Christian Community: Difference between revisions
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The Christian Community is a cultic community. | The Christian Community is a cultic community. | ||
* | * [[The Act of Consecration of Man]], the central sacrament of which is the [[Lord's Supper]] ([[Eucharist]]) and the [[Communion]] associated with it, is the most important cultic celebration. The sacramental wine used in communion is non-fermented grape juice rather than alcoholic wine. | ||
Six other sacraments can accompany the course of life and have a helping effect in it: | Six other sacraments can accompany the course of life and have a helping effect in it: | ||
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* [[Sacramental Consultation]] (replacing [[Confession]]) | * [[Sacramental Consultation]] (replacing [[Confession]]) | ||
* [[Ordination]] to Priesthood | * [[Ordination]] to Priesthood | ||
[[File:GA 343 6.10.1921 Tafel 12.jpg|thumb|450px|Rudolf Steiner's specifications on the liturgical vestments of the Christian Community (plate 12 from GA 343)]] | |||
The sacraments are performed by the priest in a prescribed manner and in liturgical vestments with seasonal or traditional colours: | |||
* BAPTISM: dark purple | |||
* MARRIAGE: red | |||
* CONFESSION: black | |||
* SEASONS (colour of the forms on the casula in brackets): | |||
** Advent: blue (dark blue) | |||
** CHRISTMAS: white (light purple) | |||
** Epiphany: red-violet (dark red-violet) | |||
** Passiontide: black (deep black) | |||
** Easter: red (green) | |||
** Ascension: red (gold) | |||
** Pentecost: white (light yellow) | |||
** Johanni: white (light yellow) | |||
** Michaelmas: hedge rose colour (sea green) | |||
** Primary colour in the interims: light purple (orange) | |||
Any adult who feels the need for a religious life can take part in the Act of Consecration of Man (with the transformation of bread and wine into the body and blood of Christ and communion). Introductory writings on the Christian Community's cult are available in the congregation. | |||
==Literature== | ==Literature== |
Revision as of 14:26, 18 April 2022
The Christian Community - Movement for Religious Renewal is an independent Christian renewal movement founded in 1922 on the impulses of several (at that time predominantly Protestant) theologians, but completely independent of the Anthroposophical Society, which focuses on the communal celebration of ritual acts. In the foundation of the cultus, Rudolf Steiner as a private person (outside the anthroposophical movement) stood by to help.
„It is a movement which has arisen out of itself, and which has received the advice from me for the reason that if anyone asks for justified advice in any field, it is human duty, if one can give the advice, really to give it.“ (Lit.:GA 219, p. 170)
Her own is a lively community life. It does not see itself as the only church that can bring about salvation. The Christian Community refers to Christ as the Creator of the earth, who became man in Jesus of Nazareth. In him, believers find vitality and continuity. Unfortunately, the Christian Community is still classified as a sect by some churches - but not by the state.
Freedom of Teaching
The priests of the Christian Community have freedom of teaching and are not bound to any dogmatic doctrine. The only exception is teaching against the given cultus. Rudolf Steiner says about this:
„It is very important that you are clear about the fact that there is complete freedom with regard to teaching when there is communal cohesion in the cultus. This is precisely what ensures the freedom of preaching and teaching, that cohesion does not depend on agreement, which has its limits. Of course, this freedom has its limits in that what is taught does not contradict the spirit and meaning of the cult in any easily comprehensible way. That would be an absurdity in itself. So if someone were to perform the Sacrifice of the Mass and at the same time teach that it is nonsense, he would not be able to remain within the community, or at least he would not be able to teach. Not so, in as broad a sense as is possible, the freedom of teaching is recognised. And, my dear friends, without freedom of doctrine we really cannot get anywhere today, especially in a Christian Community. Only the cultus must be regarded in the right sense, and then, I would say, freedom of teaching results precisely from the existence of the cultus.“ (Lit.:GA 344, p. 132)
Sacraments
The Christian Community is a cultic community.
- The Act of Consecration of Man, the central sacrament of which is the Lord's Supper (Eucharist) and the Communion associated with it, is the most important cultic celebration. The sacramental wine used in communion is non-fermented grape juice rather than alcoholic wine.
Six other sacraments can accompany the course of life and have a helping effect in it:
- Baptism
- Confirmation
- Marriage
- The Last Anointing
- Sacramental Consultation (replacing Confession)
- Ordination to Priesthood
The sacraments are performed by the priest in a prescribed manner and in liturgical vestments with seasonal or traditional colours:
- BAPTISM: dark purple
- MARRIAGE: red
- CONFESSION: black
- SEASONS (colour of the forms on the casula in brackets):
- Advent: blue (dark blue)
- CHRISTMAS: white (light purple)
- Epiphany: red-violet (dark red-violet)
- Passiontide: black (deep black)
- Easter: red (green)
- Ascension: red (gold)
- Pentecost: white (light yellow)
- Johanni: white (light yellow)
- Michaelmas: hedge rose colour (sea green)
- Primary colour in the interims: light purple (orange)
Any adult who feels the need for a religious life can take part in the Act of Consecration of Man (with the transformation of bread and wine into the body and blood of Christ and communion). Introductory writings on the Christian Community's cult are available in the congregation.
Literature
- Friedrich Rittelmeyer: Meine Lebensbegegnung mit Rudolf Steiner., 12. Auflage, Urachhaus Verlag, Stuttgart 2007, ISBN 978-3-87838-277-5.
