I have read a lot of accusations on the Internet that Anthroposophy was, in the words of one writer (and repeated by many) "Racist to the core." Wow, who ever would have thought? I mean, all the Anthroposophists I've ever met seemed normal enough. Is there some secret doctrine that they all share that they don't let out to the public?
How is Anthroposophy racist to the core? Apparently it all goes back to the Theosophical doctrine of Root Races, which Blavatsky invented. Each past era was designate by some Root Race Name or other, and this is obviously racist. I mean, the very word "race" is just so last century.
What is a Root Race? Well, that goes back to the 1880's and Blavatsky's "The Secret Doctrine". Blavatsky divided the evolution of the world from the beginning to the end into seven "Globes". Each Globe was further divided into seven "Rounds". Each Round, into seven "Root Races". And interestingly, we are (almost) right in the middle in the fifth Root Race of the fourth Round of the fourth Globe. Now what does this division of time have to do with races? Why are the epochs called "Root Races"? The answer is somewhat involved (though you can read the whole thing online in The Secret Doctrine). While certain time periods have something to do with different races, a Root Race is not a biological race.
When Rudolf Steiner first stepped forward as an esoteric teacher, it was within the Theosophical Society. His early esoteric work contains a large number of Theosophical terms (Astral body, Devachan, Rupa-Devachan, Kamalocha, etc.). The first question is whether he necessarily meant the same thing with the terms. With some study the answer appears to be no; Steiner had specific things in mind when he employed these terms, and it was often subtly different. Steiner himself made this clear on a number of occasions. He only used the term "Root Race" for a few years, and then spoke of how the term was incorrect and should not be used. For to Steiner especially, race and time periods were not the same. Thus he consistently spoke of Cultural Epochs and not Root Races. However, his modern critics fixate only on the terminology of a few of Steiner's early work and it's superficial resemblance to Theosophy and poof! Steiner was a racist!
Rudolf Steiner was the co-founder and chief pedagogue of the first Waldorf School; all subsequent Waldorf Schools are run to some degree by indications he gave. Thus Waldorf Schools are obvioulsy tainted with the racism that Steiner's work bore (should it be shown that his work indeed bore any taint of racism). PLANS (People For Legal and Nonsecretarian Schools) is at the forfront of linking Rudolf Steiner and Anthroposophy to racism, anti-Semitism and dangerous cults.
The most virulent opponents of Anthroposophy are usually militant atheist and professional "skeptics". They do not limit themselves to objecting to points of philosophical disagreement, but employ every dirty trick, fabricating charges of racism and anti-Semitism for Rudolf Steiner and everyone who ever opened a book by him. To read their version, Rudolf Steiner was the prime cause of the Holocaust. Nor are they in the least bit logical in discussions on the matter. They love half-sentence quotes, and refuse to consider what Steiner was actually saying. Two people who have been actively engaged with countering this slander on the Internet are Sune Nordwall and Tarjei Straume.
If you bend the definition enough, it can be shown that organized Anthroposophists are a cult and danger to democracy. Oh the games you can play with logic when you invent your own definitions! Of course, that is laughable to anyone who knows any thing about Anthroposophists, but don't let common sense get in the way! PLANS (People For Legal and Nonsecretarian Schools) is quite relentless in its campaign, and on their "Waldorf Critics" (WC) mailing list, they are quite unwilling to hear anything that contradicts what they already know. Grateful Waldorf graduates are heaped with scorn for daring to find thier education good.