Geoffrey Ahern's

SUN AT MIDNIGHT

• A Review •

Rudolf Steiner is largely unknown except within the circle of his devoted followers. One consequence is that almost everything written about Steiner and his teachings comes from within that circle. Much of it amounts to uncritical celebration. Finding balanced, reliable works about Steiner is difficult. 

Geoffrey Ahern has helped fill the void with his book SUN AT MIDNIGHT (James Clark & Co., 2009). Ahern, a Fellow of the Center for Leadership Studies, Exeter University (in the U.K.), has carefully researched the Steiner movement, which centers on Anthroposophy — the cult-like religion Steiner created — and Waldorf schools, educational institutions that have proliferated around the world, working subtly to spread the Anthroposophical faith. 

SUN AT MIDNIGHT is too short. At 279 pages, it cannot fully explore the work of a man who published many books and delivered thousands upon thousands of lectures on a stunningly wide array of subjects. Nonetheless, Ahern's book is extremely informative — indeed, it is fascinating. Anyone who is attracted to Anthroposophy, Waldorf schools (also called Steiner schools), biodynamic agriculture, Anthroposophical medicine, or any of the other offshoots of Steiner's thinking, should read it. 

The brevity of the book has one great advantage: SUN AT MIDNIGHT is inviting and accessible in ways that a massive tome would not be. The writing is clear and concise, if somewhat dry. Most readers may find they need to pause often, struggling with the strange concepts in and around Steiner's occult belief system. But because the book is short, it is unintimidating. 

Ahern makes a few minor errors, as virtually anyone will who attempts to summarize Steiner's vast, occult, murky, and sometimes self-contradictory canon. And there are a few errors I consider major. In his evident effort to be fair-minded, Ahern bends over backwards too far sometimes, minimizing such troubling matters as the racism that is deeply imbedded in Anthroposophy. He is also, in my opinion, too ready to take Steiner at his word, thus failing to adequately investigate the possibility that Steiner was a fraud who claimed powers ("exact clairvoyance") that do not and cannot exist. Startlingly, the book's extensive index contains no entry for clairvoyance, although the entire body of Steiner's occult teachings rests on his professed clairvoyant abilities. Take away clairvoyance, and Anthroposophy crashes to the ground. [And we almost certainly can dismiss claims of clairvoyance: They are bogus. See "Clairvoyance".]*

Still, by and large, Ahern is an excellent guide. SUN AT MIDNIGHT has chapters that outline Steiner's life, the history of Anthroposophy, and the organizational structure of Anthroposophy. Most major tenets of the Anthroposophical faith are examined, and they are reviewed in the context of Western religious, gnostic, and occult traditions. Helpful tables at the end of the book summarize some of Steiner's key doctrines. 

There is no chapter devoted to Waldorf schools, but references to the schools appear throughout the book, and these are easily found thanks to the index. Likewise, particular subjects important to an understanding of the Waldorf curriculum — such as eurythmy — are detailed in the index. 

In all, SUN AT MIDNIGHT is nearly indispensable reading for anyone who wants a balanced, informative, and sensible (albeit incomplete) examination of Rudolf Steiner and his brainchildren. 

— Roger Rawlings

* This omission was later adjusted in an extended index posted online: http://www.sun-at-midnight.com/contents.page?indexterm=clairvoyance#index.

Here are excerpts from other reviews:   

One of the difficulties encountered by an outsider trying to understand the [Anthroposophical] movement is that a great deal of the information is, traditionally, taught only within the organization in a classic mouth-to-ear kind of teaching — although this is beginning to change in the modern, internet world which we inhabit now. Even such a basic thing as membership numbers are not discussed to any degree outside of the “centres” where members meet. Thus there remains a feeling that there is something so unconventional as to be unsavory about the teachings.

The subject of this book is, to say the very least, extremely complex. The treatment it receives is equally complex. Being written by an “outsider” it will likely not please many who follow Anthroposophy, who will feel it does not convey the essence of their beliefs. It will also not please those who are looking for the “secrets” of the movement, since none are revealed. It is as close to an unbiased presentation as it is possible to produce, given the resources available...

There is a lot of information contained within these covers, in some instances almost too much, but it contributes to an understanding of an organization an a movement which is little known to society at large. Those with a psychological and/or sociological interest will this this book to be a gold mine of insight.

— Mike Gleason, Spiritual Nature Magazine 

Extricating loved ones from a cult is hard. Most refuse to acknowledge they are even enmeshed by a cult and even when presented with evidence may dismiss the evidence as a conspiracy theory. An essential part of the process of extricating loved ones from a cult is giving detailed non-judgemental information to the victim. This book will be an enormous help in that regard...

The book describes the secret elite and the First Class which dominate and control the cult from behind the scenes. Most parents sending their children into this environment have no idea what they are getting into or who their money ends up with...

The book will repay careful reading for anyone considering a Steiner “education” for their children.

— Kevin McCready @ Wordptress.com. 

Geoffrey Ahern's "Sun at Midnight," is a balanced and professional look at Rudolf Steiner and his cult "Anthroposophy." Among the thousands of books about Waldorf education and Anthroposophy, this is one of a very few written with an objective viewpoint from outside the cult.

Ahern uses psychological and organizational perspectives and the broader context of religious history in his attempt to gain an understanding of Steiner and his teachings. Ahern delves behind the secrecy surrounding the "First Class of the School of Spiritual Science" and reveals Steiner's unique teachings about "the two Jesus children"...

Rudolf Steiner was a loner who throughout his life didn't tolerate opposition. He would have viewed this book as influenced by Ahriman, an evil spirit responsible for the analytic frame of mind. However, Anthroposophists with a broader view might gain new insights...

Anyone considering enrolling their child in a Waldorf School would do well to read Ahern's book first, especially given the well-known lack of transparency of the Waldorf schools.

 — Dan Dugan, People for Legal and Nonsectarian Schools 

[R.R.]