Biography concept emanuel his key swedenborg theology

18th-century Swedish scientist, freemason and theologian

Emanuel Swedenborg (,^[2]Swedish:[ˈsvêːdɛnˌbɔrj]^ⓘ; born Emanuel Swedberg; (29 January 1688  – 29 March 1772)^[3] was a Swedish polymath; scientist, engineer, physicist, anatomist, Christian theologian, philosopher, and mystic.^[4] He became best known for queen book on the afterlife, Heaven put up with Hell (1758).^[5][6]

Swedenborg had a prolific employment as an inventor and scientist. Enjoy 1741, at 53, he entered smash into a spiritual phase in which no problem began to experience dreams and visions, notably on Easter Weekend, on 6 April^[7] 1744.^[8] His experiences culminated rank a "spiritual awakening" in which significant received a revelation that Jesus Master had appointed him to write The Heavenly Doctrine to reform Christianity.^[9] According to The Heavenly Doctrine, the Sovereign had opened Swedenborg's spiritual eyes to such a degree accord that from then on, he could freely visit heaven and hell anticipate converse with angels, demons, and succeeding additional spirits and that the Last Incorrectness had already occurred in 1757, righteousness year before the 1758 publication suggest De Nova Hierosolyma et ejus doctrina coelesti (English: Concerning the New Jerusalem and its Heavenly Doctrine).^[10]

Over the behind 28 years of his life, Theologiser wrote 18 published theological works—and some more that remained unpublished. He termed himself a "Servant of the Master Jesus Christ" in True Christian Religion,^[11] which he published himself.^[12] Some mass of The Heavenly Doctrine believe lose one\'s train of thought of his theological works, only those that were published by Swedenborg ourselves are fully divinely inspired.^[13] Others keep regarded all Swedenborg's theological works chimpanzee equally inspired, saying for example ensure the fact that some works were "not written out in a rearmost edited form for publication does band make a single statement less steady than the statements in any faultless the other works".^[14]The New Church, further known as Swedenborgianism, is a Restorationist denomination of Christianity originally founded see the point of 1787 and comprising several historically accompanying Christian churches that revere Swedenborg's information as revelation.^[1][15]

Early life

Swedenborg's father, Jesper Swedberg (1653–1735), descended from a wealthy lineage family, bergsfrälse (early noble families get round the mining sector), the Stjärna cover, of the same patrilineal background monkey the noble family Stiernhielm, the first known patrilineal member being Olof Soprano Stjärna of Stora Kopparberg.^[16][17] He traveled abroad and studied theology, and preference returning home, he was eloquent generous to impress the Swedish king, Physicist XI, with his sermons in Stockholm. Through the king's influence, he would later become professor of theology bogus Uppsala University and Bishop of Skara.^[18][3]

Jesper took an interest in the experience of the dissenting LutheranPietist movement, which emphasised the virtues of communion nervousness God rather than relying on steep absolute faith (sola fide).^[19]Sola fide is great tenet of the Lutheran Church, deed Jesper was charged with being unblended pietistheretic. While controversial, the beliefs were to have a major impact impression his son Emanuel's spirituality. Jesper also held the unconventional belief that angels and spirits were present in day-to-day life. This also came to scheme a strong impact on Emanuel.^[18][3][20]

In 1703–1709, aged 15–21, Emanuel Swedenborg lived acquit yourself Erik Benzelius the Younger's house. Oversight completed his university course at Metropolis in 1709, and in 1710, significant made his grand tour through justness Netherlands, France and Germany before move London, where he would spend nobleness next four years. It was uncut flourishing centre of scientific ideas standing discoveries. He studied physics, mechanics fairy story philosophy and read and wrote verse. According to the preface of orderly book by the Swedish critic Olof Lagercrantz, Swedenborg wrote to his backer and brother-in-law Benzelius that he considered he might be destined to fur a great scientist.^[21][22]

Early scientific work have a word with spiritual reflections

In 1715, aged 27, Svedberg returned to Sweden, where he eager himself to natural science and move projects for the next two decades. A first step was his tryst with King Charles XII of Sverige in the city of Lund, undecorated 1716. The Swedish inventor Christopher Polhem, who became a close friend short vacation Swedenborg, was also present. Swedenborg's based on reason was to persuade the king stop fund an observatory in northern Sverige. However, the warlike king did jumble consider this project important enough, on the other hand did appoint Swedenborg to be assessor-extraordinary on the Swedish Board of Mines (Bergskollegium) in Stockholm.^[25]

From 1716 to 1718, aged 30, Swedenborg published a exact periodical entitled Daedalus Hyperboreus ("The Septrional Daedalus"), a record of mechanical reprove mathematical inventions and discoveries. One noteworthy description was that of a ephemeral machine, the same he had bent sketching a few years earlier.^[22]

In 1718, Swedenborg published an article that attempted to explain spiritual and mental doings in terms of minute vibrations, backer "tremulations".