- Hans-Werner Schroeder: Die Christengemeinschaft. Entstehung - Entwicklung - Zielsetzung, Urachhaus, 2. Auflage (2001), ISBN 3-87838-649-4
- Michael Debus: Auferstehungskräfte im Schicksal. Die Sakramente der Christengemeinschaft; Stuttgart: Urachhaus, 2006, ISBN 3-8251-7526-X
- Rudolf Frieling: Christentum und Wiederverkörperung, Fischer TB Vlg., Frankfurt a.M. 1982
- Rudolf F. Gädeke: Die Gründer der Christengemeinschaft. Ein Schicksalsnetz. 48 kurze Biographien mit Abbildungen und Dokumenten; Pioniere der Anthroposophie, 10; Dornach: Verlag am Goetheanum, 1992, ISBN 3-7235-0639-9
- Flensburger Hefte Nr. 22: Erkenntnis und Religion. Zum Verhältnis von Anthroposophischer Gesellschaft und Christengemeinschaft, Flensburger Hefte Vlg., Flensburg 1988, ISBN 3-926841-13-3
- Wolfgang Gädeke: Anthroposophie und die Fortbildung der Religion, Flensburger Hefte Vlg., Flensburg 1990, ISBN 3-926841-24-9
- Edelgard Vietor: Schuld und Sünde. Erkennen - verwandeln - verzeihen, Urachhaus Vlg., Stuttgart 2002, ISBN 3-8251-7375-5
- Evangelischer Oberkirchenrat Stuttgart (Hrsg.): Zur Frage der Christlichkeit der Christengemeinschaft. Beiträge zur Diskussion, (2004), ISBN 3-935129-14-9
- Hat die Christengemeinschaft eine Zukunft? Gespräche mit einem Geistwesen, Flensburger Hefte, Sonderheft 32, (2012), ISBN 978-3-935679-77-0
- Ilse Wellershoff-Schuur: Erneuerung. Versuche zum Thema: Wer braucht die Christengemeinschaft, Urachhaus Vlg., Stuttgart 2012, ISBN 978-3-8251-7844-4
- Tom Ravetz: Vom Dogma befreit. Gesichtspunkte zur Theologie der Christengemeinschaft, Urachhaus Vlg., Stuttgart 2010
- Georg Blattmann, Christus heute ins Leben rufen - Ursprung und Ziel der Christengemeinschaft
- Ulrich Meier (Hg.): Christentum in Entwicklung. Anstöße zum Dialog über eine permanente Reformation, Urachhaus Vlg., Stuttgart 2013
- Rudolf Steiner: Das Verhältnis der Sternenwelt zum Menschen und des Menschen zur Sternenwelt. Die geistige Kommunion der Menschheit., GA 219 (1994), ISBN 3-7274-2190-8 English: rsarchive.org German: pdf pdf(2) html mobi epub archive.org
- Rudolf Steiner: Vorträge und Kurse über christlich-religiöses Wirken, I, GA 342 (1993), ISBN 3-7274-3420-1 English: rsarchive.org German: pdf pdf(2) html mobi epub archive.org
- Rudolf Steiner: Vorträge und Kurse über christlich-religiöses Wirken, II, GA 343a (1993), ISBN 3-7274-3430-9 English: rsarchive.org German: pdf pdf(2) html mobi epub archive.org
- Rudolf Steiner: Vorträge und Kurse über christlich-religiöses Wirken, II. Dokumentarische Ergänzungen GA 343b English: rsarchive.org German: pdf pdf(2) html mobi epub archive.org
- Rudolf Steiner: Vorträge und Kurse über christlich-religiöses Wirken, III, GA 344 (1994), ISBN 3-7274-3440-6 English: rsarchive.org German: pdf pdf(2) html mobi epub archive.org
- Rudolf Steiner: Vorträge und Kurse über christlich-religiöses Wirken, IV, GA 345 (1994), ISBN 3-7274-3450-3 English: rsarchive.org German: pdf pdf(2) html mobi epub archive.org
- Rudolf Steiner: Vorträge und Kurse über christlich-religiöses Wirken, V, GA 346 (2001), ISBN 3-7274-3460-0 English: rsarchive.org German: pdf pdf(2) html mobi epub archive.org
References to the work of Rudolf Steiner follow Rudolf Steiner's Collected Works (CW or GA), Rudolf Steiner Verlag, Dornach/Switzerland, unless otherwise stated.
Email: verlag@steinerverlag.com URL: www.steinerverlag.com. Index to the Complete Works of Rudolf Steiner - Aelzina Books A complete list by Volume Number and a full list of known English translations you may also find at Rudolf Steiner's Collected Works Rudolf Steiner Archive - The largest online collection of Rudolf Steiner's books, lectures and articles in English. Rudolf Steiner Audio - Recorded and Read by Dale Brunsvold steinerbooks.org - Anthroposophic Press Inc. (USA) Rudolf Steiner Handbook - Christian Karl's proven standard work for orientation in Rudolf Steiner's Collected Works for free download as PDF. |
Weblinks
- The Christian Community in North America with extensive introductory articles
- The Christian Community in the UK and Ireland also with introductory articles
- The Christian Community in Ireland Based in the Republic of Ireland with services mainly in County Clare.
- Die Christengemeinschaft German site of The Christian Community
- The Christian Community in Australia and New Zealand with full programmes for all congregations in the region
- priest seminaries of the Christian Community in Spring Valley, NY, Stuttgart (Germany) and Hamburg (Germany)
- The Christian Community – An Introduction by Michael Tapp, retired priest in The Christian Community, former national coordinator for the UK and then Australia/New Zealand
- The Journal for the renewal of religion and theology An online peer-reviewed open access journal inspired by the theology of The Christian Community (access via archive.org)