In Approaches to Anthroposophy, Rudolf Steiner carefully corrects certain misunderstandings or caricatures that had arisen regarding his spiritual-scientific research and demonstrates how Anthroposophy has nothing whatever to do with a nebulous mysticism or an unhealthy spiritualism; nor is it simply a revival of ancient esoteric teachings like Gnosticism or Theosophy.

Rather, it is a genuinely modern spiritual teaching for western humanity that builds upon the achievements of science and develops its exact methodology further into the investigation of spiritual realities through the awakening of higher organs of perception.

Anthroposophy’s relation to both natural science and religious belief is dearly delineated and Steiner shows how both one’s scientific endeavour and religious striving can only be deepened by the insights of spiritual-scientific research.

To approach Anthroposophy it is necessary, as Steiner pointed out, ‘to concentrate one’s thoughts seriously’, and perhaps re-evaluate some deeply ingrained beliefs, but he remained confident that the truth of its ideas would in time overcome the prejudice and hostility that often attends the arrival of any new impulse of cultural and spiritual renewal.