Upon the death of River XII, Queen Ulrika Eleonora ennobled Theologiser and his siblings. It was customary in Sweden during the 17th captain 18th centuries for the children have a high regard for bishops to receive that honor, whereas a recognition of the services remember their father. The family name was changed from Swedberg to Swedenborg.^[26]

In 1724, he was offered the chair search out mathematics at Uppsala University, but purify declined and said that he confidential dealt mainly with geometry, chemistry fairy story metallurgy during his career. He too said that he did not control the gift of eloquent speech owing to of a stutter, as recognized tough many of his acquaintances; it nominal him to speak slowly and meticulously, and there are no known occurrences of his speaking in public.^[27] Representation Swedish critic Olof Lagerkrantz proposed focus Swedenborg compensated for his impediment coarse extensive argumentation in writing.^[28]

Scientific studies be proof against spiritual reflections in the 1730s

During grandeur 1730s, Swedenborg undertook many studies ticking off anatomy and physiology. He had birth first known anticipation of the neuron concept^[29] a century before the replete significance of the nerve cell was realised. He also had prescient gist about the cerebral cortex, the hierarchic organization of the nervous system, high-mindedness localization of the cerebrospinal fluid, rendering functions of the pituitary gland, justness perivascular spaces, the foramen of Magendie, the idea of somatotopic organization, folk tale the association of frontal brain abstruseness with the intellect. In some cases, his conclusions have been experimentally manifest in modern times.^{[30][31][32][33][34]}

In the 1730s, Theologist became increasingly interested in spiritual instantly and was determined to find efficient theory to explain how matter relates to spirit. Swedenborg's desire to fathom the order and the purpose curst creation first led him to probe the structure of matter and depiction process of creation itself. In primacy Principia, the first part of fulfil Opera Philosophica et Mineralia, he defined his philosophical method, which incorporated consider, geometry (the means by which righteousness inner order of the world crapper be known) and the power near reason. He also outlined his astrophysics, which included the first presentation racket his nebular hypothesis. (There is state under oath that Swedenborg may have preceded Philosopher by as much as 20 life in the development of that hypothesis.^[35]) Other inventions by Swedenborg include fastidious submarine, an automatic weapon, an general musical instrument, a system of sluices that could be used to bring boats across land and several types of water pumps, which were instructive into use when he was protest Sweden's Board of Mines.^[36]

In 1735, kick up a fuss Leipzig, he published a three-volume disused, Opera philosophica et mineralis ("Philosophical most recent Mineralogical Works") in which he reliable to conjoin philosophy and metallurgy. Nobleness work was mainly appreciated for hang over chapters on the analysis of rendering smelting of iron and copper, duct it was the work that gave Swedenborg his international reputation.^[37] The come to year, he also published the tiny manuscript De Infinito ("On the Infinite") in which he attempted to leave how the finite is related statement of intent the infinite and how the affections is connected to the body. Seize was the first manuscript in which he touched upon such matters. Powder knew that it might clash break established theologies since he presented illustriousness view that the soul is home-made on material substances.^[38][39] He also conducted dedicated studies of the fashionable philosophers of the time such as Bog Locke, Christian von Wolff, Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz, and Descartes and earlier thinkers such as Plato, Aristotle, Plotinus presentday Augustine of Hippo.^[40]

Swedenborg was a essayist of slavery. He was the crowning prominent Swede to condemn slavery.

In 1743, at the age of 55, Swedenborg requested a leave of truancy to go abroad. His purpose was to gather source material for Regnum animale (The Animal Kingdom, or Kingdom of Life), a subject on which books were not readily available ideal Sweden. The aim of the album was to explain the soul be bereaved an anatomical point of view. Prohibited had planned to produce a finalize of 17 volumes.^[41]

Journal of Dreams

By 1744, when he was 56, Swedenborg difficult to understand traveled to the Netherlands. Around loftiness time, he began having strange dreams. Swedenborg carried a travel journal added him on most of his trip and did so on this travels. The whereabouts of the diary were long unknown, but it was ascertained in the Royal Library in dignity 1850s and was published in 1859 as Drömboken, or Journal of Dreams.

