The Essence of Christianity

GA 68a — 12 May 1909, Oslo

49. The Advent of Christ in the Western World

Report in “Aftenposten” from May 13, 1909

The Secretary General of the German Section of the Theosophical Society gave a captivating and eloquently delivered lecture on the subject of “The Advent of Christ in the Western World” to a large audience at the Brüder-Hals-Saal yesterday. The lecturer began with an interesting juxtaposition of the basic tenets of the great religions and showed how the right soil of the Christ principle, with its strong urge to develop the personality, must remain with the European peoples.

In a way, Theosophy marks the same breakthrough in the religious life of nations as the introduction of methods of knowledge in the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries in science. Just as the scientist uses his instruments to investigate the secrets of the external world, so the theosophist, with the instrument of his soul, probes the purely spiritual universe that lies behind the veil of the material world, and unfolds his individuality, his personality, by delving even deeper into the mystery of Christ.

The feeling of individuality, the fresh, young sense of self, appears strongest in the Germanic people. The speaker mentioned Fichte's philosophy and Ibsen's powerful poetry, which he described as “the conscience of the European self”.

Dr. Steiner added that the great law of Theosophy, that the soul is born and develops from life to life, is in no way opposed to the Christian doctrine of redemption.