To: <anthroposophy_tomorrow@yahoogroups.com>
References: <20040310055656.78557.qmail@web14425.mail.yahoo.com>
Subject: Re: [anthroposophy_tomorrow] To Peter
Date: Wed, 10 Mar 2004 21:07:14 -0500

Hi Patrick, you wrote:
"Yes, please respond truthfully to Sune's post."

Peter Staudenmaier:
I'm not sure what there is to respond to. Anyone with a map can determine for themselves whether Oslo is in Norway. Anyone with a copy of The Mission of the Folk Souls can determine for themselves whether they think Steiner's musings on racial character are racist. They can also very easily determine for themselves whether Steiner "mentions" root races in this book (and for those of you who don't have a copy at hand, here's a hint: the title of chapter 6 is "The Five Root Races of Mankind"). And so forth. What else would you like me to respond to?

Daniel:
Actually, the title of Chapter 6 is "The Five MAIN Races of Mankind." Root races are not mentioned anywhere at all in the book. Nor is the word "Aryan". The more I look into this, the more problems I am finding. You wrote:

Peter Staudenmaier in the first paragraph of Anthroposophy and Ecofascism:
"In June 1910 Rudolf Steiner, the founder of anthroposophy, began a speaking tour of Norway with a lecture to a large and attentive audience in Oslo. The lecture was titled "The Mission of Individual European National Souls in Relation to Nordic-Germanic Mythology." In the Oslo lecture and throughout his Norwegian tour Steiner presented his theory of "national souls" (Volksseelen in German, Steiner's native tongue) and paid particular attention to the mysterious wonders of the "Nordic spirit." The "national souls" of Northern and Central Europe were, Steiner explained, components of the "germanic-nordic sub-race," the world's most spiritually advanced ethnic group, which was in turn the vanguard of the highest of five historical "root races." This superior fifth root race, Steiner told his Oslo audience, was naturally the "Aryan race."

Problems:
Despite being in quotes, the phrase "Aryan race" is nowhere in the book.
Despite being in quotes, the pharse "root races" is nowhere in the book.
Despite being in quotes, the pharse "germanic-nordic sub-race" is nowhere in the book.
(Starting to see a pattern?)
Despite being in quotes, the pharse "Nordic spirit" is nowhere in the book.
The word "Aryan" is nowhere in the book.

Peter, just what book were you reading when you wrote this, because it is not the book you have cited. In fact, I don't think it is even Steiner.

"In Oslo and throughout his Norwegian tour..."
Steiner never spoke outside of Oslo on that "tour", and gave only two lectures beyond the 11 printed in GA 121.

Peter, is this your idea of the "historical polemic" that a half dozen respected authors you refer me to purportedly support?

Daniel Hindes

This back and forth petty bickering over the smallest details will continue.