The Fifth Gospel: From the Akashic Record

Collected Works of Rudolf Steiner #CW148

by Rudolf Steiner

18 lectures in various cities, Oct. 10, 1913 – Feb. 10, 1914 (CW 148) “Let me emphasize from the beginning that there is no element of sensationalism or anything of that kind in the choice of the title The Fifth Gospel . I hope to be able to show that it is possible to speak of such a Fifth Gospel from a point of view that is of particular importance to us in the present age, and that no title could be more suitable for what is intended. As you will hear, the Fifth Gospel has never been written down, but it will certainly be put into definite form in future times. In a sense, however, it would be true to say that it is as ancient as the other four Gospels.” ― Rudolf Steiner (Oct. 1, 1913) From his clairvoyant reading of the akashic record―the cosmic memory of all events, actions, and thoughts―Steiner was able to discuss aspects of the life of Jesus Christ that are not recorded in the four Gospels of the conventional Christian Bible. The results of such research has been called “The Fifth Gospel.” After an intense inner struggle to verify the exact nature of these events, and having checked the results of his research, Steiner described many detailed episodes from the akashic record. For example, he speaks of Jesus’ life in the community of the Essenes, the temptation of Christ in the wilderness, and a significant, previously unreported conversation between Jesus and Mary. Steiner states that divulging such spiritual research is intensely difficult, but that “although people show little inclination to be told such facts as these, it was absolutely essential that knowledge of such facts should be brought to Earth evolution at the present time.” This book is a translation from German of Aus der Das fünfte Evangelium (vol. 148 in The Collected Works of Rudolf Steiner).

Genres: Spirituality, Religion, History, Christianity, Philosophy, Metaphysics

264 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1904

About the author

Author also wrote under the name Rudolph Steiner.

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show...


Rudolf Joseph Lorenz Steiner was an Austrian occultist, social reformer, architect, esotericist, and claimed clairvoyant. Steiner gained initial recognition at the end of the nineteenth century as a literary critic and published works including The Philosophy of Freedom. At the beginning of the twentieth century he founded an esoteric spiritual movement, anthroposophy, with roots in German idealist philosophy and theosophy. His teachings are influenced by Christian Gnosticism or neognosticism. Many of his ideas are pseudoscientific. He was also prone to pseudohistory.
In the first, more philosophically oriented phase of this movement, Steiner attempted to find a synthesis between science and spirituality. His philosophical work of these years, which he termed "spiritual science", sought to apply what he saw as the clarity of thinking characteristic of Western philosophy to spiritual questions,  differentiating this approach from what he considered to be vaguer approaches to mysticism. In a second phase, beginning around 1907, he began working collaboratively in a variety of artistic media, including drama, dance and architecture, culminating in the building of the Goetheanum, a cultural centre to house all the arts. In the third phase of his work, beginning after World War I, Steiner worked on various ostensibly applied projects, including Waldorf education, biodynamic agriculture, and anthroposophical medicine.
Steiner advocated a form of ethical individualism, to which he later brought a more explicitly spiritual approach. He based his epistemology on Johann Wolfgang von Goethe's world view in which "thinking…is no more and no less an organ of perception than the eye or ear. Just as the eye perceives colours and the ear sounds, so thinking perceives ideas." A consistent thread that runs through his work is the goal of demonstrating that there are no limits to human knowledge.

Reviews

[Teri Uktena · Rating 2 out of 5]

This information is purported to be channeled from the Akashic records, however it is a product of it's time and the biases of Rudolf Steiner rather than anything factual. He reports that Jesus says anti-semitic things such as the current Jews have corrupted bodies which are no longer following or able to follow the truth of God. This was the prevailing belief of Theosophy specifically and Europeans in general, which does not make it factual. Steiners more general racism, colonialism and understanding of Christianity as an evolutionary step for mankind were all accepted at the time as normal and appropriate, but are not something which stems from, is accepted by, or would be promoted by the Akashics.

As such this is an interesting historical document and a part of the Steiner legacy, but not something I would recommend either to students of the Akashics or to Christians who wish to know more about Jesus.

[Richard · Rating 2 out of 5]

Perhaps this was a bad book to start out with Steiner. I've never read Steiner, but I have respected him for a number of years. This book was read as part of my inclusive study on the life of Jesus that I am currently writing. I found it difficult to read, unconvincing, and confusing, even though I deeply wanted to like it. Perhaps if I read more Steiner, I can come back and change my rating. For now, though, it stands.

[Carolyn Jourdan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Want to know how the Jesus to Christ transformation was achieved. Well, here it is. For the first time ever -- from a great man -- a man significant in world history. Not for the faint-hearted or the dogmatic.

[Jon Adler · Rating 3 out of 5]

this was an interesting entry point for me into Steiner's works. i could have used a 10-20 page introductory index; thankfully, due to The Law of One and Meditations on the Tarot, i have a decent baseline for concepts such as the "etheric body," Lemuria, Atlantis, and Zarathusthra; however, there were many terms and concepts introduced here (e. g. the "two Jesus children," Ahriman, Bath Kol) that i had not encountered before. i am sure that among all of the resources dedicated to Steiner's work and legacy, i will be able to find an index or glossary to help me better understand what I missed.

not that Steiner doesn't describe most of what I was missing; he certainly explains Bath Kol in detail. but given that this book is composed of lectures, and that he was speaking to an audience already well-versed in his occult vocabulary, i wish my edition included more background material.

it's very interesting. it's like nothing i've ever read. the combination of reverence for Christ and the four gospels included in the Bible, with SO much content gleaned from the Akashic Record. was fascinating. i know Steiner was a massive influence on Valentin Tomberg, but this feels very different from Tomberg's writing to me. unsure how much of that is due to these being lectures, as opposed to Tomberg's traditional books/essays.

Steiner's discussion of the Essenes was very interesting. The idea of their removal from society at large contributing to society suffering even more at the hands of Lucier and Ahriman was a sad, beautiful idea... one I'll be thinking about for a long time. I don't know what to make of his claims about Christ switching between three different bodies during his ministry, or between the two different Jesus children.

These claims are even more interesting given Steiner's consistent humility when it comes to his reports about the Akashic Record. Since he claims to have only selective access, and that even much of his "research" neglects key details like exact times or places, it keeps the work from feeling as "Cult-y" as something like The Book of Mormon - but it's certainly a lot to process for someone raised on Presbyterian systematic theology. An interesting test of what from the creeds I need to be true, especially after reading David Bentley Hart's New Testament translation earlier this year.

[Karen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Listened to this book rather than read.
Talks about things related to Christianity and seemingly unattached unless one is willing to ponder deeper.