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1
Since we have to do this at least once a year, this is mis- or worse disinformation.
Rudolf Steiner was not a Nazi; in fact Himmler had a file on Steiner's movement, marking it as the antithesis of Nazism, saying that anthropsophy would destroy Nazism if allowed to flourish.
Since we have to do this at least once a year, this is mis- or worse disinformation.
Rudolf Steiner was not a Nazi; in fact Himmler had a file on Steiner's movement, marking it as the antithesis of Nazism, saying that anthropsophy would destroy Nazism if allowed to flourish.
2
Himmler's special file on anthroposophists - who helped Jewish people escape the holocaust - said that anthroposophy, if allowed to flourish, would destroy Nazism.
Himmler's special file on anthroposophists - who helped Jewish people escape the holocaust - said that anthroposophy, if allowed to flourish, would destroy Nazism.
3
"There can be no doubt that the follower of anthroposophy is by definition an opponent of National Socialism, or at the very least, must remain an outsider to National Socialism."
- from Himmler's file
"There can be no doubt that the follower of anthroposophy is by definition an opponent of National Socialism, or at the very least, must remain an outsider to National Socialism."
- from Himmler's file
4
None of the below tweeted is true.
Steiner helped a movement for people with disabilities in the early 20th century, stating if we did not consider people with disabilities as complete, undamaged human beings, we had corrupted our own souls.
Sound like "purity" to you?
None of the below tweeted is true.
Steiner helped a movement for people with disabilities in the early 20th century, stating if we did not consider people with disabilities as complete, undamaged human beings, we had corrupted our own souls.
Sound like "purity" to you?
5
The proto-Nazis burned down the building Steiner designed (pictured here) and probably murdered him by poisoning him (though this is not totally substantiated).
Before his death, he defended gay rights, women's rights, and promoted the equality of all races.
The proto-Nazis burned down the building Steiner designed (pictured here) and probably murdered him by poisoning him (though this is not totally substantiated).
Before his death, he defended gay rights, women's rights, and promoted the equality of all races.
6
Steiner's relationship to race and what detractors call his "racial science" is THE MOST STUDIED ASPECT of anthroposophy, in part because of the response to ridiculous statements like these.
Steiner's relationship to race and what detractors call his "racial science" is THE MOST STUDIED ASPECT of anthroposophy, in part because of the response to ridiculous statements like these.
7
Almost ALL such statements trace back to a single source I don't feel like mentioning; but this person's work - which includes plenty of bad faith commentary telling people of color they don't understand their own brainwashing if they like Steiner - is filled with inaccuracies.
Almost ALL such statements trace back to a single source I don't feel like mentioning; but this person's work - which includes plenty of bad faith commentary telling people of color they don't understand their own brainwashing if they like Steiner - is filled with inaccuracies.
8
Were the Nazis who were interested in anthroposophy?
Yes of course.
Did some anthroposophists move towards Nazism and betray their movement?
Also yes.
This was a problem for most organizations and groups of people in Nazi Germany.
Were the Nazis who were interested in anthroposophy?
Yes of course.
Did some anthroposophists move towards Nazism and betray their movement?
Also yes.
This was a problem for most organizations and groups of people in Nazi Germany.
9
But let's not forget that some of the most profound resistance to the Nazis included anthropsophical roots, such as the work of Hans & Sophie Scholl, two young people who gave their lives organizing against Hitler, and whose group The White Rose was inspired in part by Steiner.
But let's not forget that some of the most profound resistance to the Nazis included anthropsophical roots, such as the work of Hans & Sophie Scholl, two young people who gave their lives organizing against Hitler, and whose group The White Rose was inspired in part by Steiner.
10
In fact, I discuss all of this explicitly in the episode of my podcast which came out today! Featuring one of the world's most respected scholars on spiritual traditions, @MitchHorowitz. We address Steiner. Here's Mitch on the delusional portrayal of Steiner as a Nazi:
In fact, I discuss all of this explicitly in the episode of my podcast which came out today! Featuring one of the world's most respected scholars on spiritual traditions, @MitchHorowitz. We address Steiner. Here's Mitch on the delusional portrayal of Steiner as a Nazi:
11
You may, if you want, refer to anthropsophy as pseudoscience. Okay, go for it.
I don't think much of it is; but either way, we have a much, much different discussion on our hands than whether or not anthropsophy is a Nazi movement or Steiner was a Nazi. It isn't and he wasn't.
You may, if you want, refer to anthropsophy as pseudoscience. Okay, go for it.
