Dedicated to the centenary of Rudolf Steiner's first proclamation of Christ's appearance in the etheric realm of the Earth, this book discusses various aspects of that event that had not previously been addressed adequately. Sergei Prokofieff points to three themes of primary importance, all of which are connected directly with the tasks of the Society that Rudolf Steiner founded: The preparation of humankind for the Second Coming Working with Christ as the Lord of Karma Recognizing in Anthroposophy the spiritual language through which questions can be posed to the etheric Christ today Prokofieff describes these and other critical undertakings, such as forging a strong relationship with Michael and the importance of recognizing the adversarial forces attempting to falsify Christ's Second Coming. The Appearance of Christ in the Etheric is of relevance to every individual who wishes to take an active role in fulfilling the needs of our time.

The first chapter of the Acts of the Apostles describes Christ's Ascension: "And a cloud received him out of their sight." As the disciples looked up, two angels appeared and told them, "This same Jesus, taken up from you into heaven, shall come again in the same way as you have seen him go." In 1910, Rudolf Steiner began a series of lectures announcing the advent of Christ's appearance in the sphere of the earth's etheric or life body. At first, he said, only a few will be aware of it, but in time more and more people--regardless of religious affiliation--will be strengthened, comforted and infused by the Christ's living presence. Such "Damascus experiences," bespeaking a new natural clairvoyance, Steiner argues, will become increasingly common. "The Christ will become a living comforter," he writes. "However strange it may seem, it is nevertheless true that often when people, even in considerable numbers, are sitting together not knowing what to do and waiting, they will see the etheric Christ. He will be there, will confer with them, and will cast his word in such gatherings. We are now approaching these times..." This collection contains Steiner's lectures on this theme, as well as on important related questions, such spiritual science and etheric vision, the etheric vision of the future, "the etherization of the blood," the Sermon on the Mount and the land of Shambhala, the mysteries of comets and the Moon, Buddhism and Pauline Christianity, spirit beings and the ground of the world, and the three realms between death and rebirth. The Reappearance of Christ in the Etheric collects much of Rudolf Steiner's most important discussions of esoteric Christianity, especially as it relates to the central place of the Christ being in world and human evolution.

The first chapter of the Acts of the Apostles describes Christ's Ascension: "And a cloud received him out of their sight." As the disciples looked up, two angels appeared and told them, "This same Jesus, taken up from you into heaven, shall come again in the same way as you have seen him go." In 1910, Rudolf Steiner began a series of lectures announcing the advent of Christ's appearance in the sphere of the earth's etheric or life body. At first, he said, only a few will be aware of it, but in time more and more people--regardless of religious affiliation--will be strengthened, comforted and infused by the Christ's living presence. Such "Damascus experiences," bespeaking a new natural clairvoyance, Steiner argues, will become increasingly common. "The Christ will become a living comforter," he writes. "However strange it may seem, it is nevertheless true that often when people, even in considerable numbers, are sitting together not knowing what to do and waiting, they will see the etheric Christ. He will be there, will confer with them, and will cast his word in such gatherings. We are now approaching these times..." This collection contains Steiner's lectures on this theme, as well as on important related questions, such spiritual science and etheric vision, the etheric vision of the future, "the etherization of the blood," the Sermon on the Mount and the land of Shambhala, the mysteries of comets and the Moon, Buddhism and Pauline Christianity, spirit beings and the ground of the world, and the three realms between death and rebirth. The Reappearance of Christ in the Etheric collects much of Rudolf Steiner's most important discussions of esoteric Christianity, especially as it relates to the central place of the Christ being in world and human evolution.

"The being whom we call Christ once walked the earth in flesh and blood at the beginning of our era. He will never again return in a physical body, for that was a unique event and will not be repeated. But He will come again in an etheric form in the period I have mentioned. People will learn to perceive Christ by virtue of growing towards him through this etheric perception." Many contemporaries were unaware of Christ's incarnation on earth at the beginning of the modern era. And today, says Rudolf Steiner, many remain ignorant of the most important event of our time: the appearance of Christ in the etheric - or life - realm of the earth. Fundamentalist and millennial groups await a second physical incarnation, while atheists and materialists deny spirit altogether. Nevertheless, an incisive transformation is taking place in the human soul that will lead to an emerging clairvoyance. Just as Paul perceived Christ at Damascus, so may every human being experience Him today.

Before the sacrifice of the Mystery of Golgotha, the Christ being performed three great sacrifices in the spiritual world. Those sacrificial acts made possible the selflessness of the senses, the body's physical organs, and the human capacities of thought, feeling, and volition. This is an essential lecture for a deeper understanding of Rudolf Steiner's Christology and what he terms the "turning point in time"--Christ's incarnation and the Mystery of Golgotha.

"Truths cannot be transmitted simply as stable dogmas. Truths are always of a given moment and, at each moment, must be grasped anew. This demands at each moment a renewed activity in relation to the human gift of understanding." -- Jörgen Smit (from the foreword) The goal of this study is to cultivate the experience of living, intuitive thinking, such as we experience with every new understanding. As Kühlewind puts it, this unique contribution to practice of anthroposophy has a twofold purpose: "to stimulate working with spiritual science through exercises, and to stimulate independent new formulations of its content on the basis of experience." Working with Anthroposophy will help guide beginning students and inspire longtime students of the path opened up by Rudolf Steiner. As with all of Kühlewind's works, this book opens new insights with each reading.