The Incarnation of Ahriman: The Embodiment of Evil on Earth: Seven Lectures Given Between October and December 1919

Review of "The Incarnation of Ahriman: The Embodiment of Evil on Earth." 8/1/13 0730 hrs & 9/13/13 0830 hrsRudolf Steiner, in 7 Lectures given in 4 different German towns (Dornach, Zurich, Bern and Stuttgart) from Oct.-Dec. 1919, paints for us the picture of the fall-out of mankind's eventual acceptance of a duality of heaven and hell archetypically depicted in Milton's "Paradise Lost" or Klopstock's "Messiah". Here is Steiner:"It makes no difference that Milton and Klopstock describe their heavenly being as `divine'. They would be truly divine beings as human beings aught to experience them, only if they were presented as members of a threefold cosmic existence. Only then would it be possible to say that a battle was raging between the principles of good and evil. But, as it is, a duality is assumed. All good attributes are ascribed to one pole, and names are found and attached to the beings of this pole how are presented as divine, while the diabolical element antagonistic to the divine occupies the other pole. And what really happens then? Why, the divine is erased from people's consciousness and is replaced by a luciferic element, which is given the label of divinity. The actual result is that we have a battle going on between Lucifer and Ahriman, but Lucifer's characteristics are attributed to Ahriman and, Lucifer's kingdom is conceived as divine." (Pages 6-7.)That is, "good" is now just "luciferic" impulses in the human being and "bad" is now just "ahrimanic" impulses in the human being. What are these impulses? When an imbalance of mind over matter presides in a person, they are coming under their own luciferic impulse too strongly. When an imbalance of matter over mind presides in a person, they can be seen as coming under their own ahrimanic impulse too strongly.What Steiner tells us in these lectures is that mankind is not made of a duality, but a triplicity. The players are not God and Satan, but spirit, soul and body. What Steiner points out in using Milton and Klopstock as archetypical renderings is to say that the duality of Good vs. Evil is really Lucifer vs. Ahriman. When capitalized, be sure Herr Steiner is speaking of those Beings, like Christ, who eventually will embody in the physical plane on earth. Steiner tells us, "incarnated at the beginning of the third pre-Christian millennium, and Christ incarnated at the time of the Mystery of Golgotha, so there will be an incarnation of Ahriman in the West not long after our present times, in the third post-Christian millennium in fact." (Page 17.)I want the potential buyer of this important work to understand that Herr Steiner is pointing out that it is possible that the West's depiction of God vs. Satan, throughout our whole history of this story, has gotten the players wrong! Imagine, if true, the implication this has for Western Orthodox Christianity. I cannot at this moment think of anything more devastating and catastrophic to the western religious psyche than to realize that it has ill conceived the Creator and His Opposition. The lack of self-understanding that comes from this error has implications that reach far and deep into the very working out of mankind's journey while embodied upon earth. Every prayer, every thought, every yearning, devotion, ritual and sacrifice upon the alter of Lucifer against Ahriman. I do see now the reason our species is in the predicament it finds itself in. The Christ Being (Archangel Michael) is left out of the picture completely! What is intended to be a true good vs. evil depiction eliminates a consciousness of "the truly divine element".You, the potential buyer, can purchase this book today to glimmer a small element within Steiner and his Anthroposophy that helps us see a solution to this dilemma. Let me assure you it is not by dismissing these beautiful works as "of the devil". Far from it! Steiner assures us of this in these Lectures.Here is the author in his own spoken words at the end of Lecture 1, page 11:"Certain concepts that have made their way into modern humanity are in dire need of revision. If we commit ourselves seriously to Anthroposophical thinking and feeling, we face great, not small, decisions. We confront the need to take seriously a phrase often used by Nietzsche--the `radical reevaluation of all values'.6 This phrase needs to be taken very, very seriously. The achievements of modern times stand in dire need of radical re-evaluation."This does not mean that we ourselves should denounce `heretics'. We continually present scenes from Goethe's *Faust* here at the Goetheanum, and I devoted decades to a study of Goethe. But you can gather from my monograph on Goethe that appreciation of Goethe in no way blinded me to the mistaken characterization of his figure of Mephistopheles. It would be philistine and narrow-minded to say, `Goethe's Mephisto is wrong, so way with it'. That is tantamount to witch-hunting. As modern human beings we should not behave like that. On the other hand, we must not be lazy and content to adopt ideas ready-made from the cultural life of recent times just because they have been absorbed into the very blood and bone of the great masses of people today. Humanity has an incredible amount to learn, and will have to undertake a revision of a great many of its values. [...]".Make a purchase today.

I feel like I’m finally reading the truth about Christ and the gospels. The Truth about what is happening in the world.

I have given this book to several other people to read and seems universally to fascinate.

These lectures are very insightful for anyone alive today. Highly recommended. The lectures do repeat themselves somewhat, but each individual lecture gives something new and different than the others.In explaining the coming incarnation of Ahriman, Steiner also gives insight into the dualistic nature of thought prevalent today. There is also an explanation of the incarnation of Lucifer...essential to understanding the incarnation of Ahriman.

If you want to know more about the two main forces in the planet that control us from tim ego time, this books explains elements of that, it also expelling the element that balance the two of them.

In perfect condition

Excellent

Great book detailing the polarity of the universe and the spirits that represent it. A reason that exstremist are always wrong and unbalanced. As Buddah said the middle path is the best and the only way to progress with any spiritual balance in your life. Evil is a difficult concept to grasp and Steiner sees the world as an inclusive whole that has everthing as a part of us. Also read the "Spear of Destiny". I recomend this book.

yet another good book from mr steiner

Seven lectures by Dr. Steiner providing the tell - tale signs of the impending ( if not already achieved ) incarnation of Ahriman.Knowledge of the incarnation and nature of this negative, powerful spiritual being is the only required defensive posture required by humanity to defeat its purposes. Beware of a wolf in sheep clothing.

Tout à fait fascinant.