Anthroposophy and the Philosophy of Freedom : Anthroposophy and Its Method of Cognition, the Christological and Cosmic-Human Dimension of the Philosophy of Freedom

by Sergei O. Prokofieff, Maria St. goar (Translator)

Overview

"I asked Rudolf Steiner, 'What will remain of your work thousands of years from now?' He replied, 'Nothing but The Philosophy of Freedom. But everything else is contained in it. If one realizes the act of freedom described there, one can discover the whole content of Anthroposophy.'" -- Walter Johannes Stein

Some people's path to Anthroposophy leads them directly to Rudolf Steiner's early work Intuitive Thinking as a Spiritual Path: A Philosophy of Freedom, which becomes the philosophical basis for further exploration. Steiner referred to this as a "safe" approach. However, the destiny of many leads them directly to Anthroposophy itself, perhaps through one of its practical initiatives such as Waldorf education or biodynamics, sometimes making it difficult to relate to the cognitive basis of Anthroposophy.

In this unique study, Prokofieff offers a fresh approach to Steiner's crucial book, Intuitive Thinking as a Spiritual Path. He shows why the book is so important to Anthroposophy as the work in which Steiner lays a foundation for his method of spiritual research. In Steiner's own words, "One who is willing can indeed find the basic principles of Anthroposophy in my Philosophy of Freedom."

Prokofieff discusses the Christian nature of the anthroposophic means of cognition and how it is integral to freedom and love. This in turn reveals the deeply Christian roots of Intuitive Thinking as a Spiritual Path and its importance for modern Christian esoteric work.

In considering its multifaceted cosmic and human dimension, Prokofieff discusses Intuitive Thinking as a Spiritual Path in relation to the mystery of the Resurrection, the work of the hierarchies, the being Anthroposophia, the "Fifth Gospel," Steiner's path of initiation, the Rosicrucian and Michaelic impulses, the life between death and rebirth, the Foundation Stone, the Christian mysteries of karma, and the science of the Grail.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781906999025
Publisher:	Rudolf Steiner Pr
Publication date:	06/30/2009
Pages:	304
Product dimensions:	6.10(w) x 9.10(h) x 1.00(d)

About the Author

Sergei O. Prokofieff (1954-2014) was born in Moscow, where he studied fine arts and painting at the Moscow School of Art. At an early age he encountered the work of Rudolf Steiner and quickly realized that his life would be dedicated to the Christian path of esoteric knowledge. He wrote his first book, Rudolf Steiner and the Founding of the New Mysteries, while living in Soviet Russia, and it was published in English in 1994. After the fall of Communism, he helped establish the Anthroposophical Society in Russia. In 2001, he became a member of the Executive Council of the General Anthroposophical Society at the Goetheanum in Switzerland. More than 30 of his books have been translated into English. Sergei Prokofieff passed away in Dornach, Switzerland.

Maria St. Goar (1928-2018) was born in Matsue, Japan, a daughter of Dr. Fritz and Emmela Karsch, who were German citizens. The family lived in Japan throughout World War II. Maria had a limited formal education and was primarily home-schooled in Japan by her mother. Maria had a voracious appetite for reading. At age 12 she began studying Anthroposophy, beginning with books on the Old and New Testament by Emil Bock. Eventually she became fluent in three languages (German, English, Japanese), leading to her future translation work. After the American occupation of Japan began, Maria accepted a position as an interpreter at the International War Crimes Tribunal in the Prosecution Section and arrived in the United States in 1949. Her first marriage ended shortly thereafter, but she married again in 1954, this time to Herbert St. Goar a former German refugee who arrived in the United States just before the War in 1938. Maria worked and volunteered her time as a translator of numerous anthroposophic works by Rudolf Steiner and related authors from German into English for publication in the United States and Great Britain. In 1989, Maria began serving as a Class holder for Tennessee, Georgia and Alabama, was a member of The Christian Community.

Table of Contents

Preface 1

1 Method of Cognition in Anthroposophy 4

2 The Philosophy of Freedom and the Mystery of the Resurrection 20

3 The Philosophy of Freedom and the Working of the Hierarchies 38

4 Aspects of the Study of Man in the Philosophy of Freedom 48

5 The Three Sciences 58

6 Michael and The Philosophy of Freedom 62

7 The Philosophy of Freedom in the Light of The Fifth Gospel 73

8 The Fifth Gospel and Rudolf Steiner's Path of Initiation 81

9 Metaphysical Foundations for the Unconditionality in The Philosophy of Freedom 97

10 The Philosophy of Freedom and the Being Anthroposophia 114

11 The Rosicrucian and Michaelic Impulses in the Philosophy of Freedom 121

12 The Philosophy of Freedom and the Life between Death and Rebirth 137

13 The Impulse of Freedom and the Christian Mysteries of Karma 160

14 The Philosophy of Freedom and the Modem Science of the Grail 170

15 The Creation of the Foundation Stone Out of the Substance of the Grail 189

16 The Foundation Stone and The Philosophy of Freedom 200

Epilogue 224

Addendum I About the Inner Being of the Human 'I' 230

Addendum II Three Streams in the Evolution of the Earth 253

Notes 263

Works by Rudolf Steiner referred to 288