The Rudolf Steiner Archive

63. Global Justice and the Fate of Humanity

[ 1 ] Dr. Rudolf Steiner of Berlin gave a lecture on “World Justice and Human Destiny” last night in the concert hall of the Liederhalle at the invitation of the Stuttgart branch of the Theosophical Society of Adyar. In his introduction, the speaker described Christmas as the celebration of the rebirth of sunlight, in which the concepts of world justice and human destiny find expression. The Theosophical Movement strives to provide new answers to the great mysteries of human existence. In its explanation of these profound mysteries, Theosophy is not in conflict with the findings of science. Today, the speaker explained, it can be regarded as proven that there is a rebirth, a reincarnation of the spirit. Just as a plant whose outer form perishes carries within itself the seed of new life, so too does spiritual life renew itself over and over again. The human spirit, too, is subject to the law that it absorbs its environment, and the spiritual content of the human being is the result of accumulated experiences. The spirit carries what it has experienced over into a new life. In this lies the very secret of the human spirit’s progress and ascent. In this sense, self-knowledge also leads further back in human history than any science. The outward shape of human destiny can be traced back to the way in which the human spirit has acted in its past lives. Building on this, the speaker concluded by painting a hopeful picture of the future of the human being. Following these remarks, several questions were directed at the speaker, which he answered in detail.