Wednesday, November 23, 2005

Rudolf Steiner and Benedict XVI

‘Was heute zu retten ist, das ist das Mysterium von Golgotha selbst’ so spoke Rudolf Steiner in 1920. And which we can take as meaning: that what must be saved today – for the sake of the world – is awareness of the Mystery of Golgotha, the cosmos-transfiguring Mystery of Christ.

Thus the views of Rudolf Steiner, while regrettable in many cases, from the point of view of the Church, are nonetheless in **essence** entirely in agreement with the faith of the Church, as to what is most vital and important.

There is also present an accord between Rudolf Steiner and the Holy Church, as to what menaces civilisation at this time. In essence, both Steiner and the Church are warning of the **same evil**, the same destroyer of freedom. I hope to bring this out in different ways over the weeks to come.

For now, I will just indicate that the love for the world, the concern for the world and the horror for the future of the world that animated Rudolf Steiner ceaselessly – whatever miscalculations he may have made – is also what is ceaselessly animating the man who is now Benedict XVI, and who among other things, identifies ‘a pressing need for social legislation to monitor and restrain the misuse of property.’

And this is because he sees how: ‘at present, as hardly ever before, we clearly see how people … are destroyed … by making possessions their real god. Anyone, for instance, who lets himself be ruled entirely by the workings of the stockmarket will basically become **incapable** of thinking in any other way … the world of possessions takes powerful hold upon people’s lives. The more they have, the more they are dominated and **enslaved** by what they have (Emphasis mine).’

A uniform pattern arises in which ‘town centers look the same in South Africa as in South America, as in Japan … the same jeans are worn everywhere, the same hits are sung … In that sense, there is a unity of civilisation right down to McDonald’s and a single menu for mankind. While at first sight, this growth of uniformity seems [like] reconciliation [in fact] people are increasingly alienated from one another … Any deeper communication between people is being lost now, if it cannot be … imparted by these superficial [patterns] of relationship.’

Believing in the likelihood that ‘the population of an entirely planned and controlled world are going to be inexpressibly lonely’ and in ‘a future in which it is no longer possible to be truly human,’ the Holy Father has predicted that the Church, even if it grows very small, will keep working to carry out her mission …

Friends, I am not without misgivings in posting this dark entry. We must be ever on guard against becoming morbid, depressed or melodramatic. Still, I have my reasons. These include the fact that I believe that there is more accord than realised – and I think more accord than ever before – between Catholic and Hermetic Christianity.

And this accord needs to be **recognised** and developed, wherever legitimately possible. I also wish to pay tribute to the insight, the heart, the soul of the brilliant mind and ceaseless worker for humanity who now occupies the lonely post of the Holy See and is so oft vilified by lies. Such that many Christian people often have almost NO idea of that for which he stands.

Oh, Holy Father my heart and prayers go out to you, as I also pray that we who are aspiring Hermeticists may recognise your courage and selfless dedication, and work with you in heartfelt sympathy and love, and not distance ourselves in indifference, suspicion or even hostility …

7 comments:

Roger Buck said...

I trust that brief use of copyrighted material in this entry, is in the spirit of 'fair use' regarding small extracts. If my judgment errs, I sincerely apologise and will remove any objectionable use immediately, if notified.

This material is taken from God and the World - pgs 179, 142-143,441, 400. This book by Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger not only yields profound insight into the modern world, but is also a highly accessible introduction to Catholic Christianity.

jeff said...

Hello Roger

I want you to know how much I appreciate this blog. I am a Quaker, not a Catholic but very interesting to hear the point of view of a hermetic Christian.

I am presently reading MOTT....a work of genius. Exploring chapter Four at the moment.

Jeff

Roger Buck said...

Thank you Jeff. This is nice to hear ...

Tracking technology shows me people are following this blog - but whether they are appreciative or outraged is harder to tell ... :-)

Having participated a little in Quakerism, I can really appreciate it. Obviously I am very deeply with the Sacraments (Orthodox, Catholic, High Anglican, etc) and think their efficacy could be vital to our collective future ...

BUT that does not mean I don't recognise something very beautiful in the meeting of the Friends. You make me wonder about a service that could combine the Sacraments with the kind of atmosphere and inspiration that happens with the Friends ...

jeff said...

Hello again Roger

What you say about combining the worship of Friends with specific sacraments such as the Eucharist is not theologically inadmissible in Quaker Theology. Modern Friends see our lack of 'outward sacraments' as affirming the sacramental nature of all life...sacramental grace is thus experienced inwardly and directly etc... But the reason Friends originally abandoned formal sacraments is actually quite different. George Fox and Quakers during the first ten years of the movement believed that the Second Coming had actually happened.. 'Christ has come to teach his people Himself' ...in the hearts and minds of those who were open to Him. As the Kingdom had come the need for Sacraments had come to an end. Later Friends glossed over this as their theology changed.

Even now Quakers stress (as did Fox) the abandonment of 'forms without power', i.e. rituals, symbols, structures which have become ends in themselves, no longer channels of grace. But of course to many committed Christians these 'forms' most definitely do have power...as you say they may well be 'vital to our collective future'. I myself have no clarity in this area. Though I certainly can and do experience sacramental grace in Meetings for Worship.

Recently I find myself missing the coherence of mainstream theology, spirituality and practice. But at the same time believe that it is within my own tradition that I am being asked to follow Christ.I do have problems with certain aspects of the Church and at the same time am concerned by the abandonment of the Divine among some Friends as a decline into a supermarket spirituality, yet another lifestyle option (though this is the same in many other churches too). yet God is at work in all people at all times...there is no need to despair...in the end 'all is harvest'.

Some Friends have 'dual membership' belonging both to the Society of Friends and a Eucharistic Church. I feel the inward tension between these approaches. It is interesting that Quakers and Catholics often connect personally...what outwardly appears very different is inwardly not dissimilar. This is especially true in the contemplative and socially engaged manifestations of catholicism.

I do feel that the path of Mysticism, Gnosis and Sacred Magic is not incompatible with the Quaker path, which itself is rooted in direct experience (mysticism), inward listening (gnosis) and creative action (magic). A Hermetic Quaker? Possibly.

Anyhow reading MOTT is helping me reflect in this area and much of it 'speaks to my condition'. The basis of that book and of the path is Love. This truth is a source of unspeakable joy for me.

Jeff

Roger Buck said...

Thank you for this clear, informative and meaningful post. Actually I was not speculating about bringing the Sacraments into the Friends Meeting House - but more wondering about bringing something like the kind of practice of the Friends into the Sacramental Church. I know we are all called to different traditions. Should you ever set up a Hermetic Quaker blog Jeff :-) ... I will definitely be reading it!

And then there is the 'unspeakable joy' of love ...

jeff said...

I came across the following today in a book in which I write things which have spoken to me. It seems very apt to our conversation.

'Love is the Kingdom which the Lord mystically promised to his disciples when He said that they would eat and drink in his Kingdom...What should they eat and drink if not Love? When we have reached Love, we have reached God and our journey is complete. We have crossed over to the island which lies beyond the world, where are the father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.'

(Saint Isaac the Syrian)

Roger Buck said...

Thank you for *enriching* this page, Jeff. This is indeed very beautiful.