The Rudolf Steiner Archive

12. The Wisdom Teachings of Christianity

Article in the “Heidelberger Zeitung”, April 1905

[ 1 ] Dr. Steiner’s theosophical lecture, held on Monday evening in the small Harmonie Hall, was received with keen interest. However, the number of attendees was not large compared to what the evening had to offer. Of particular note was the extraordinary wealth of ideas that the speaker demonstrated in every respect. His treatment of the subject turned out to be quite different from what one might have been inclined to assume. Under the heading “Wisdom Teachings in Christianity,” the speaker addressed entirely different matters—much deeper ones—than those currently held in the collective memory of the Christian world; he spoke of mysteries, of vision, of the development of higher perceptual abilities, and of higher worlds, and explained that in the time of the early Christians, certain specific methods and mental exercises were practiced for the development and exploration of the spiritual human being. The monthly journal “Luzifer — Gnosis” contains some of the lectures given by the speaker, Dr. Steiner, in print, as well as quite interesting articles written by him (further details are available from the local Theosophical Society, office at Kettengasse 23). The lecture, which was received with lively applause, concluded with various quotations from Goethe and Schiller, with special reference to the latter’s aesthetic letters.