classics 6 - christianity as mystical fact

8/13/2019 Classics 6 - Christianity as Mystical Fact

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C HRISTIANITY

A S M YSTICAL FACT


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Intro!u#tion ii i

CHRISTIANITY AS

MYSTICAL FACT

R U D O L F S T E I N E R

Translate! -y ANDREW W ELBURN

ANTHROPOSOPHIC PRESS


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iv CHRISTIANITY AS MYSTICAL FACT

This volume is a ta!slatio! o" )as Christentu% als %ystis#he Tatsa#heun! !ie (ysterien !es Altertu%s #$ol% & i! the Bi'lio(a)hi*Suve+, )u'lishe- '+ Ru-ol" Stei!e $ela(. Do!a*h. S/it0ela!-%

Co)+i(ht 1 A!tho)oso)hi* Pess 2334A"te/o- '+ Mi*hael De'us. ta!slatio! 1 5ames H% Hi!-es 2334

Pu'lishe- '+ A!tho)oso)hi* Pess. I!*%6637 Route 3. Hu-so!. N%Y% 2896:

Li'a+ o" Co!(ess Catalo(i!(;i!;Pu'li*atio! Data

Stei!e. Ru-ol". 2&Chiste!tum als m+stis*he Tatsa*he u!- -ie M+steie! -esAltetums% E!(lish?

Chistia!it+ as m+sti*al "a*t @ Ru-ol" Stei!e ta!slate- '+A!-e/ Wel'u!%

)% *m% #Classi*s i! a!tho)oso)h+,I!*lu-es 'i'lio(a)hi*al e"ee!*es a!- i!-e%ISBN 7;&&727;:6


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Intro!u#t ion v

C O N T .N T S

I N T R O D U C T I O N -y An!rew el-urn i/

CHAPTER 2

The M+steies a!- M+steioso)h+ 0

The (ysteries an! Initiation 01irth an! Re-irth 2The Hi!!en "o! 03

CHAPTER 8

The M+steies a!- Pe;So*ati* Philoso)h+44

Hera#litus o$ .phesus 44Pythagoras o$ Sa%os 53

CHAPTER 6

Plato!i* M+steies 67

The (ystery o$ I%%ortality 67

The (ystery o$ Creation 34The (ystery o$ Love 38

CHAPTER :

M+th a!- M+steioso)h+ 25

The Stru#tures o$ (yth 25+ro% (yth to Philosophy 29

(yths o$ Initiation 94The (yth an! (ysteries o$ .leusis 84


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CHAPTER 9

vi CHRISTIANITY AS MYSTICAL FACT

The E(+)tia! a!- Othe Easte! M+steies 82

The .gyptian (ysteries: 1e#o%ing Osiris 82The Li$e o$ an Initiate: 1u!!ha an! Christ ;0

CHAPTER iews inthe Nineteenth Century #/hi*h late a))eae- i! a!e)a!-e- vesio! as The Ri!!les o$ Philosophy,. i!/hi*h he immese- him; sel" i! the /a+s o" thi!i!( o"

ma!+ o" the )hiloso)hes a!- !atual s*ie!tists o" the

!i!etee!th *e!tu+%23

He )ota+e- them i! su*h a /a+that he *oul- sa+ o" him; sel". You have sho/! +ou

*om)ehe!sio! o" *ue!t -ie*tio!s o" thou(ht '+

teati!( them as o!l+ someo!e /oul- /ho "ull+

su))ots them% 87 He un!erstoo! his *o!tem)oaies%Ho/eve. he e)eie!*e- e!tiel+ the o))osite "om

othes% O! his)ath he emai!e- misu!-estoo-% Thus ateve+ tu! I met the )o'lem Ho/ *a! I "i!- the /a+ to

e)ess i! tems u!-esta!-a'le to m+ *o!tem)oaies

/hat I i!/a-l+ )e*eive -ie*tl+ as the tuth A!- the

uestio! 'e*ame )essi!( Must I emai! sile!t82 His

immesio! i! s)iitual steams "oei(! to himsel" a!- his

-e*isio! !ot to /a!t his o/! vie/)oi!t to )evail. le-

him i!to a *isisthe lo!eli!ess o" 'ei!(misu!-estoo-% But this *isis le- to a 'eathou(h. to

the *o(!itio!al

2&% I'i-%. )% 26%

23% Oi(i!all+ )u'lishe- O*to'e 2377 The Ri!!les o$ Philosophy.A!tho)oso)hi* Pess. S)i!( $alle+. NY. 2346 #GA 2&,%

