An introduction to religious and spiritual experience

Anthroposophists
From his early childhood, Rudolf Steiner (1861–1925) had been aware of 
a world other than the everyday. This made for a lonely life, as others 
were unable to understand or believe in the spiritual world of which he 
was constantly aware. 
Spirit and nature were present before my soul in their absolute 
contrast. There existed, for me, a world of spiritual beings. That the 

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Religious and Spiritual Experience
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ego, which itself is spirit, lives in a world of spirits was for me a matter 
of direct perception.
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His own explorations led him to the Rosicrucians and to the German 
Theosophical Society, of which he became head. He had a powerful spiri-
tual experience of the passion, death and resurrection of Christ, in which 
he was brought to 
Stand before the Mystery of Golgotha in a solemn festival of 
knowledge.
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After this he moved away from the Theosophists to found the move-
ment of Anthroposophy, or Spiritual Science. At its heart was Steiner’s 
vision 
of the free man, of the unity of the physical and spiritual aspects of 
reality, and of the evolutionary principle.
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The movement advocated close links to science while retaining an 
emphasis on inner spirituality. His teachings are followed in the Christian 
Community, and Waldorf or Steiner schools give a holistic education in 
line with Steiner’s principles.
Unitarians
In sixteenth-century Poland and Transylvania, a liberal movement of 
Christians was formed. They stressed the oneness of God, rejecting the 
doctrine of the Trinity, hence the name Unitarian. Now self-governing 
communities of varying size gather in churches or people’s homes in 
various countries around the world. Although rooted in Christianity, 
Unitarians’ primary focus is a search for truth. In their services, some of 
which follow a Protestant pattern, readings from all the major traditions 
are included, as all are considered to be worshipping the same ultimate 
reality. Their symbol is a flaming chalice, the cup to share and the ever-
changing flame, which requires fuel (the material level), heat (the spark of 
life and warmth of community) and air (the spirit). 
Alister Hardy was a Unitarian,
My heart is in the Church of England, with all its beauty and deep 
sense of holiness, but not my mind which is repelled by its unreal 
dogmatic doctrines. . .. I am a Unitarian, . . .
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Less Well-Known Religious Traditions
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Gurus
The Hindu tradition of the 
guru 
(teacher) guiding a student through his 
or her spiritual development has led to many different groups. Some gurus 
have established 
ashrams
(retreat centres). Below are some well-known 
gurus who have inspired movements loosely connected to Hinduism. 
While many are deeply revered, Gurus are particularly susceptible to 
scrutiny and there has been much disparagement of some of them, espe-
cially if they are considered to have enriched themselves at the expense of 
their followers.