Delivered more than 60 years ago, the lectures in this booklet demonstrate Alfred Heidenreich’s gift for kindling understanding of the essence of Christianity and the nature and being of Christ. Guided by spiritual science or anthroposophy, as founded by Rudolf Steiner (1861-1925), Heidenreich presents an imaginative and insightful reading of the meaning of Christ’s ‘resurrection body’, addressing the significance of ‘original sin’ and ‘the Fall’, and how they relate to this metaphysical body.

In his second lecture, Heidenreich addresses ‘the greatest mystery of our time’, relating to the true meaning of Christ’s ‘Second Coming’ or ‘appearance’ in the etheric realm of the earth. It is our responsibility, says the author, to bring ‘...the awe and wonder of our thought, the mercy and love of our hearts, the conscientiousness of our deeds’, to help illumine and strengthen this esoteric reality.

ALFRED HEIDENREICH (1898-1969) met and became a follower of the Austrian polymath Rudolf Steiner, after serving in World War I. In 1922 he trained as a priest in the Christian Community, ‘the movement for religious renewal’, founded by Friedrich Rittelmeyer with the support of Rudolf Steiner. As one of the movement’s first leaders, Heidenreich helped develop its work internationally, moving to England in 1929. He was popular as a lecturer and author of several key books on Christianity.

November 2013; RSP; 48pp; 21.5 x 13.5 cm; pb;