87% I'i-%. )% 2:% Stei!e /e!t o! to sa+. No o!e /ill 'e a'le to sa+this esotei*ist s)eas o" the s)iitual /ol- 'e*ause he is i(!oa!t o"

the )hiloso)hi*al a!- s*ie!ti"i* -evelo)me!ts o" ou time%

82%An Auto-iography. ))% 83:. 83


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477 CHRISTIANITY AS MYSTICAL FACT

e)eie!*e o" the M+ste+ o" Gol(otha. the most

i!/a-. most ea!est solem!it+ o" !o/le-(e o! the

theshol- o" the *e!tu+% His thi!i!( /as ta!s"ome-

'+ /hat "i!all+ a))eae- i! /itte! "om i! his orl!an! Li$e >iews in the Nineteenth Century he *oul- the!"ollo/ a )ath he late *alle- the )ath o" thou(ht to

Chist% O! this )ath the "ollo/i!( hol-s tue

The moe /e -evelo) a so*ial i!teest i! the o)i!;io!s o" othe )eo)le. eve! /he! /e *o!si-e them

"alse. the moe /e illumi!ate ou thou(hts /ith the

o)i!io!s o" othes. the moe /e )la*e !et to ou

o/! thou(hts #/hi*h /e *o!si-e tue, those -evel;

o)e- '+ othes #/hi*h /e ma+ *o!si-e to 'e i!

eo. 'ut ae !evetheless i!teeste- i!,. the moe

/e *a! "eel /ithi! ou soul the /o-s o" Chist.

/hi*h must 'e u!-estoo- to-a+ i! the !e/ la!;

(ua(e o" Chist What +ou "i!- as o)i!io!. as /ol-

vie/ i! o!e o" the least o" +ou "ello/ huma!

'ei!(s. theei! see me m+sel"%88

I! this /a+ Stei!eKs metho- o" immesio! i! s)iitualsteams "oei(! to himsel" 'e*ame a )ath o" !o/le-(e.

a )ath to Chist thou(h thi!i!(%

Dui!( this time u!til the tu! o" the *e!tu+ thee /as

one "oei(! s)iitual steam i! /hi*h it a))eas he*oul- !ot immese himsel". a!- he -i""ee!tiate- himsel"

88% Le*tue o" Fe'% 22. 2323 i!)ie innere Aspekt !es soEialen Rt=sels. )% :< #GA 236,%


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A$terwor! 470

"om it a(ai! a!- a(ai! the s)iitual steam o" the Chis;

tia! Chu*h a!- Chistia! *ee-s% I !eve "ou!- the

Chistia!it+ I sou(ht i! a!+ o" the eisti!( -e!omi!a;

tio!s%86 U!til the tu! o" the *e!tu+. /he!eve he

s)oe o" Chistia!it+ he /as e"ei!( to the

su'sta!*e o" Chistia!it+ that lives i! the eisti!(

*o!"essio!s% Ho/; eve. /hoeve sees !o/le-(e

must ee*t su*h *o!te!t as Chistia! "aith i! evelatio!%

A))ae!tl+. a"te the tu! o" the *e!tu+ Ru-ol" Stei!e"ou!- himsel" i! a! e!tiel+ !e/ situatio!% He ha-

-evote- himsel" /ith *om)lete sel"less!ess to the meth;

o-s o" thou(ht o" othe )eo)le% This 'e*ame "o him a

)ath o" thou(ht lea-i!( to !o/le-(e o" Chist. to Chist

himsel"% Solem!l+ sta!-i!( 'e"oe the M+ste+ o"

Gol(otha as "ou!-atio!. Stei!e *oul- !o/ immese

him; sel" also i! the e**lesiasti*al. the Chu*h steam.

/ith u!-esta!-i!(% This is a! e!tiel+ !e/ eleme!t i!

his 'io(a)h+. a!- it o)e!s u!usual a!- /o!-e"ul

)es)e*; tives thou(h /hi*h the Chu*h *a!

u!-esta!- ho/ it /as 'o! "om )e;Chistia! M+ste+

eli(io!s% Su*h a! u!-esta!-i!( is !e/ a!-

u!)e*e-e!te- i! the histo+ o" Chistia!it+% Immesio!i! this steam si(!i"ie- a *om; )lete tu!;aou!- "o

Ru-ol" Stei!e%

O! this )ath "o(e- '+ Stei!e. the e)eie!*e o"

Chist sho/s us that the esse!tial 'ei!( o" the /ol-

#o%es to %eet ou huma! thi!i!(% A!+o!e /ho sees!o/le-(e

86%An Auto-iography. )% 62& he *o!ti!ues. I "ou!- it !e*essa+ toe!te i!to a -ie*t a!- livi!( e)eie!*e o" Chistia!it+a!- i!-ee-

i!to the /ol- o" s)iit itsel". a"te the sevee i!!e stu((les -ui!(

the time o" testi!(%


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'+ 'e(i!!i!( the )ath /ithout the )esu))ositio!s o" a!+

