s more exactly and circumstantially than was
then possible. Unfortunately the author was obliged, through stress
of work, to let a long period elapse between the time when the first
edition was exhausted, and the appearance of the second.

RUDOLF STEINER.

May, 1910.

FOOTNOTES:

[1] This book is to be had in an English translation, by F. Rothwell,
under the title of _The Great Initiates_, A Sketch of the Secret
History of Religions, by Edouard Schure (Pub., Rider & Son, London).

CONTENTS

PAGE

PREFACE TO THE SECOND EDITION iii

CHAPTER

I.--POINTS OF VIEW 1

II.--THE MYSTERIES AND THEIR WISDOM 10

III.--THE GREEK SAGES BEFORE PLATO IN THE LIGHT OF THE
WISDOM OF THE MYSTERIES 39

IV.--PLATO AS A MYSTIC 63

V.--THE WISDOM OF THE MYSTERIES AND THE MYTH 93

VI.--THE MYSTERY WISDOM OF EGYPT 127

VII.--THE GOSPELS 147

VIII.--THE LAZARUS MIRACLE 159

IX.--THE APOCALYPSE OF ST. JOHN 177

X.--JESUS AND HIS HISTORICAL BACKGROUND 198

XI.--THE NATURE OF CHRISTIANITY 203

XII.--CHRISTIANITY AND HEATHEN WISDOM 215

XIII.--ST. AUGUSTINE AND THE CHURCH 227

NOTES 239

* * * * *

CHRISTIANITY AS MYSTICAL FACT

* * * * *

Christianity as Mystical Fact

I

POINTS OF VIEW

Natural Science has deeply influenced modern thought. It is becoming
more and more impossible to speak of spiritual needs and the life of
the soul, without taking into consideration the achievements and
methods of this science. It must be admitted, however, that many
people satisfy these needs, without letting themselves be troubled by
its influence. But those who feel the beating of the pulse of the age
must take this influence into consideration. With increasing swiftness
do ideas derived from natural science take possession of our brains,
and,