The Risen Christ and the Etheric Christ

The Risen Christ and the Etheric Christ: An Esoteric Study

2 lectures to the Anthroposophical Society of America, New York, April 22–29, 1949

Delivered more than sixty 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, 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 his 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.

About the Author

Alfred Heidenreich (1898-1969) was born in Regensburg, Germany. After serving in World War I while still a student, he met and became an ardent follower of Rudolf Steiner. That encounter and his continued study of Steiner’s work became the mainstay of his life and activity. He chose to become a priest in the Christian Community, and as a member of its first group of leaders, he spread its work beyond the German-speaking countries, moving to England in 1929. He became a widely known lecturer in North America and other parts of the world, as well as in Britain. In his later years, he was active in the Anthroposophical Society in Great Britain, being a member of its council and of the publications committee of the Rudolf Steiner Press. In his endeavor to serve the deep-seated needs of modern humankind, he illuminated many aspects of Christianity and the New Testament in his many articles and lectures. During a tour in South Africa, he died in Johannesburg.