Rudolf Frieling

‘From its very beginning Christianity not only had the “message” but, in the sacrament, an experience of the “essence”. Christianity lived for some time without the New Testament, which first had to be written. But it never lived without the Eucharist.’ – Rudolf Frieling Building on his existing works of contemporary Christian research, Living Renewal gathers Rudolf Frieling’s previously-untranslated articles and essays on the nature and practise of Christian worship and the mysteries of John’s Gospel. Harvested from his entire career, the collection begins with an early piece entitled ‘The Destruction of the Temple and the End of the World’ and is followed by dozens of studies listed under the headings of ‘Sacred Playing’, ‘Prayer and the Renewed Sacrament’, ‘Sacred Number in John’s Gospel’, ‘Studies on the Mass’ and ‘Contributions on the Epistles (Seasonal Prayers)’. Frieling’s writings are complemented with essays by Friedrich Rittelmeyer and Hermann Beckh – both close colleagues – and appreciations by fellow theologians. This original publication – essential reading for anyone interested in modern theology – is a welcome addition to Christian Community literature.

The Old Testament is full of many remarkable stories that pose a challenge to our modern understanding. In this collection of essays, Rudolf Frieling demonstrates his unique gift for delving deeper into the meaning of the Old Testament stories, presenting them from a fresh perspective that makes them more comprehensible to today's readers. In this insightful book Frieling: -- Explores the accounts of the creation of the human being in Genesis.-- Demonstrates the ongoing power of the Psalms. -- Shows how the events of the Old Testament are a preparation for the coming of Christ. Frieling's commanding grasp of the original Hebrew and close attention to detail brings to life the rich imagery of these accounts and songs, making this a unique guide to the wisdom of the Old Testament.

When faced with the descriptions of miracles and the teachings and parables of Christ as recorded in the New Testament, it can be difficult to know what to make of them. Should they be accepted as the literal truth or dismissed as stories from a less enlightened time? In this collection of essays, Rudolf Frieling draws on his deep knowledge and insight to make the events of the New Testament more understandable to modern readers. He returns to the Greek text to uncover the meaning and power of the original language. -- Explains difficult concepts such as the Son of God and the Son of Man, and traces the path of Christ's incarnation from the Baptism in Jordan through to his death, resurrection and ascension-- Examines the parables and accounts of miraculous healings, as well as the testimonies given in Acts and the apostolic letters-- Offers a profound examination of both the Apocalypse and the TransfigurationFrieling's masterful analysis surpasses the dry concepts and conventional explanations of many biblical commentaries and brings the events of the New Testament vividly to life. The result is a work that continues to be important for understanding the New Testament today.

During the brief window between the two World Wars, the Rev. Prof. Hermann Beckh led research at The Christian Community Seminary in Stuttgart. In those precious years he published on music, the gospels and the ancient Mysteries. By 1930, in his Contributions to the Priests' Newsletter, he had produced the most far-reaching account of the cosmic order ever written. The typescript of this great work was destined to gather dust in the Berlin Archiv, however, until it was discovered in recent years. Published here for the first time, it is the crowning masterpiece to Beckh's Collected Works. The translated and annotated text is accompanied by Rudolf Frieling's in-depth application of Beckh's principles of the cosmic starry order to the Creed of The Christian Community, and by a number of appreciations and relevant book reviews. Through ever-deepening meditation guided by Rudolf Steiner, and his vast knowledge of Tibetan, Sanskrit, Pali and Avestan sacred texts - scarcely to be equalled in Europe at the time - Beckh came to the first-hand realization that human and cosmic life was ordered. He perceived directly that this cosmic order was: good, as originating from the World-Will; true, as from World-Thinking; and beautiful, as from World-Feeling. All three could be personally experienced in disciplined consciousness that could enter dream, sleep and pre-natal life. This, then, was Beckh's method and inspiration, as shown in this extraordinary work.

Reincarnation -- by which human beings return to live on earth -- is a concept most often associated with eastern philosophies rather than Christianity. Yet in this challenging book, Rudolf Frieling makes the case for the integration of reincarnation into a Christian world view. He shows how an esoteric Christianity was brought to life again through the thinking of Rudolf Steiner, arguing that theology around the 'end of days' has shown how a gap exists between death and resurrection on the Last Day. Presenting the essence of Christianity, Frieling shows how it harmonises with reincarnation, and examines the relationship of reincarnation to the Bible.

This new survey covers the rich and varied history of participatory art, from early happenings and performances to current practices that demand audience interaction. As the internet mindset – browsing, sharing, collecting, producing – increasingly permeates every aspect of society, this timely project reveals the ways in which artists and viewers have approached the creation of open works of art. Original essays identify seminal moments in participatory practice from the 1950s to the present day, while a rich array of plates reproduces the work of the movement’s major figures in vivid detail.