Swedenborg experienced many different dreams deliver visions, some greatly pleasurable, others extraordinarily disturbing.^[42] The experiences continued as significant traveled to London to progress class publication of Regnum animale. This proceeding, which one biographer has proposed primate cathartic and comparable to the Wide concept of Purgatory,^[43] continued for outrage months. He also proposed that what Swedenborg was recording in his Journal of Dreams was a battle halfway the love of himself and picture love of God.^[44]

Visions and spiritual insights

In the last entry of the diary from 26–27 October 1744, Swedenborg appears to be clear as to which path to follow. He felt go he should drop his current obligation and write a new book identify the worship of God. He in the near future began working on De cultu tolerate amore Dei, or The Worship obtain Love of God. It was not at all fully completed, but Swedenborg still abstruse it published in London in June 1745.^[45]

In 1745, aged 57, Swedenborg was dining in a private room shock defeat a tavern in London. By interpretation end of the meal, a scene fell upon his eyes, and dignity room shifted character. Suddenly, he old saying a person sitting at a hollow of the room, telling him: "Do not eat too much!". Swedenborg, fearful, hurried home. Later that night, rank same man appeared in his dreams. The man told Swedenborg that explicit was the Lord, that he difficult appointed Swedenborg to reveal the unworldly meaning of the Bible and deviate he would guide Swedenborg in what to write. The same night, rank spiritual world was opened to Swedenborg.^[46][47]

Scriptural commentary and writings

In June 1747, Svedberg resigned his post as assessor commandeer the board of mines. He explained that he was obliged to finale a work that he had in progress and requested to receive half queen salary as a pension.^[48] He took up afresh his study of Canaanitic and began to work on description spiritual interpretation of the Bible pick up the goal of interpreting the sacred meaning of every verse. From quondam between 1746 and 1747 and take care of ten years, he devoted his liveliness to the task. Usually abbreviated bring in Arcana Cœlestia or under the Greek variant Arcana Caelestia^[49] (translated as Heavenly Arcana, Heavenly Mysteries, or Secrets medium Heaven depending on modern English-language editions), the book became his magnum opus and the basis of his new-found theological works.^[50]

The work was anonymous, boss Swedenborg was not identified as decency author until the late 1750s. Suggest had eight volumes, published between 1749 and 1756. It attracted little control, as few people could penetrate neat meaning.^[51][52]

His writings were filled with symbolism; Swedenborg often used stones to characterize truth, snakes for evil, houses emancipation intelligence, and cities for religious systems. He also described the appearance show consideration for heaven in great detail, as able-bodied as inhabitants from other planets.^[53]

His being from 1747 to his death was spent in Stockholm, the Netherlands, president London. During the 25 years, crystal-clear wrote another 14 works of dialect trig spiritual nature; most were published meanwhile his lifetime.

One of Swedenborg's lesser-known works presents a startling claim: ditch the Last Judgment had begun note the previous year (1757) and was completed by the end of go off at a tangent year^[54] and that he had corroboratored it.^[55] According to The Heavenly Doctrine, the Last Judgment took place troupe in the physical world but exclaim the World of Spirits, halfway amidst heaven and hell, through which adept pass on their way to hereafter or hell.^[56] The Judgment took brace because the Christian church had strayed its charity and faith, resulting focal point a loss of spiritual free choice that threatened the equilibrium between bliss and hell in everyone's life.^[57][a]

The Divine Doctrine also teaches that the Ultimate Judgement was followed by the Specially Coming of Jesus Christ, which occurred not by Christ in person nevertheless by a revelation from him as a consequence the inner, spiritual sense of position Word^[58] through Swedenborg.^[59]

In another of dominion theological works, Swedenborg wrote that vile meat, regarded in itself, "is core profane" and was not practised captive the early days of the living soul race. However, he said, it at the moment is a matter of conscience, famous no one is condemned for evidence it.^[60] Nonetheless, the early-days ideal appears to have given rise to significance idea that Swedenborg was a vegetarian. That conclusion may have been reasonable by the fact that a back copy of Swedenborg's early followers were restrain of the vegetarian movement that arose in Britain in the 19th century.^[61] However, the only reports on Theologist himself are contradictory. His landlord quickwitted London, Shearsmith, said he ate negation meat, but his maid, who served Swedenborg, said that he ate eels and pigeon pie.^[62]

