The Essence of Christianity

GA 68a — 14 September 1910, Bern

55. Theosophy and the Bible

When the Bible is mentioned in our time, two sentiments may arise in a person, among many other thoughts and feelings. The first may come from the contemplation of the tremendous effect that this book has had on humanity throughout the long history of the development of spiritual life. And anyone who reflects on this influence and recalls how much not only edification but also strength, hope, and comfort have flowed from a book for almost infinitely long periods of time will be unable to close himself off from an enormous sense of awe and devoted recognition of the influence of this book. But in our time, in the intellectual life of the present, a completely different impression can arise alongside this.

If we look back at the early days of Christian development, we find that the Bible was initially a book that was closed to the general public. This was, of course, at a time when the general public was separated from any literature. Before that, the Bible was not only in the hands of those who were misleading people, but also in the hands of serious researchers.

Precisely to the extent that the Bible spread, what was contained in it also lost its persuasive power. It lost its significance for those who could open the great book of nature enlightenment. The emerging natural science with all its achievements gave mankind a belief in, for example, the origin of the world, the solar system, which was no longer compatible for many with the Bible.

1811-13 Fichte: lectures in Berlin.

With the eyes of the seer, [the] development of the earth can be traced back./Transcript breaks off.