The materialist who believes in the teachings of materialism, who believes in the doctrine of “energy and matter”, is not the worst, but he who is dependent on energy and matter. For example the person who can only live in this place in the winter, in summer only in that place, making himself totally dependent on the material environment so as not to become neurasthenic. That is why the main point is not merely that one does not believe in the doctrine of matter and energy, but the point is that we make ourselves independent of materiality. What kind of life is it, if one can only live in a big city in winter, in the summer only in the country? For such people praying does not help and faith does not help either because he is a materialist, dependent on “energy and matter”.
Source (German): Rudolf Steiner – GA 127 – Die Mission der neuen Geistesoffenbarung – St. Gallen, 26 februari 1911 – (p 108)
Translated by Nesta Carsten-Krüger
Previously posted on 17th September 2013
Rudolf Steiner and Marie von Sivers
The great Rudolf Steiner Quotes Site 