A World in Need

Undertaking a Campaign for Anthroposophy in America

An editorial by John Beck

I have rarely written editorials in seven years as editor of being human. I do so now for three reasons. First, despite tremendous power and material wealth, humanity is not in good shape. Second, anthroposophy and other holistic, spiritual, and globally-aware impulses have proven that they can engage the deficiencies of the modern world and bring forth better approaches. Third, the Anthroposophical Society in America has arrived at a place of decision in regard to acknowledging the far-reaching cultural intentions of anthroposophy—intentions which speak clearly to open minds and hearts.

1. Starving in the midst of plenty

Human circumstances today, globally, include many shortages and problems. Our media thrive on threats; do they ever give accounts of the immense assets and resources which are available to us? How much work and value is being created today by machines? How much free activity is supported by energy resources we have learned to harness? How much is humanity empowered by an ever-growing access to the world of ideas? With all this abundance mere survival should not be in question (though for so many it still is). So there are historically unprecedented resources available for culture.

Properly used, culture liberates, empowers, inspires, heals, helps us grow wise. Many millions of individuals use their free cultural time well, but we endure saturation advertising for empty entertainments—things that have been clearly identified as sleep-inducing social drugs.

2. Spirit works

As Thomas Meyer wrote recently in The Present Age, Rudolf Steiner’s saw a basic shift in humanity’s relationship with mind and spirit (Geist) as the deeper cause of the First World War and the turmoil that followed. In 1899, a five-millennium process of darkening of human consciousness ended. Like a cosmic dawning, new streams of consciousness started pouring in. Locked into materialistic culture and its principle of enforcement, few people could engage this new light consciously; instead, it fueled conflict. Many more people are now seeing reality in this new light and acting in accord with the spiritual principle of empowerment. With necessary trials and errors, these actions have had profoundly positive results, including the ambitious and penetrating initiatives out of anthroposophy. And these alternatives are being noticed.

3. Light under bushels

If you have a light, you don’t hide it, you place it high to light the whole room. That ancient wisdom is the challenge anthroposophy is now facing. Rudolf Steiner gave us centuries’ worth of insights, questions, and projects. We need to keep renewing ourselves by engaging this gift, yet we must also try to make it available. Every human being today is making choices which will determine our individual futures—and humanity’s. Materialism toughens and hardens us; anthroposophy lights up interiors, builds capacities for healing, reawakens community.

For historical reasons, the Anthroposophical Society has been cautious in presenting its case to the world. German language and culture, highly appreciated in 1910, has been overshadowed by English. Special responsibility rests now on the Anthroposophical Society in America.

I find it a kind of signal from “behind the veil” that as the ASA has moved to shoulder these responsibilities we meet the financial challenges engendered by our past isolation. The ASA, a national organization concerned with all human needs, has a membership and budget suitable to a regional animal welfare league. We have overcome our traditions to start communicating more openly and to undertake stronger relationship building— the type of things that initiatives on the following pages like reGeneration and Heartbeet Lifesharing do so very well. And we are willing at last to say and to undertake “A Campaign for Anthroposophy in America.”

For decades I have been inspired by the astonishing ideas of anthroposophy and by its caring, creative, committed people. I can express that now in a few clear words: “anthroposophy is being more consciously human, becoming more fully human, and acting more humanely in all of life.” And I also know that this campaign will succeed as we begin to reach out with authenticity to each other, to others in our movement to create a worthy culture, and to all others who are trying to wake up into a better world.