Essentials of Anthroposophy

Submitted by John Ralph on Sun, 11/04/2007 - 9:12am.
I have made a list of elements that may be considered essential to anthroposophy. They may not be unique to anthroposophy, but collectively they build a picture that may be useful in delineating this spiritual path in relation to others.


I have made a list of elements that may be considered essential to anthroposophy. They may not be unique to anthroposophy, but collectively they build a picture that may be useful in delineating this spiritual path in relation to others.
 
  • Promoting individual freedom in spiritual activity through self-development of thinking, feeling and the will
  • Promoting the development of direct perception of spiritual beings; there are stages of spiritual development that have to be achieved through diligent personal effort
  • Respecting the spirit in matter as much as the matter in spirit
  • Understanding the true significance of the Mystery of Golgotha and the reappearance of the Christ in the ether realm
  • Taking account of the karmic working of cause and effect across repeated Earthly incarnations
  • Accepting the central responsibility of humanity for world evolution (the reversal of human will) as a member of the human spiritual hierarchy whose mission, as a whole, is to develop love in freedom
  • Engaging with dynamic spiritual truths in all areas of human culture and civilisation
 
This short list is a beginning. It does not mention our indebtedness to Rudolf Steiner or Christian Rosencreutz. Some of the elements seem to overlap, and none may be adequately defined. Some terms may require specific definitions and others may be best left open to individual interpretation.
 
What is missing? What may be understood differently by others? Are we sufficiently clear about what we are getting ourselves into by studying anthroposophy?
 
I am looking forward to the new Anthroposophia Group activity. How can we best describe the relationship of the anthroposophical movement to the being of Anthroposophia?