history ever since the resurrection of Christ. Anthroposophy is centered on a new, deepened idea of Christianity that, as indicated by Rudolf Steiner, is so great and all-encompassing that it can be understood in its full depth only gradually.

In this book, Christine Gruwez explores the essence of Mani's revelation and then shows what Rudolf Steiner has communicated regarding Mani and his teaching. This generates an image of two spiritual streams that, each from its own beginning, are moving toward a future when a Christianity of the deed shall become reality.

C O N T E N T S:

Introduction

1. Mani and Manichaeism: The Historical Dimension

Manichaeism Rediscovered
Mani, the Apostle of Jesus Christ
Mani's Scriptures:
-- The Organization of a Manichaean Community
-- Liturgy and Prayer
-- The Message of Mani
-- The Creation Story
-- The Figure of Jesus

2. Rudolf Steiner and Manichaeism

Rudolf Steiner's approach to Manichaeism
Rudolf Steiner's Sources:
-- St. Augustine and Other Church Fathers
-- Standard Works in German
Rudolf Steiner and Manichaean Teaching
-- The Question of Dualism
-- Characteristics of Mani's Dualism
-- Mani's View of Matter
-- Rudolf Steiner on the "Spirit-Matter Principle" in Manichaeism
-- Rudolf Steiner on the Manichaean Cosmogony
-- The Manichaean Creation Myth and Its Rendering by Rudolf Steiner
-- Rudolf Steiner on Dualism and Manichaean Dualism
-- Rudolf Steiner and the Individuality of Mani
-- Rudolf Steiner and the Acta Archelai
-- A Second Version
-- The Son of a Widow
-- Mani and the Paraclete
-- Mani's Spiritual Stature and Rank

3. The Mission of Evil: Rudolf Steiner and the Mani Intention

Evil as Ill-Timed Good
Manichaeism and the Future of Christianity: Form and Life
The "I" as Double-Edged Sword
Initiation into the Mystery of Evil

4. Mani as Artist and the Significance of Art in Manichaeism

Mani, All-around Artist:
-- The Ritual Meal as Prototype of Manichaean Art
-- The Significance of the Picture
-- Rudolf Steiner on the Source of Art and Artistry
-- Conclusion

Epilogue: Anthroposophy and Manichaeism as Deed

Appendix 1: Manu and Mani
Appendix 2: The Manichaean View of Jesus and Christ

The second chapter focuses on Rudolf Steiner's time in Berlin, where he worked as editor of a cultural periodical, Magazin f r Litteratur, and accepted a position as lecturer at the Workers' School. There he was able to grow into his capacity as a teacher and where, although he encountered many ideological challenges, his insight into historical development found wide appreciation among students.

The third chapter covers the turn of the century and Rudolf Steiner's inner transition to speaking and writing more openly of his esoteric observations on the evolution of consciousness, the "I," and the training of cognition. His decisive 1899 essay, Individualism in Philosophy, marked this impulse, followed by invitations to lecture freely before the Theosophical Society, where Rudolf Steiner presented the esoteric nature of Goethe's fairy tale and the content of what later became his own books Mystics after Modernism (CW 7) and Christianity as Mystical Fact and the Mysteries of Antiquity (CW 8).

The lectures in this book remain valid and the world situation even more desperate and in need of change in keeping with spiritual-scientific knowledge. The need for developing "consciousness of the self as the spiritual essence of the free, individualistic, single-personality human being" is one of Steiner's unique contributions to the evolving history of humankind. This book marks another milestone on that path.

CONTENTS

Introduction by Bernard J. Garber

The Realities of Higher Worlds
Paths Leading to a Knowledge of Higher Worlds
The Foundations of Spiritual Science
Man in the Light of Spiritual Science
World-development in the Light of Spiritual Science
Jesus or Christ
The Necessity for a Renewal of Culture
The Relationship of Man with the cosmos
The Soul Life of Man in Relation to Higher Worlds
the Development of Christian Life in Europe: The Mission of the Scandinavian Peoples

This book is a translation of Die Wirklichkeit der h hren Welten (CW 79).