 THE BRIEF WALDORF / STEINER ENCYCLOPEDIA This is an alphabetized guide to significant topics in Anthroposophy, especially those that bear on Waldorf or Steiner schools. Some important individuals are also identified. The Encyclopedia overlaps the Waldorf Watch Index, which is a guide to the pages at Waldorf Watch, including subjects and individuals not identified in the Encyclopedia. Encyclopedia entries consist of a term, such as Anthroposophy, in bold letters, generally followed by a listing of related terms, then a definition and commentary. In most cases, a link is provided to at least one page at Waldorf Watch where the term is used and developed. (If a quotation appears before a link, the same quotation or a longer version of that quotation should appear on the linked page. Quotations and commentary appearing after a link are supplementary and may appear only here, in the encyclopedia.) When a term has more than one definition (which often means that the Anthroposophical definition differs from common usage), the varying definitions are presented as a), b), etc. Please note that the lengths of the encyclopedia entries do not always conform to the relative significance of the topics. The number of words needed to explain a topic — whether that topic is highly important or relatively unimportant — will often determine the length of that entry. The Encyclopedia is a work in progress. At present, it consists of four parts: [A - B] [C -D] [E - F] [G - I] [J - M] [N - Q] [R - S] [T - Z] I do not claim to know everything that can possibly be known about the thinking behind Waldorf schools — that is, about Anthroposophy, the occult system developed by Rudolf Steiner. But I am confident that I know enough to provide you with at least an introductory survey. And after all, that may be more than sufficient. You don't need to master all the intricacies of Steiner's system to make up your mind about Waldorf education. With Steiner and his doctrines, a little knowledge goes a long way. Perhaps you will like what you learn about Anthroposophy and the application of it in Waldorf schools; perhaps you will be horrified. In either case, you should realize that Anthroposophy does indeed give Waldorf education its form and rationale. If you cannot embrace Anthroposophy (with its belief in clairvoyance, reincarnation, karma, ranks of gods, pagan initiation, racial hierarchies, demons, subhumans, and the rest), you cannot fully affirm Waldorf schooling. I will document this encyclopedia — like the other pages at Waldorf Watch — thoroughly, so that you can be assured that I am presenting Anthroposophy accurately. To some extent, I will attempt to clarify and explain the complex doctrines of Rudolf Steiner and his followers. To some extent, I will simply quote Steiner and other Anthroposophists — especially Waldorf educators — so that you can get an unfiltered exposure to their extremely strange beliefs and claims. — Roger Rawlings  [R. R., 2011.] |