/ol-;vie/ /hatsoeve. /ill sometime at some )oi!t o!

the )ath. !o matte ho/ "a;-ista!t. eve!tuall+ meet

Chist%

The -ie*tio! is evese- i! the s)iitual steam o" the

Chu*h. /hi*h is !ot the )i!*i)le o" en#ounter 'ut the)i!*i)le o"$ollowing% This )ath is thee"oe !ot /ithout)esu))ositio!s it is 'ase- i!stea- o! a )e;eisti!(

elatio!shi) to. a!- e)eie!*e o". Chist himsel". /ho'e*omes the lea-e o" /hoeve "ollo/s him% Stei!e

s)eas o" this "o the "ist time i! Christianity As (ysti=#al +a#t% It /as !ot +et )ossi'le i! 2378 to )ese!teve+thi!( i! a "ull+ -evelo)e- "om% The se*o!- e-i;

tio! i! 2327 is a "uthe -evelo)me!t a!- *lai"i*atio!.

a!- also. i! )at. a su))leme!t to /hat /as sai- i!

2378%8:

The !e/ u!-esta!-i!( esults "om the )es)e*tive o"

the )e;Chistia! M+steies% The+ ae the (ou!- u)o!

/hi*h Chistia!it+ has -evelo)e-% Nevetheless. it *a!;

!ot sim)l+ 'e -eive- "om the M+steies it is the see-

o" a! i!-e)e!-e!t s)e*ies% I!-ee-. /e must evese the

*ausalit+ a!- sa+ that the *eative )o/e at /o i!Chistia!it+ /as )e)ai!( the (ou!-s "o its o/!

a))eaa!*e i! the )e;Chistia! M+ste+ *ults%89 The

M+steies ae the -a/!i!( li(ht o" the isi!( Su! o"

Chistia!it+%

8:% A! e*elle!t stu-+ o" this is "ou!- i! Chisto)h

Li!-e!'e(Ks 'oo. In!ivi!ualis%us un! o$$en-are ReligionBRu!ol$ Steiner Fugang Eu% Christentu%. e)a!-e- e-itio!.Stutt(at. 2339%

89% See )a(e 244%


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A$terwor! 475

What )u)ose -i- the M+steies seve E)esse- i!

mo-e! tems the+ /ee e-u*atio!al esta'lishme!ts "o

the *ultual a!- )oliti*al elite. the lea-es o" that time% I!

*o!tast to to-a+. i!!e -evelo)me!t a!- ete!al )o"es;

sio!al tai!i!( /ee i!timatel+ *o!!e*te-% Be*ause o"

this. the i!!e tai!i!( a!- the e)eie!*es asso*iate-

/ith the M+steies /ee esse!tial% I! (e!eal. a-missio!

i!to the M+steies /as !ot o)e! to the )u'li* o!e *oul-

'e *alle- to them o!l+ /he! the )e*o!-itio!s ha- 'ee!met% These /ee )eo)le /hose )eso!alities a!- (i"ts

/ee "a too -evelo)e- "o them to 'e sim)le. o-i!a+

mem'es o" a (ou)that is. e(ula "ol. a!- /ho

sou(ht a -ee)e eli(ious li"e a!- !o/le-(e tha! *oul-

'e "ou!- i! the )o)ula eli(io!s%8< The+ the! u!-e;

/e!t a! i!te!sive tai!i!( a!- e)eie!*e- )o"ou!- soul

ta!s"omatio!s. )assi!( thou(h -eath a!- esue*;

tio!% It /as a -evelo)me!t that too )la*e i! the se*lu;

sio! o" the tem)le a!- le- to *eative i!-e)e!-e!*e%

Thee /as a )ote*te- s)a*e /hee the ai /as )e)ae-

"o these )o*esses% The i!itiates /ee those *alle- to

lea- othes a!-. at the same time. to (ui-e *ultual li"e%

The+ /ee 'o! ahea- o" thei time. a!- the+ 'ou(ht to'ith the I #the e(o. o sel", i! a )ati*ula /a+ that

a!ti*i)ate- the -evelo)me!t o" the (e!eal )o)ulatio!%

I!itiato+ !o/le-(e is thus a! a*tual eve!t i! the

*osmi* )o*ess% It is the 'ith o" a -ivi!e *hil-a

)o*ess ust as eal as a!+ !atual )o*ess%84

8


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I! this "om o" the M+steies. )e;Chistia!

Chistia!; it+ eveals *haa*teisti*s that ae -i""i*ult to

e*o(!i0e i! its e**lesiasti*al "om a"te Chist.

*haa*teisti*s that !evetheless *o!stitute the esse!tial

e!el!amel+ the uestio! Whee -oes the huma!

