The Christian Mystery

by Rudolf Steiner

Overview

In this major collection, Rudolf Steiner affirms the reality of esoteric Christianity and unveils many of its secret teachings. His lectures are on the significance of the Mystery of Golgotha and of the Blood that flowed on the Cross; the relationship of Christ and Lucifer (or Love and Knowledge); the various paths of initiation, including the Christian-Gnostic and Rosicrucian Paths; and Steiner's early interpretations of St. John's gospel and the sermon on the mount. All of Steiner's lectures on the Lord's Prayer are also included, as well as the version of the prayer that Steiner himself prayed throughout his life.

This is an excellent book for all those who want to deepen their understanding of the Western stream of Christian esotericism and Rudolf Steiner's approach to Christianity as a spiritual practice.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781621510734
Publisher:	SteinerBooks
Publication date:	03/01/1998
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Sales rank:	830,497
File size:	848 KB

About the Author

Rudolf Steiner (1861-1925) was born in the small
village of Kraljevec, Austro-Hungarian Empire (now in Croatia), where he
grew up. As a young man, he lived in Weimar and Berlin, where he became
a well-published scientific, literary, and philosophical scholar, known
especially for his work with Goethe's scientific writings. At the
beginning of the twentieth century, he began to develop his early
philosophical principles into an approach to systematic research into
psychological and spiritual phenomena. Formally beginning his spiritual
teaching career under the auspices of the Theosophical Society, Steiner
came to use the term Anthroposophy (and spiritual science) for his
philosophy, spiritual research, and findings. The influence of Steiner's
multifaceted genius has led to innovative and holistic approaches in
medicine, various therapies, philosophy, religious renewal, Waldorf
education, education for special needs, threefold economics, biodynamic
agriculture, Goethean science, architecture, and the arts of drama,
speech, and eurythmy. In 1924, Rudolf Steiner founded the General
Anthroposophical Society, which today has branches throughout the world.
He died in Dornach, Switzerland.

Christopher Bamford (1943-2022) was born in Cardiff, South Wales, and lived for a while in Hungary and then in Scotland. He studied as an undergraduate at Trinity University in Dublin and earned his master's degree at the Annenberg School for Communication, University of Pennsylvania. For nearly thirty years, he was Editor in Chief at SteinerBooks (Anthroposophic Press) and its imprints. A Fellow of the Lindisfarne Association, he lectured, taught, and wrote widely on Western spiritual and esoteric traditions. His books include a selection of his numerous introductions, Encountering Rudolf Steiner: Introductions to Essential Works (2022); Healing Madonnas: Exploring the Sequence of Madonna Images Created by Rudolf Steiner and Felix Peipers for Use in Therapy and Meditation (2017); An Endless Trace: The Passionate Pursuit of Wisdom in the West (2003); and The Voice of the Eagle: The Heart of Celtic Christianity (1990). He also translated and edited numerous books, including Homage to Pythagoras: Rediscovering Sacred Science (2001); The Noble Traveller: The Life and Writings of O. V. de L. Milosz (1984); and Celtic Christianity: Ecology and Holiness (1982). Essays by Mr. Bamford are included in The Best Spiritual Writing 2000 ("In the Presence of Death") and The Best American Spiritual Writing 2005 ("The Gift of the Call"). Christopher passed over the threshold on May 13, 2022, at his Mt. Washington, Massachusetts home.

Rev. James H. Hindes has worked as a Christian Community priest since 1975 in congregations in Europe and America. He has served as pastor of congregations in England and Germany, as well as in New York City, western Massachusetts, Los Angeles, and, most recently the Denver congregation as its resident pastor for 20 years before retiring. Rev. Hindes has written and translated a number of books on Christianity and Anthroposophy. 

Table of Contents

C O N T E N T S:

Introduction by Christopher Bamford

1. Prologue
The Mystical Meaning of the Mass
The Significance of Christmas from the Perspective of Spiritual Science
The Origin of Religious Confessions and Forms of Prayers

2. The Christian Mystery
The Christian Mystery
The Mystery of Golgotha
The Promise of the Spirit of Truth
The World-historical Significance of the Blood that Flowed on the Cross
The Purification of the Blood from the Passion of Selfhood through the Mystery of Golgotha

3. Lucifer and Christ
Lucifer, the Bearer of Light; Christ, the Bringer of Love
The Children of Lucifer: The Step from Love Based on Kinship to Spiritual Love
The Intellect as a Gift from Lucifer

4. Paths of Initiation
The Three Paths of Initiation
The Yoga Path, Christian Gnostic Initiation, and the Esotericism of the Rosicrucian
How Does One Gain Higher Knowledge in the Rosicrucian Sense?
Who Are the Rosicrucians?
Christian Initiation and Rosicrucian Training
The Schools for Adepts of the Past
Earlier Initiation and Esoteric Christianity
Christian Gnostic Meditations

5. The Lord's Prayer
The Lord's Prayer as Prayed by Rudolf Steiner
The Lord's Prayer, 1 & 2
The Lord's Prayer Considered Esoterically, 1 & 2

6. Gospel Readings
John's Gospel
John's gospel as a Record of Initiation: The First Twelve Chapters
The Sermon on the Mount

7. Epilogue
Christianity Began as a Religion but is Greater than a Religion