Dear friend,
This post is a response to the German ZDF Zoom program, entitled <<Anthroposophie — gut oder gefährlich?>>, which I saw recently. It is one of several programs in the documentary series: <<Am Puls Deutschlands mit Jochen Breyer>>. Initially intended to address a German-speaking audience, I have translated it into English since many of the issues raised might be found worthy of consideration by others.
To the informed viewer, this program is highly misleading and “extremely dangerous”. How broad and deep is the knowledge of those who created and broadcast this program — with its substandard journalistic quality and its obviously biased, melodramatic presenter — about science, even materialistic natural science? It turns out that the presenter is a TV personality who studied sports and politics at university and has hosted the morning show of this publicly-financed TV channel as well as quite a few popular sports programs in the past. This apparently qualifies him to present his views, at public expense, about matters he knows little about.
A human being consists of many more elements that are in more complex relationships with each other than most modern people have been taught in schools and universities. A human being also lives, loves and works in a much larger multidimensional environment than is normally perceived and researched.
These fundamental truths are of great importance for all questions of health, healing and medicine. They form the basis of the Indian, Tibetan, Chinese and European medical traditions as well as of Anthroposophical Medicine, which was founded about 100 years ago by Dr. Rudolf Steiner together with Dr. Ita Wegman.
Traditional systems of medicine have all emerged from a vibrant spiritual, philosophical and scientific culture. Their leading representatives refined their therapeutic practices and teachings on the basis of clairvoyant perception and direct clinical experience. Those who wish to inform themselves more about this can turn to the legacies of great spiritual teachers and doctors of the past, which are to be found in cultural traditions throughout the world. Anthroposophical medicine is no different in this respect.
Mr. Breyer speaks of “classical medicine” and “conventional medicines”. Modern medicine, based on materialistic natural science, has emerged and gained acceptance in the last 200 years. However, there are several traditional systems of medicine still in existence today that have evolved over millennia. In this program, “traditional medicines” are equated with pharmaceutical products approved by the modern state, which is usually influenced in its decision-making by lobbyists from the powerful, profit-oriented pharmaceutical and health insurance industries. Again, it would be more accurate and honest to call the medicines used in traditional medical systems “conventional”. The often exorbitantly priced products of the pharmaceutical industry, many with significant negative side effects, have only been around for about 125 years.
Are karma and reincarnation radical, aberrant concepts conjured out of a hat by the “philosopher and self-proclaimed clairvoyant” Rudolf Steiner? Such a claim can only be made by someone who is ignorant of the facts or whose aim is to mislead. By the way, Rudolf Steiner had a doctorate in natural sciences. At the beginning of the twentieth century, many prominent natural scientists and doctors worked directly with him. Moreover, since his death in 1925, many prominent professionals in the scientific and medical fields have been influenced by his teachings. Such facts will never receive mention in such a program.
Statements made by Dr. Jutta Hübner in the program are unfortunate. Of all the possible experts to be interviewed, why does the choice fall on this professor of integrative oncology at the University of Jena and “expert in complementary healing methods”? She describes Anthroposophic Medicine as “lightning dangerous and among the most dangerous things we have”. In the light of this, one can only question the breadth and depth of her expertise in natural and alchemical medicine. One cannot help but ask, who is funding her work and what agenda are they pursuing? Whose interests are being served?
We are responsible for our state of health. This is something most people find difficult to accept and even more to put into practice. Whether you “believe” in karma or reincarnation, your healthy inner sense of reality should bring home to you the fact that the quality of the air you breathe, the water you drink, the food you eat, the health of your social relationships, etc. all strongly affect your physical and psychological health, quality of life and life expectancy.
For thousands of years, traditional Indian, Tibetan, Chinese as well as European medicine have taught that we reincarnate from other dimensions, other spheres of existence, in a unique body. We have a certain character, specific strengths and weaknesses, and find ourselves placed in life circumstances determined by our karma from previous lives. Thus, our health is — at least partly since transpersonal factors also enter into the equation — the result of our thinking, feeling, speaking and acting in this as well as in previous incarnations.
Anthroposophic Medicine, which emerged in the early 20th century, shares this view. It also offers many new, expanded perspectives on reincarnation and karma, for our deep consideration.
“Anthroposophical knowledge differs from the present scientific conception of the human being by trying ever to consider man in his entirety and not looking on his bodily foundation as being completely understandable in the light of the principles that govern outer nature.
We have to ask, how can the human soul and spirit live in the physical body? We can only find the answer to this question if we can build up a concept of man in his universal relationship.
Anthroposophical knowledge does not contradict the natural scientific conception of man; it completes it. We try to find the whole human being — the connection of body, soul and spirit — through the help of the spiritual conception of the world.”
Eugen Kolisko, M.D. Vienna
Also alarming is the following statement by Mr. Beyer: “At most since the pandemic, the question arises whether it is not harmful, whether the anthroposophical attitude that science is limited, that science is not everything does not sow doubts about science.”
Modern natural science, and the medicine based upon it, are an attempt to come to grips with Reality in our contemporary world. Unfortunately, they have been instrumentalized by economic and political powers, under whose influence they have become a belief system as rigid as any orthodox religion. Similarly, “heretics” must be professionally and socially ostracized or worse.
Scientific research and medical practice are noble undertakings when they are conducted honestly, with true humility before the greatness of Reality, and with the intention of rendering genuine service to one’s fellow human beings and the natural world.
Approaching my 70th birthday, I have now spent decades studying and practicing Eastern and Western approaches to spiritual life, healing and medicine. I can only advise every caring, intelligent person to exercise a healthy skepticism. We should be aware that devotion to truth is all too rare and that the pursuit of wealth and power among professionals and associations, corporations and government agencies all too often leads to the public being misled about the facts regarding health and medicine. Moreover, the findings of modern science and medicine are all too often further distorted by sensationalist reports in the media.
Is one a priori a supporter of the “Querdenker movement”, a “right-wing radical” or a “left-wing radical” and/or a “vaccination sceptic” if one asks legitimate questions about official narratives that clearly serve the interests of activist billionaires and various powerful interest groups?
Please ask yourself, who is behind such campaigns to misrepresent natural and alchemical medicine and to denigrate its practitioners in the process?
Reality exists. Whether we believe something or not has no bearing on the cosmic, human and telluric facts of life. Our endeavor must be to perceive as much as possible on as many levels as possible. Thereupon, we should strive to use the wisdom and knowledge we acquire in the process to solve our individual, social and ecological problems.
May abundant opportunities to deepen your wisdom and acquire true knowledge be yours,
Warmly,
Joseph Michael Contrada
Educator and Healer
Heilpraktiker (Lic. German Medical and Psychotherapy Provider)
Medical Philosopher and Journalist