'THE BATTLE FOR THE SPIRIT' -The Council of Nicaea, 869 AD - A. P. Shepherd
'THE BATTLE FOR THE SPIRIT' THE COUNCIL OF CONSTANTINOPLE, 869 A.D. by A. P. Shepherd I n his exposition of the evolution of human consciousness Rudolf Steiner often spoke of the critical importance of the Council of Constantinople in 869, at which the Western Church officially renounced the ancient conception of man as a threefold being, of body, soul and spirit, by asserting that he is a duality of body and soul only. This article is an attempt to set out the historical background and spiritual significance of this Council. It will be seen to be a closely woven pattern of events which led up to the spiritual crisis of the ninth century. It is impossible to understand this historical background unless we grasp clearly the ecclesiastical atmosphere of Constanti