There are also a number of people who strongly sympathise with Christ-consciousness and actually like to listen to wisdom, and to study books and magazines that, besides the authorised writings and publications, express or discuss life's great truths. But even if these new publications appeal to them more than the authorised ones, which they feel are very antiquated and therefore quite inadequate in their presentation, then these people have in common with Nicodemus the fact that they too visit Jesus only at night. This means that they dare not acknowledge openly that their perception of life deviates from the religion or the perception of life of the flock or the majority. They therefore pursue this, their new sphere of interest, in secret. They cherish its source in secrecy but, openly or officially, pretend that they do not know anything at all about this being or his teachings. And the conduct that is indicated in the new wisdom or guidance, and that they have already begun to practise at home or in secrecy, they betray completely when they are among strangers.
      There are, for example, people who are vegetarians at home and there eat only vegetarian food and would dearly like to live only on this form of nourishment, but they dare not admit this in their usual circle of acquaintances. They therefore deny vegetarianism when they dine out. And likewise when they themselves give a dinner party in their own home, then too animal dishes are the main part of the meal. They thus set the Barabbas-temperament in their own being free but imprison or execute a part of the Christ-temperament, in addition to the deception they inflict on their circle of acquaintances. They maintain their connection with this circle on a false basis. With this, their false behaviour, they make their circle of acquaintances and friends believe that they share their perception of life and behaviour.