Lecture XVII

GA 346/1924-09-21/p021 ·1924-09-21 · English LowLow alignmentMost translators re-paragraphed Steiner substantially. The locus identifies the same chapter or section, but paragraph-N to paragraph-N mapping is loose. For exact-quotation precision, compare with the German.
Record: unknown. How this text was taken down (shorthand transcript, listeners' notes or manuscript) is not on record here. Unknown is not an assurance of a stenogram: check the edition's own notes before resting an argument on one word.

We find that the more worldly initiates in the Middle Ages always describe the matter in such a way that the Seraphim, Cherubim and Thrones stand close to the earth, as the lowest hierarchy, and that one ascends through Dynamis, Kyriotetes and Exusiai to the angels, archangels and Principalities. If you look at illustrated books from the Middle Ages you will be confused about what you're seeing and you will ask yourself why the angels are sitting above the Seraphim. This came about because one no longer knew the exact details that are connected with these processes and one didn't imagine these things in a very organic way anymore. The error first arose during the Jews' Babylonian captivity in B.C. times when the whole doctrine became contaminated with Babylonian symbols through the contact of the Jews with the Babylonians, and this error in the order of precedence of the spiritual hierarchies was perpetuated by the Jewish cabala in the Middle Ages.

Read this passage in another edition
ENEnglish
Raw JSON: /v1/steiner/en/ga/346/1924-09-21/p021.json
Cite: GA 346/1924-09-21/p021 · edition English