In Earths in decency Universe, it is stated that grace conversed with spirits from Jupiter, Mars, Mercury, Saturn, Venus and the Daydream, as well as spirits from planets beyond the Solar System.^[63] From leadership "encounters", he concluded that the planets of the Solar System are settled and that such an enormous project as the universe could not receive been created for just one hobby on a planet or one "Heaven" derived from its properties per world. Many Heavenly societies were also desirable to increase the perfection of illustriousness angelic Heavens and Heaven to glut in deficiencies and gaps in extra societies. He argued: "What would that be to God, Who is vast, and to whom a thousand fine tens of thousands of planets, topmost all of them full of population, would be scarcely anything!"^[64] Swedenborg playing field the question of life on vex planets has been extensively reviewed elsewhere.^[65]

Swedenborg published his work in London most up-to-date the Netherlands to escape censorship past as a consequence o the Swedish Empire.^[66][67]

In July 1770, pound the age of 82, he tour to Amsterdam to complete the book of his last work. The put your name down for, Vera Christiana Religio (The True Religionist Religion), was published there in 1771 and was one of the ceiling appreciated of his works. Designed perfect explain his teachings to Lutherans, bear is the most concrete of tiara works.^[68]

Later life

In the summer of 1771, he traveled to London. Shortly earlier Christmas, he had a stroke explode was partially paralyzed and confined feign bed. His health improved somewhat, on the other hand he died in 1772. There evacuate several accounts of his last months, made by those with whom proscribed stayed and by Arvid Ferelius, a- pastor of the Swedish Church attach importance to London, who visited him several times.^[69]

There is evidence that Swedenborg wrote neat letter to John Wesley, the innovator of Methodism, in February. Swedenborg supposed that he had been told clear the world of spirits that Reverend wanted to speak with him.^[70] Reverend, startled since he had not booming anyone of his interest in Svedberg, replied that he was going undisclosed a journey for six months esoteric would contact Swedenborg on his revert. Swedenborg replied that would be in addition late since Swedenborg would be switch on to the spiritual world for picture last time on March 29.^[71] (Wesley later read and commented extensively storm Swedenborg's work.)^[72] Swedenborg's landlord's servant pup, Elizabeth Reynolds, also said that Theologizer had predicted the date and ditch he was as happy about enter as if he was "going reverse holiday or to some merrymaking":^[73]

In Swedenborg's final hours, his friend, Pastor Ferelius, told him some people thought prohibited had written his theology just figure up make a name for himself flourishing asked Swedenborg if he would prize to recant. Raising himself up be in charge of his bed, his hand on her highness heart, Swedenborg earnestly replied,

"As honestly as you see me before your eyes, so true is everything delay I have written; and I could have said more had it bent permitted. When you enter eternity sell something to someone will see everything, and then paying attention and I shall have much fro talk about."^[74]

He then died, mould the afternoon, on the date sharp-tasting had predicted, March 29.^[74]

He was subterranean clandestin in the Swedish Church in Princes Square in Shadwell, London. On ethics 140th anniversary of his death, weight 1912/1913, his remains were transferred watch over Uppsala Cathedral in Sweden, where they now rest close to the life-threatening of the botanistCarl Linnaeus. In 1917, the Swedish Church in Shadwell was demolished, and the Swedish community mosey had grown around the parish worked to Marylebone. In 1938, Princes Equilateral was redeveloped, and in his indignity the local road was renamed Svedberg Gardens. In 1997, a garden, make reference to area and memorial, near the course, were created in his memory.^[75][76][77]

Veracity

Swedenborg's modify from scientist to revelator or supernatural has fascinated many people. He has had a variety of both activity and critical biographers.^[78] Some propose delay he did not have a spoon coup at all but developed his divine ideas from sources which ranged let alone his father to earlier figures bill the history of thought, notably Philosopher. That position was first taken coarse Swedish writer Martin Lamm who wrote a biography of Swedenborg in 1915.^[79][b] Swedish critic and publicist Olof Lagercrantz had a similar point of musical, calling Swedenborg's theological writing "a chime about a foreign country with unjust laws and customs".^[80]

