There are things in life that are easier to understand than the philosophical texts and lectures that Waldorf education, the anthroposophical medicine, the biodynamic agriculture, the Threefolding and much more, which came from Rudolf Steiner.
On the one hand, it is difficult to understand, but on the other hand, we are not only talking about facts that we can only perceive with our senses. In fact, there are levels that in principle everyone, including you and me, can experience, although they "except sensual"That is to say, outside the grasp of our sensory organs. How this can work was demonstrated at the time by pupils of Insiders experienced. See also here Esotericism. Today it is still useful to be taught the ways and principles by trained people, but the secrecy that was necessary then is no longer necessary.
The problem where misunderstandings can arise is where people mistakenly want to approach, for example, Rudolf Steiner's writings and lectures mainly with the intellect. This sometimes does not work at all, and an intellectual can only come to the conclusion that everything must be nonsense. He may not even realise that he will never be able to grasp the core of the matter in this way.
If, however, one is open and recognises that in some areas understanding can only succeed gradually, that it can be useful to take a question into the night sometimes, or that it can be good if one can consciously live with an open question for a longer period of time, and if one develops the trust that one can receive answers to inner questions from life and by life, then this tends to correspond to what is called the living thinking can be called. In addition to this, it is important to be open-minded and not pigeon-holed in what one encounters in life, for only in this way can it be possible to gain a more realistic understanding of the essence of a thing. And then there is Exerciseswith which one can train one's "soft skills" in this direction.
At the same time, as an interested person in anthroposophy, you will always experience inner doubts. There will be days when nothing works at all, and one will ask oneself: "What is the point of all this? But people in all areas of faith and spirituality certainly also have these doubts.
In addition to my own insecurity, however, there is also the zeitgeist of modern society, where spiritual questions and questions of faith and spirit are not considered acceptable in public discussion. I receive feedback from people interested in anthroposophy who are happy to be able to exchange ideas via the internet because this is not possible in their immediate private environment.
And on top of that, I also notice downright attacks directed against everything and everyone who cannot leave it at purely materialistic or purely rational views. As if it were a battle of "matter against spirit".
Do you know the idea behind the saying: "Energy follows attention"? For me, it's saying you magnify or amplify the one you have your focus on. Personally, I have had to decide: Do I chafe at attacks and do I try to counter them? According to the principle: attack = defence? No, rather not. Because that would only tie up forces that I use in other places. Namely in places where I have personally had wonderful experiences with anthroposophy or with anthroposophists or with people in biodynamic agriculture. To show these examples with documentation or lectures or similar here on anthro.world, so that you can get inspiration and guidance to be active yourself, that alone is our full attention.
Having said this, we nevertheless want to provide you with current topics for your perusal, which are criticisms of Rudolf Steiner or of anthroposophy and everything connected with it. In this way you can form your own picture and see who said what and how it was countered.
Please use the comment function to tell us about your concerns and fears in connection with your approach to anthroposophy. You are welcome to do so anonymously.
Francois Hagdorn, 20 October 2020
Here is an initial selection of articles:
An article by Michael Kiske on the fight against anthroposophy. (Image source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/)
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