Christian Holidays
Why at Waldorf?
Rudolf Steiner had a lot to say about Christ.
But little of what he said agrees with Christian church teachings.
[Anthroposophic Press, 1983.]
Q. I thought Waldorf schools were nondenominational, but Christ is central to many Waldorf practices. What is going on?
A. Waldorf schools usually describe themselves as nondenominational and nonsectarian. This self-description is true, if we define Anthroposophy as a science. But if, more accurately, we consider Anthroposophy to be a religion, then Waldorf schools are religious institutions and their religion is Anthroposophy.
Anthroposophy is a polytheistic faith. One of the many gods it recognizes is Christ. Indeed, Anthroposophy considers Christ to be the most important of all the gods for us at our present stage of spiritual evolution. But you should understand that the Anthroposophical Christ is not the Son of God as worshipped in mainstream Christian denominations — that is, He is not one person of the triune Christian God. Instead, the Anthroposophical Christ is a separate god, specifically the Sun God.
Anthroposophy may be considered Christian if we focus only on the fact that Christ — in one form or another — is revered in Anthroposophical doctrine. By extension, Waldorf schools may be considered Christian. Certainly various Christian holidays are observed in Waldorf schools (Christmas, Michaelmas, Martinmas, and so on). But most Christians would reject Anthroposophical beliefs such as polytheism, karma, reincarnation, and so on. In this sense, Anthroposophy is not — despite appearances — Christian. And indeed the festivals celebrated at Waldorf schools, while they often bear Christian names, are actually seasonal observances tracing their roots back to pagan times.
In sum, Waldorf schools are religious institutions devoted to Anthroposophy. They are not truly Christian nor are they truly nondenominational.
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