Overcoming racism
The Anthroposophical Society in Germany responds to accusations of racism and antisemitism with a platform and the possibility for dialogue.
In recent years, the media in Germany have taken up an increasingly critical stance towards anthroposophy and Rudolf Steiner. The accusations are not new: racism, antisemitism, opposition to vaccinations and generally a weird esoteric worldview.
This biased reporting came to a preliminary climax in the autumn of 2020. In the context of the Coronavirus protests, ‘anthroposophists’ were mentioned in the same breath as right-wing nationalists, ‘Reich citizens’, conspiracy theorists and esoteric ‘anti-vaxxers’.
The most sensible step to take seemed to publish an unambiguous statement and to distance oneself. But does that solve the problem lastingly? What actually is the current problem?
Time for a journey of discovery which – while not representative – is certainly interesting. As an ‘Afro-European anthroposophist’ I usually experience racism at the supermarket checkout. In anthroposophical institutions? Never!
Decontextualized
The experts I asked, who have published on this topic, shrug their shoulders. “Everything that needed saying has been said! What more can one write?” Those of my friends who are on the left politically demand clear demarcations, and those interested in culture studies suggest it is time to work through history and contextualize.
A look on the internet and the social media shows what the problem is: a vast amount of detailed information, everyone has their own axe to grind and does it with more or less expertise. The digital media carry a spiritual phenomenon to extremes: they de-contextualize the de-contextualized. Once something is out there, it can no longer be taken back. The wildest rumours are circulating, not only about anthroposophy and Rudolf Steiner. Counterstatements tend to be ineffectual in the digital medium. If they stand alone, they will simply vanish.
What does have an effect, paradoxically, is when people have an interesting conversation, when differences rise to the surface and their mutual relation becomes visible. It is a networking that only works when there is, graspably, genuine interest, genuine curiosity, a genuine question.
Providing information and talking
But where to start? We realized that the exact qualities that have an effect initially unfold in the sphere of the spoken word, where intention, meaning and effect form a perceptible whole. The almost automatic drive to decontextualize needs to be balanced by constructive and critical dialogue between the different positions, oppositional views included, as well as the integration of this dialogue into a real societal context and discourse.
We are in the process of setting up a homepage in order to create a point of reference on the internet, where we make information, perspectives, controversies and statements on the racism and antisemitism accusations accessible. That is happening on the outside.
What is more important to us is speaking with people: what kind of research have they done into racism? What have they found out? Where are they critical, where aren’t they?
We are planning events with podium discussions on critical issues. And we are designing a series of podcasts where we would like to interview people with highly individual views.
In doing this, I hope we will not only make a contribution to clarifying the situation but also generate knowledge that can help us overcome the racism at the supermarket checkout or wherever else it raises its head in everyday life.