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International English Week at the Goetheanum - Anthroposophical ...

International English Week at the Goetheanum - Anthroposophical ...

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Dear FriendsThe step from <strong>the</strong> 20th into <strong>the</strong> 21st century heralded a new millennium. Italso triggered countless fears and o<strong>the</strong>r responses th<strong>at</strong> have since mostlyfaded from memory. But have <strong>the</strong>y really disappeared? Are we in western civiliz<strong>at</strong>ionable to compare <strong>the</strong> mood during <strong>the</strong> change of <strong>the</strong> first millenniumto <strong>the</strong> second with our general mood today as we enter <strong>the</strong> third millennium?For several decades before 1000 A.D. <strong>the</strong>re was a sense in Europe th<strong>at</strong>doomsday was drawing near; humanity anticip<strong>at</strong>ed <strong>the</strong> Last Judgment describedin <strong>the</strong> Revel<strong>at</strong>ion of John. When <strong>the</strong> f<strong>at</strong>eful year passed without incidentit was interpreted as an act of divine grace th<strong>at</strong> would continue for only a fewcenturies and allow human beings time to repent if <strong>the</strong>y followed a holy p<strong>at</strong>hdetermined by <strong>the</strong> Church. Then came <strong>the</strong> Crusades, <strong>the</strong> final expulsion of <strong>the</strong>Moors, and <strong>the</strong> Inquisition. Both <strong>the</strong> positive and neg<strong>at</strong>ive results of this eraremain with us.Rudolf Steiner describes how large portions of our civiliz<strong>at</strong>ion will be affectedby <strong>the</strong> transition to <strong>the</strong> third millennium. He describes th<strong>at</strong> prior to this transitionan era of optimism and confidence in technological progress will prevailin humanity – <strong>the</strong>re would be no problem so large th<strong>at</strong> it could not be solvedby human ingenuity. This optimism has persisted into <strong>the</strong> first decade of <strong>the</strong>third millennium. Yet it is shaken by new and unexpected challenges th<strong>at</strong>touch every country and all peoples. Among <strong>the</strong>se challenges are <strong>the</strong> distributionof wealth and resources, clim<strong>at</strong>e imbalance, <strong>the</strong> stewardship and ownershipof n<strong>at</strong>ural resources, popul<strong>at</strong>ion growth, and diseases.This <strong>Intern<strong>at</strong>ional</strong> <strong>English</strong> Conference will address <strong>the</strong> times in which we live.It is an opportunity to explore through shared work ways of implementingRudolf Steiner's indic<strong>at</strong>ions for developing new initi<strong>at</strong>ives th<strong>at</strong> will turn crisisinto conscious benefit and opportunity.The world situ<strong>at</strong>ion today is serious. It is asking us to discover and put intopractice new ways of working with Rudolf Steiner's indic<strong>at</strong>ions. We hope manyfriends will join us <strong>at</strong> <strong>the</strong> Goe<strong>the</strong>anum to take part in this special, joyful event.Virginia Sease and Cornelius PietznerExecutive CouncilCover: Ninetta Sombart

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