I don't think much of it is; but either way, we have a much, much different discussion on our hands than whether or not anthropsophy is a Nazi movement or Steiner was a Nazi. It isn't and he wasn't.
12
Also, context people often neglect about the pre-WWII period is that Germany had ALREADY committed genocide - in Africa, against the Herero and Nama people.
Absolutely horrific: women were made to scrape the skulls of their families to send back to German museums...
Also, context people often neglect about the pre-WWII period is that Germany had ALREADY committed genocide - in Africa, against the Herero and Nama people.
Absolutely horrific: women were made to scrape the skulls of their families to send back to German museums...
13
...What that means is that some of the race theories - however essentialist and wrong we find them to be today - were often an attempt to combat the ones that underlay that genocide (which inspired Hitler as a child).
...What that means is that some of the race theories - however essentialist and wrong we find them to be today - were often an attempt to combat the ones that underlay that genocide (which inspired Hitler as a child).
14
So people often look at movements from that time and cherry pick without context - anything that mentions race in Germany is seen as later contributing to Nazism. In fact, some of it was against the current that led to it.
So people often look at movements from that time and cherry pick without context - anything that mentions race in Germany is seen as later contributing to Nazism. In fact, some of it was against the current that led to it.
15
Just as a rule, calling antifascists Nazis doesn't seem to be a good move.
It doesn't matter if you're doing it for Fox News or because you're a "science is real!" bro on twitter.
Don't do it.
Just as a rule, calling antifascists Nazis doesn't seem to be a good move.
It doesn't matter if you're doing it for Fox News or because you're a "science is real!" bro on twitter.
Don't do it.
16
Also, don't accuse people who have started one of the largest and most beautiful movements for equality for people with disabilities of wanting eugenics.
And don't accuse people of being aligned with "blood and soil" just because you don't like astrology.
Also, don't accuse people who have started one of the largest and most beautiful movements for equality for people with disabilities of wanting eugenics.
And don't accuse people of being aligned with "blood and soil" just because you don't like astrology.
17
Again, you may dislike things that aren't materialist or scientistic, but equating them with Nazism, getting the facts wrong, spreading misinformation is certainly not in line with "science" either.
If you don't know what you're talking about, please remain silent.
Again, you may dislike things that aren't materialist or scientistic, but equating them with Nazism, getting the facts wrong, spreading misinformation is certainly not in line with "science" either.
If you don't know what you're talking about, please remain silent.
18
Since I'm sure some people will respond to this with cherry-picked phrases (likely pointing back to the source I mentioned earlier, no doubt), I will also say: unless you are willing to carry the burden of ignorance against my years of scholarship on this, I'm not interested.
Since I'm sure some people will respond to this with cherry-picked phrases (likely pointing back to the source I mentioned earlier, no doubt), I will also say: unless you are willing to carry the burden of ignorance against my years of scholarship on this, I'm not interested.
19
"Oh, but Steiner said this one thing once which I am taking out of context!"
Okay, do you know contextual history, the context of the lecture cycle, do you know what else he was doing at that time in the world, do you know the general attitudes and philosophy?
Let me guess.
"Oh, but Steiner said this one thing once which I am taking out of context!"
Okay, do you know contextual history, the context of the lecture cycle, do you know what else he was doing at that time in the world, do you know the general attitudes and philosophy?
Let me guess.
20
If, after all the above, you have genuine reservations and are not about dumb twitter "call out" culture for someone who dedicated most his life to making the world a better place and who died almost 100 years ago, then great, let's talk.
Happy to.
If, after all the above, you have genuine reservations and are not about dumb twitter "call out" culture for someone who dedicated most his life to making the world a better place and who died almost 100 years ago, then great, let's talk.
Happy to.
21
Finally, as for inevitable comments that "the Nazis didn't hate anthroposophists because they were anti-fascists, but because they were their own version of fascism" - that willfully disregards of all the above info.
I don't have time for arguments that don't see the whole.
Finally, as for inevitable comments that "the Nazis didn't hate anthroposophists because they were anti-fascists, but because they were their own version of fascism" - that willfully disregards of all the above info.
I don't have time for arguments that don't see the whole.
22
One last thing, if it wasn't clear -
Don't pile on the author of the tweets, it's why I usually screencap instead of @-ing.
I am frustrated with this reasoning in general, not a particular person, who may be doing otherwise good work, whatever that person may think of me.
One last thing, if it wasn't clear -
Don't pile on the author of the tweets, it's why I usually screencap instead of @-ing.
I am frustrated with this reasoning in general, not a particular person, who may be doing otherwise good work, whatever that person may think of me.