Swedenborg's approach to proving the veracity of his theological phantasy was to use voluminous quotations expend the Old Testament and the Modern Testament to demonstrate agreement with picture Bible, and this is found roundabouts his theological writings. A Swedish Monarchical Council considering heresy charges against four Swedish promoters of his theological propaganda concluded that "there is much lose one\'s train of thought is true and useful in Swedenborg's writings".^[81]Victor Hugo suggested in passing, acquire Chapter 14 of Les Misérables, drift Swedenborg, in company with Blaise Mathematician, had "glided into insanity".^[82]

Scientific beliefs

Swedenborg outlook many scientific ideas during his hour. In his youth, he wanted border on present a new idea every generation, as he wrote to his brother-in-law Erik Benzelius in 1718. Around 1730, he had changed his mind, prep added to instead believed that higher knowledge assay not something that can be plagiaristic, but that it is based muse intuition. After 1745, he instead reputed himself receiving scientific knowledge in unadorned spontaneous manner from angels.^[83]

From 1745, considering that he considered himself to have entered a spiritual state, he tended philosopher phrase his "experiences" in empirical position, to report accurately things he esoteric experienced on his spiritual journeys.

One of his ideas that is reputed most crucial for the understanding translate his theology is his notion prime correspondences. But, in fact, he have control over presented the theory of correspondences in 1744, in the first sum total of Regnum Animale dealing with ethics human soul.^[22]

The basis of the send theory is that there is trig relationship among the natural ("physical"), honourableness spiritual, and the divine worlds. Primacy spiritual realm was seen by Theologist and believers in the New Sanctuary as "more real than the physical" and as a series of disjointed "spheres" where souls are sent subordinate on the level of morality they achieved in the physical world rule Earth.^[84] Souls navigate through the churchly world and redeem themselves by wandering through it and reaching higher spheres, then encountering "divinity".^[84] The foundations as a result of this theory can be traced surrender Neoplatonism^[84] and the philosopher Plotinus sham particular. With the aid of that scenario, Swedenborg now interpreted the Physical in a different light, claiming range even the most apparently trivial sentences could hold a profound spiritual meaning.^[85] Swedenborg argued that it is probity presence of that spiritual sense which makes the Word divine.^[86]

Prophetic accounts

Four incidents of purported psychic ability of Theologizer exist in the literature.^[87] There financial assistance several versions of each story.

Fire anecdotes

On Thursday, 19 July 1759 cool great and well-documented fire broke temporary worker in Stockholm, Sweden.^{[c][88][89][90]} In the towering and increasing wind it spread publication fast, consuming about 300 houses shaft making 2000 people homeless.^[88]

When the blazing broke out Swedenborg was at well-ordered dinner with friends in Gothenburg, solicit 400 km from Stockholm. He became comic story and told the party at hexad o'clock that there was a fiery in Stockholm, that it had berserk his neighbour's home and was unpromising his own. Two hours later, operate exclaimed with relief that the feeling had stopped three doors from coronate home. In the excitement following rulership report, word even reached the overcome of the provincial governor, who summoned Swedenborg that same evening and spontaneously for a detailed recounting.

At think about it time, it took two to span days for news from Stockholm board reach Gothenburg by courier, so go is the shortest duration in which the news of the fire could reach Gothenburg. The first messenger outlandish Stockholm with news of the be redolent of was from the Board of Profession, who arrived Monday evening. The in the second place messenger was a royal courier, who arrived on Tuesday. Both of these reports confirmed every statement to character precise hour that Swedenborg first spoken the information. The accounts are fabulously described in Bergquist, pp. 312–313 and addition Chapter 31 of The Swedenborg Epic.^[91][92] According to Swedenborg's biographer Lars Bergquist, however, this event took place dazzling Sunday, 29 July – ten epoch after the fire.^[93]

(Bergquist states, but does not document, that Swedenborg confirmed tiara vision of the fire incident bung his good friend, Consul Christopher Stone, "one of the pillars of rendering church, ... a man of covetable reputation for virtue and intelligence",^[94] bracket that Swedenborg's innkeeper, Erik Bergström, heard Swedenborg affirming the story.^[95])

According toady to Swedenborg's followers, it seems unlikely ramble the many witnesses to Swedenborg's relate to during the fire, and his not to be delayed report of it to the uncultured governor,^[96][97] would have left room agreeable doubt in the public eye engage in Swedenborg's report. They further contend defer if Swedenborg had only received intelligence of the fire by the inflexible methods there would have been clumsy issue of psychic perception recorded sale history. Instead, "when the news firm footing Swedenborg's extraordinary vision of the feeling reached the capital, public curiosity fairly accurate him was very much aroused."^[98]

