Rudolf Steiner dedicated approximately four straight years (1918-1922) to present, from multiple points of view, the threefold social order idea. During this time, he repeatedly said two things: one, that this is our only way forward as humanity, as we have reached a time in our evolution in which the three aspects of social life (economy, politics and culture) can no longer settle for anything less than autonomic expression. And two, that the main prerequisite in order for the threefold impulse to manifest, is a sufficient number of hearts and minds who understands the idea. In this regard, Steiner emphasized that to understand the idea means to grasp it in a living way, i.e. not as an 'abstract scheme for an optimal organization of society', but as a living body of knowledge that renews itself in the face of every challenge.
We recently established the Adam Center for Social Development in Israel mainly in the spirit of this latter indication by Steiner. Some people mistake Steiner's marvelous elaboration of threefolding from an economic point of view in 1922 (the World Economy lecture series), to mean that he withdrew from this indication regarding the inability of threefolding to move significantly forward without first building on a sufficient number of minds touched by the impulse. In this respect, the following quote by Steiner, from a lecture he gave two years later, on July 1924, articulates something from the heart of our intention:
"Let me use this word about which so much has been said: these are realities in threefolding. It is evident that these impulses are being taken up more and more with a certain understanding. And perhaps it will be good for these impulses in particular if one does not hastily try to translate them into clumsy practice, but if one follows what I often said at the beginning of the foundation of our journal "Anthroposophy": Threefolding can only work when it has entered as many minds as possible. We have seen the failure of the Threefoldness in its application to the outer practice of human life, but it will make its way in the world as something that stands on anthroposophical ground after all." (July 15 1924, Stuttgart, GA 260a)
We admire and support any sincere avenue to promote threefolding, but on the same note, suggest that we do not neglect what Steiner indicated time and again as the main complementary action for any other effort. The overwhelming gap between the relevance and truth of threefolding and the degree to which it is currently known by the general public, urges us to do our best in order to narrow this gap. Hopefully we will be able to present the idea in a way that the truth of it will enter people's souls, and from there find ever growing expression in society. Ultimately social threefolding is about the way in which we can arrive at prosperity and peace in our complex time, it is always worthwhile striving for.
A few words about us:
Omri Elaad - Researcher of Social Threefolding. Living and breathing inner work for over 20 years, mainly under the influence of Jiddu Krishnamurti, Bulent Rauf and Rudolf Steiner. Co-founder of the "Adam Center for Social Development.
Sarit Jacob - educator and computer scientist, writer and editor, moderator of workshops for personal development. One of the founders of the "Social Threefold" movement that operated in Israel the past and a co-founder of the "Adam Center for Social Development".
We operate in Israel, but have international relations and believe in international collaborations regarding the above-mentioned task. We hope the international connections will grow stronger and nourish each other, and wish to take part and initiate in order to support this trend.
Contact: Omri Elaad omrielad@yahoo.com
