Approaching the Mystery of Golgotha

10 lectures, various cities, 1913–1914 (CW 152)

“The fear of the purely spiritual that is present in every person...belongs to the depths of the soul. This fear is the result of Ahriman’s influence and would not exist had Ahriman not gained power over the souls of human beings. People are mostly unconscious of this fear because it works in the deepest foundations of the soul and plays no role in what they can reckon with in their everyday consciousness. Meanwhile, the fear of the spiritual knocks on the door of their ordinary consciousness without their knowing what it is that disquiets them from the depth of their souls. Then they look for something that has an anesthetic effect, something to dull this fear they want no part of. They find the anesthetic in materialistic thoughts, theories, and ideas. Materialistic theories are not invented on logical grounds, although one might believe this to be the case. They are conceived out of a fear of the spiritual, which is the result of Ahriman’s influence on the soul.” — Rudolf Steiner (May 1, 1913)

In February of 1913—a landmark year for Rudolf Steiner and Anthroposophy—the first General Meeting of the Anthroposophical Society was held. In September, the Foundation Stone for the Goetheanum was laid in Dornach. The ground for Anthroposophy as we know it today was established.

Such is the background for the remarkable lectures contained in this volume. Outwardly, they begin to set the record straight. Inwardly, they seek to establish a right relationship of service to Christ and the spiritual worlds in accord with the spirit of the times, the archangel Michael. For the first time, Rudolf Steiner reveals openly the need for a true “Michael School” and that he and Anthroposophy, the fruit of his spiritual research, are earthly representatives of Michael.

Christ and Michael are the explicit guiding lights of this collection, which itself represents a profound act of Christ–Michael service. With courage, devotion, and conviction, Rudolf Steiner, now free and independent, the “teacher” of his own “school,” sets about unveiling the truth and reality, as he knows it. Again and again, he returns to the sacrificial deeds of Christ—creative, sustaining, and enabling our humanity—before, during, and after Golgotha.

The teaching at the heart of this volume, as it is at the heart of the Christ, is selflessness: the overcoming of egotism and the primacy of the other. “We must become selfless—that is the task of culture today for the future. Human beings must become more and more selfless. Therein lies the future of right moral life actions, the future of all acts of love that can occur through earthly humanity.”

Approaching the Mystery of Golgotha is the first complete English translation of «Vorstufen zum Mysterium von Golgatha» (GA 152).