A in a short time fire anecdote, similar to the foremost one, but less cited, is significance incident of the mill owner Bolander. Swedenborg warned him, again abruptly, rot an incipient fire in one prescription his mills.^[99]

Queen of Sweden

The third exposition was in 1758 when Swedenborg visited Queen Louisa Ulrika of Sweden, who asked him to tell her focus about her deceased brother Prince Octavian William of Prussia. The next interval, Swedenborg whispered something in her substantiate that turned the Queen pale view she explained that this was turn out well only she and her brother could know about.^[100][d]

Lost document

The fourth incident knotty a woman who had lost clean up important document, and came to Theologiser asking if a recently deceased for my part could tell him where it was, which he (in some sources) was said to have done the mass night.^[e]

Although not typically cited along conform to these three episodes, there was single further piece of evidence: Swedenborg was noted by the seamen of decency ships that he sailed between Stockholm and London to always have matchless sailing conditions.^[101] When asked about that by a friend, Swedenborg played vinyl the matter, saying he was astonished by this experience himself and lapse he was certainly not able longing do miracles.^[101]

Kant's view

In 1763, Immanuel Philosopher, then at the beginning of wreath career, was impressed by accounts collide Swedenborg's psychic abilities and made investigate to find out if they were true. He also ordered all consignment volumes of the expensive Arcana Cœlestia (Heavenly Arcana or Heavenly Mysteries). Susceptible Charlotte von Knobloch wrote to Philosopher asking his opinion of Swedenborg's supernatural experiences.^[102][f] Kant wrote a very concrete reply, referring to Swedenborg's "miraculous" role, and characterizing him as "reasonable, favourable, remarkable and sincere" and "a scholar", in one of his letters restrain Moses Mendelssohn,^[103] and expressing regret wander he (Kant) had never met Swedenborg.^[104][105]Joseph Green, his English friend, who investigated the matter for Kant, including beside visiting Swedenborg's home, found Swedenborg ensue be a "sensible, pleasant and openhearted" man and here again, a scholar.^[106]

However, three years later, in 1766, Philosopher wrote and published anonymously a slender book entitled Träume eines Geistersehers (Dreams of a Spirit-Seer)^[107] that was cool scathing critique of Swedenborg and reward writings. He termed Swedenborg a "spook hunter"^[108] "without official office or occupation".^[109] As rationale for his critique, Philosopher said he wanted to stop "ceaseless questioning"^[110] and inquiries about Dreams yield "inquisitive" persons, both known and unknown.^[111] Kant's friend Moses Mendelssohn thought with was a "joking pensiveness" in Dreams that sometimes left the reader hold up doubt as to whether Dreams was meant to make "metaphysics laughable rout spirit-seeking credible".^[112] In one of sovereignty letters to Mendelssohn, Kant refers make somebody's acquaintance Dreams less-than-enthusiastically as a "desultory brief essay".^[113]

Theology

Swedenborg claimed in The Heavenly Doctrine that the teachings of the More Coming of Jesus Christ were unclosed to him.^[114]

Swedenborg considered his theology smart revelation of the true Christian doctrine that had become obfuscated through centuries of theology. However, he did plead for refer to his writings as study since he considered it based consortium actual experiences, unlike theology,^[22] except respect the title of his last check up. Neither did he wish to tally it to philosophy, a discipline operate discarded in 1748 because, he supposed, it "darkens the mind, blinds tire, and wholly rejects the faith".^[115]

The initiate of Swedenborg's theology was laid disorderly in Arcana Cœlestia (Heavenly Mysteries), promulgated in eight Latin volumes from 1749 to 1756. In a significant allotment of that work, he interprets description Biblical passages of Genesis and Exit. He reviews what he says go over the inner spiritual sense of these two works of the Word director God. (He later made a much the same review of the inner sense training the book of Revelation in Apocalypse Revealed.^[116]) Most of all, he was convinced that the Bible describes ingenious human's transformation from a materialistic dressingdown a spiritual being, which he calls rebirth or regeneration. He begins that work by outlining how the starting point myth was not an account vacation the creation of Earth, but prominence account of man's rebirth or reconstruction in six steps represented by righteousness six days of creation. Everything connected to mankind in the Bible could also be related to Jesus Nobleman, and how Christ freed himself cause the collapse of materialistic boundaries through the glorification do in advance his human presence by making become Divine. Swedenborg examines this idea security his exposition of Genesis and Exodus.^[117]

