Anthroposophy

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Anthroposophy is a philosophy developed by the Austrian spiritual teacher Rudolf Steiner (1861-1925) in 1923. It attempts to bridge the gap between science, art, and religion by connecting souls of individuals and of society to a soul in nature. Anthroposophy originated as a splinter sect of theosophy.

Anthroposophical medicine

Anthroposophical medicine is a woo that attempts to mix the theories and practices of real medicine with quack cures, physical and artistic therapies and biographical counseling. The medical approach has its foundation in a spiritual-scientific understanding of the human being that regards human wellness and illness as biographical events connected to the body, soul and spirit of an individual.

In the 1920s Rudolf Steiner - in conjunction with Ita Wegman - invented the anthroposophical medical system as an extension to conventional medicine based on the spiritual philosophy of anthroposophy. Anthroposophical physicians must have a conventional medical education, including a degree from an established and certified medical school, as well as doing extensive post-graduate study. Anthroposophical medical practices operate^when? in 80 countries worldwide.

Waldorf education

Steiner also started an educational system known as Waldorf or Steiner schools, most of which are in Germany but also in the US, the UK, Australia and other countries. They place much emphasis on expression, art and integrating children's sensory development by age-level (e.g. they feel that TV and computers harm the imagination if introduced too early). Their use of religious themes has so far prevented them from receiving government funding in the US (except for one school in Montana) despite many attempts, which the organization PLANS, Inc. (People for Legal and Non-Sectarian Schools) has fought. Most do not openly teach anthroposophical ideas, but the basis is still underlying it.

Beliefs

Anthroposophy has beliefs taken from Eastern and Western religious ideas, such as veneration of Christ along with reincarnation. Anthroposophists believe not just in an immortal soul, but in a number of other spiritual entities, called astral, ethereal, etc. Their anti-vaccination stance derives from a dangerous and ignorant belief in diseases being something you must go through to strengthen the soul in its present incarnation. Reincarnation - according to Anthroposophy - occurs regularly in 500-year cycles to enlighten the soul over time, and suffering that occurs during life (including that from diseases, hence their stance against vaccinations) is deemed necessary for this. Still, treatment of diseases through conventional medicine is not discouraged by practising anthroposophic physicians - anthroposophical medicine is primarily used as an additional way of treating diseases where conventional medicine is believed to fall short.

Many other pseudoscientific beliefs stem from Anthroposophy, such as Astrosophy.

External links

• "Anthroposophical Society in America." 1998-2011.
• Mays, Robert; Nordwall, Sune. "Waldorf Answers." 2004-2011.
• Rudolf Steiner's Quackery by Roger Rawlings, Quackwatch

References

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