|
 Ideas
for a New Europe
Crisis and Opportunity for the West
Previously published as: The Mysteries of Light, of
Space and
of the Earth)
7 lectures by Rudolf Steiner
The lecture
series, Ideas for a New Europe, was given just after the horrific events of the First World War,
and contain some of Rudolf Steiner’s most important statements on
what he saw as the role of the English-speaking peoples from the
standpoint of spiritual history. Amidst the ruins of western
civilization, Steiner pointed to the urgency for a renewal of the
spiritual life as Europe struggled to return to normality, and
challenged his listeners to understand the deeper causes, the
spiritual roots of the modern predicament. Such a re-examination is
now more pressing than ever as Europe stands on the threshold of a
new destiny.
'Steiner
was attempting above all to bring the real spirit of Christianity
back in a form that could deal with the modern individual and his
complicated life. As we see some of the social and historical
changes he foresaw actually happening, it is still more important to
realize that these changes will be meaningless without the inner
development and understanding which he asked of us. The fate of the
revolutions that created our divided century shows that individual
spirits must bring about new forms; outer forms cannot bring about
the existence of new people, untrammelled by the conflicts of the
past . . . .' (from the Introduction).
Herein
lies the crisis and opportunity for modern day consciousness at the
dawn of the twenty-first century.
Trans: J. Collis (7
lectures, 12 Dec 1919 to 22 Feb 1920, GA194, 196); 83pp
Rudolf Steiner Press
ISBN:
1 85584 121 5; paperback
See also:
Rudolf Steiner (1861-1925) called his spiritual philosophy
'anthroposophy', which he defined as 'the consciousness of one's
humanity', and the disciplined methods of studying this he termed
‘spiritual science’. As a highly developed clairvoyant and
spiritual initiate, he spoke from his direct cognition of the
spiritual world. However, he did not see his work as religious or
sectarian, but rather sought to found a universal 'science of the
spirit'.
His
many published works (written books and lectures) - which include
his research into the spiritual nature of the human being, the
evolution of the world and humanity, and methods of personal
development - invite readers to develop their own spiritual
faculties. He also provided indications for the renewal of
many human activities, including education - both general and
special - agriculture, medicine, economics, architecture, science,
philosophy, religion and the arts. He wrote some 30 books and
delivered over 6000 lectures across Europe, and in 1924 founded the
General Anthroposophical Society which today has branches throughout
the world.
Copyright © 2003 Skylark Books
|
|