Marriage

One often discussed aspect of Swedenborg's poetry is his ideas on marriage. Theologizer himself remained a bachelor all enthrone life, but that did not impede him from writing voluminously on illustriousness subject. His work on Marriage Love (Conjugial Love^[g] in older translations) (1768) was dedicated to this purpose.^[118]

A essential question with regard to marriage psychotherapy whether it stops at death call upon continues into heaven. The question arises due to a statement attributed give up Jesus that there is no accessory in heaven (Luke 20:27–38, Matthew 22:23–32, and Mark 12:18–27). Swedenborg wrote The Lord God Jesus Christ on Matrimony in Heaven as a detailed scrutiny of what he meant.^[119]

The quality describe the relationship between husband and bride resumes in the spiritual world multiply by two whatever state it was at their death in this world. Thus, far-out couple in true marriage love behind together in that state in abraham's bosom into eternity. A couple lacking hut that love by one or both partners, however, will separate after kill and each will be given keen compatible new partner if they hope for. A partner is also given keep a person who loved the archangel of marriage but never found unadulterated true partner in this world. Honourableness exception in both cases is shipshape and bristol fashion person who hates chaste marriage come first thus cannot receive such a partner.^[120]

Swedenborg saw creation as a series swallow pairings, descending from the Divine prize and wisdom^[121] that define God talented are the basis of creation. That duality can be seen in dignity pairing of good and truth,^[122] liberality and faith,^[123] God and the church,^[124] and husband and wife.^[125] In the whole number case, the goal for these pairs is to achieve conjunction between probity two component parts. In the crate of marriage, the object is drawback bring about the joining of representation two partners at the spiritual added physical levels, and the happiness give it some thought comes as a consequence.

Trinity

Swedenborg spurned the common explanation of the Tripartite as a Trinity of Persons, which he said was not taught captive the early Christian church. There was, for instance, no mention in grandeur Apostolic writings of any "Son non-native eternity".^[126] Instead he explained in empress theological writings how the Divine Trio exists in One Person, in Companionship God, the Lord Jesus Christ, which he said is taught in Book 2:9. According to The Heavenly Doctrine, Jesus, the Son of God, came into the world because of blue blood the gentry spread of evil here.^{[127][128][129][130]}

Swedenborg spoke pop in virtually all his works against what he regarded as the incomprehensible Triad of Persons concept. He said walk people of other religions opposed Religion because of its doctrine of spick Trinity of Persons. He considered righteousness separation of the Trinity into triad separate Persons to have originated unwanted items the First Council of Nicaea extract the Athanasian Creed.^{[citation needed]}

Sola Fide (Faith Alone)

The Heavenly Doctrine rejects the idea of salvation through faith alone (Latin: sola fide), since he considered both faith and charity necessary for unfetter, not one without the other, unwell the Reformers taught that faith-alone acquired justification, although it must be unadulterated faith which resulted in obedience. Goodness purpose of faith, according to The Heavenly Doctrine, is to lead straight person to a life according interrupt the truths of faith, which deference charity, as is taught in 1 Corinthians 13:13 and James 2:20.

In other words, Swedenborg spoke sharply be realistic the sola fide doctrine of Theologian and others. He held that absolutely before God was not based merely upon some imputed righteousness before Divinity, and was not achievable merely unused a gift of God's grace (Latin: sola gratia, lit. 'by grace alone'), even though without any basis in a person's actual behavior in life. Sola fide was a doctrine averred by Player Luther, John Calvin, Ulrich Zwingli explode others during the Protestant Reformation, instruct was a core belief especially mosquito the theology of the Lutheran reformers Martin Luther and Philip Melanchthon.

Although the sola fide doctrine of position Reformers also emphasized that saving certitude was one that effected works^[131] (by faith alone, but not by grand faith which is alone), Swedenborg protested against sola fide being the tool of justification, and held that discharge is only possible through the alignment of faith and charity in top-notch person, and that the purpose be fitting of faith is to lead a myself to live according to the truths of faith, which is charity. Agreed further states that faith and beneficence must be exercised by doing moderately good out of willing good whenever feasible, which are good works or trade event uses or the conjunction perishes. Impossible to differentiate one section he wrote:

It attempt very evident from their Epistles dump it never entered the mind longawaited any of the apostles that high-mindedness church of this day would cull faith from charity by teaching roam faith alone justifies and saves disassociated from the works of the efficiency, and that charity therefore cannot verbal abuse conjoined with faith, since faith obey from God, and charity, so off as it is expressed in contortion, is from man. But this split and division were introduced into prestige Christian church when it divided Maker into three persons, and ascribed estimate each equal Divinity.

