Christianity and the Ancient Mysteries

Quick Look

• Explores Steiner's work in depth
• Brings a deep knowledge of esoteric writings, mythology and Christianity to the subject
• Discusses ancient wisdom and its impact on Christianity

Brings insight and fascinating background to one of Steiner's key works on the development of Christianity.

Description

In 1902 Steiner wrote Christianity as Mystical Fact and the Mysteries of Antiquity, showing the evolutionary development from the ancient mysteries, through the great Greek philosophers, to the events portrayed in the gospels. Steiner saw the Christ event as the turning point in the world's spiritual history -- an incarnation whose significance he saw as transcending all religions.

Charles Kovacs brings his deep knowledge of esoteric writings, mythology and Steiner's lectures to give more background and to show how the way for Christianity was prepared in the ancient pre-Christian mysteries of Egypt and Greece. He discusses the symbolic and real events of the gospels, as well as looking at some of the understandings and disputes of the early Christians.

The book is illustrated with Kovacs' own colour paintings.

Reviews

'Steiner's work becomes enriched and deepened by Kovacs' reflections... the reader does not need to be familiar with the original in order to gain insight and pleasure from Kovacs' book. His language is very clear and to the point, his train of thought as easy to follow as Ariadne's thread and his patient working through the material step by step allows you to stay with the entire development of humanity in picture form without getting lost. [The book] is fascinating and inspiring... Kovacs and Steiner have given us a feast of myths, philosophy and initiation wisdom which lights up our path towards initiation and can be an aid of encouragement for our own meditative practise.'
-- Anna Phillips, Camphill Correspondence

'... an interesting and informative book, one that would be a good study companion for Steiner's Christianity as Mystical Fact. Sixteen artistic works painted by Kovacs are featured in this volume; they provide a pleasant 'intermission' midway through the book.'
-- New View

Author

Charles Kovacs (1907–2001) was born in Austria. After the Second World War he settled in Britain, and in 1956 he took over a class at the Rudolf Steiner School in Edinburgh, where he remained a class teacher until his retirement in 1976. Kovac is the author of a highly-respected series of books for Steiner-Waldorf teachers based on his extensive lesson notes, as well as books on religion and spirituality, including The Apocalypse in Rudolf Steiner's Lecture Series, The Spiritual Background to Christian Festivals and Christianity and the Ancient Mysteries.