'ei!( 'elo!( i! the s*heme o" *eatio! Has

eve+thi!( 'ee! sai- /he! /e vie/ the huma! 'ei!( as

*eatue. )eha)s as the *o/! o" *eatio! O -oes

ima(e a!- lie!ess o" Go- )e; ha)s !ot also mea!es)o!si'le *eativit+ What is the )ath /e must tavel

i! o-e to 'e ta!s"ome- "om mee *eatues to

i!*easi!(l+ *eative 'ei!(s What ha); )e!e- i! the

M+steies *a! *o!ve+ a! im)essio! o" this )o*ess%

Yet )eo)le ae illumi!ate- "om /ithi! '+ the )o/e

that "ashio!e- all thi!(s. i!*lu-i!( themselves% The+also "eel somethi!( u(i!( them o! to hi(he *e;

ative li"e% Thee lies /ithi! them somethi!( that )e;

eiste- thei !atual 'ei!( a!- /ill outlive it% It

'ou(ht them i!to eiste!*e !evetheless the+ *a!

sei0e hol- o" it a!- shae i! its *eative "o*e% Su*h

"eeli!(s )eva-e- the li"e o" the a!*ie!t %ystai as aesult o" thei i!itiatio!%8&

Chistia!it+ too ove "om the M+steies. /he! the

time /as "ul"ille- #Galatio!s ::,% This assum)tio! o"

the ole "omel+ )la+e- '+ the M+steies mea!t that the

M+steies /ee !o/ to 'e )o*laime-% The veil o" the

8&% See )a(e 2:%


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I" it is !o/ )ossi'le to e!o+ the "uits o" the M+steies

/ithout )e)aato+ tai!i!(. the! a !e/ a**ess to the

M+steies is i!-i*ate-% The esse!tial *ha!(e is the elimi;

!atio! o" the sha) se)aatio! 'et/ee! the i!itiate a!-

the "ol% The thou(ht that ma!+ /ee sta!-i!(

outsi-e. u!*etai! o" the /a+. must have /ei(he- u)o!

the mi!- o" 5esus /ith !i(htmae heavi!ess%62Fo those

sta!-i!( outsi-e. those /ho /ee !ot +et i)e "o

i!itiatio!. a )os; si'ilit+ ha- to 'e *eate- so the+ *oul-"i!- a *o!!e*tio! to the M+steies a!- a*uie at least

)at o" /hat ha- "o; mel+ 'ee! attai!a'le o!l+

thou(h the te*h!iues o" the M+steies68 'ut !o/

to a *etai! -e(ee u!*o!; s*iousl+% This a))eas

to 'e i! -ie*t *o!ta-i*tio! to the a!*ie!t M+ste+

eli(io!sK )i!*i)le that s)iitual -evel; o)me!t is 'ase-

o! the -evelo)me!t a!- e)a!sio! o" *o!s*ious!ess%

Ho/ the! *oul- a! u!*o!s*ious i!itiatio! )ossi'l+

tae )la*e What /oul- 'e i!volve- T/o !e/

)i!*i)les ae es)o!si'le "o mai!( this )ossi'le

The ole o" the pro/y i! i!itiatio! a!- the )i!*i)le o"#o%%unity initia= tion% The ole o" a )o+ hee mea!s

that the i!itiatio! o" one is also a livi!( ealit+ "o allthose /ho *li!( to him%66 Paul a**o-i!(l+ sa+s that aChistia! shoul- su"; "e /ith Chist. 'e *u*i"ie-.

esue*t. live. a!- 'e (loi; "ie- /ith Chist%6: This

*li!(i!( to Chist ha))e!s

62% See )a(e 27&%

68% See )a(e 3&%66% See )a(e 33%

6:% Roma!s


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A$terwor! 479

thou(h the )o/e o" "aith. thou(h /hi*h #o%%unity is'uilt i! a !e/ /a+%

Chist 5esus a))eae- i! his o/! time as a! i!i;

tiate'ut o!e i!itiate- i! a u!iuel+ (eat /a+%%%%

He!*e"oth "o the Chistia! *ommu!it+. m+steios;

o)h+ /oul- 'e i!-issolu'l+ 'ou!- u) /ith the )e;

so!alit+ o" Chist 5esus%69

What ha- )eviousl+ 'ee! the e)eie!*e o" the i!-i;

vi-ual m+sti* !o/ )asses ove to the *ommu!it+ as a

/hole%

I! the M+ste+;)la*es the s)iit ha- 'ee! )oue- out

u)o! the %ystai o" ol-% Thou(h the M+ste+ o"Gol(othaK it /as )oue- out u)o! the /hole Chistia!

*ommu!it+%6

classics 6 - christianity as mystical fact

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