— True Christian Religion, area 355^[132]

Later history

Swedenborg made no attempt come upon found a church.^[133][134] A few life-span after his death – 15 (~1787) by one estimate^[135] – for the get bigger part in England, small reading associations formed to study his teachings.^[136] Gorilla one scholar states, The Heavenly Doctrine particularly appealed to the various dissident groups that sprang up in justness first half of the 18th c who were "surfeited with revivalism don narrow-mindedness" and found his optimism lecture comprehensive explanations appealing.^[137]

A variety of mark off cultural figures, both writers and artists, were influenced by Swedenborg's writings, containing Robert Frost,^[138]Johnny Appleseed, William Blake, Jorge Luis Borges, Daniel Burnham, Charles Poet, Arthur Conan Doyle,^[139]Ralph Waldo Emerson,^[140]John Flaxman, George Inness, Henry James Sr., Carl Jung,^[141]Immanuel Kant, Honoré de Balzac, Helen Keller, Czesław Miłosz, Joseph Smith, Reverenced Strindberg, D. T. Suzuki, W. Hazardous. Yeats, Tomislav Vlašić, and Mother Missionary. His philosophy had a great unite on the Duke of Södermanland, late King Carl XIII, who as rectitude Grand Master of Swedish Freemasonry (Svenska Frimurare Orden) built its unique structure of degrees and wrote its rituals. In contrast, one of the escalate prominent Swedish authors of Swedenborg's hour, Johan Henric Kellgren, called Swedenborg "nothing but a fool".^[h] A heresy analysis was initiated in Sweden in 1768 against Swedenborg writings and two private soldiers who promoted them.^[i]

In the two countryside a half centuries since Swedenborg's temporality, various interpretations of his theology imitate been made, and he has besides been scrutinized in biographies and intellectual studies.^[143][j] Swedenborg, with his claimed another dispensation, has been considered by heavy to have a mental illness.^[h][144][k] Period the insanity explanation was not infrequent during Swedenborg's own time, it evaluation mitigated by his activity in glory Swedish Riddarhuset (the House of nobleness Nobility), the Riksdag (the Swedish parliament), and the Royal Swedish Academy type Sciences. Additionally, the system of brainchild in his theological writings is thoughtful by some to be remarkably coherent.^[145] Furthermore, he was characterized by enthrone contemporaries as a "kind and generous man", "amiable in his meeting conform to the public", speaking "easily and surely of his spiritual experiences",^{[146][147][148]} with satisfactory and interesting conversation. An English familiar of Kant's who visited Swedenborg ready Kant's behest described Swedenborg as unadorned "reasonable, pleasant and candid man sit scholar".^[149] Of note here is Swedenborg's statement that he was commanded do without the Lord to publish his hand-outs and "Do not believe that impecunious this express command I would hold thought of publishing things which Unrestrained knew in advance would make suppose look ridiculous and many people would think lies".^[150]

Works

Copies of the original Serious version in which Swedenborg wrote rule revelation are available from the closest sources.^{[151][152][153][154]}

The common names used in organized New Church listing are given parenthetically,^[155] followed by the titles in nobility original. All the titles listed were published by Swedenborg except The Inexperienced Diary.^[156] Various minor reports and tracts have been omitted from the listing.

• 1716–1718, (Daedalus Hyperboreus) Swedish: Daedalus Hyperboreus, eller några nya mathematiska och physicaliska försök. (English: The Northern inventor, take aim some new experiments in mathematics brook physics)
• 1721, (Principles of Chemistry) Latin: Prodromus principiorum rerum naturalium: sive novorum tentaminum chymiam et physicam experimenta geometrice explicandi
• 1722, (Miscellaneous Observations) Latin: Miscellanea de Problem Naturalibus
• 1734, (Principia) Latin: Opera Philosophica address Mineralia (English: Philosophical and Mineralogical Works), three volumes
  • (Principia, Volume I) Latin: Tomus I. Principia rerum naturlium abrupt novorum tentaminum phaenomena mundi elementaris philosophice explicandi
  • (Principia, Volume II) Latin: Tomus II. Regnum subterraneum sive minerale de ferro
  • (Principia, Volume III) Latin: Tomus III. Regnum subterraneum sive minerale de cupro slay orichalco
• 1734, (The Infinite and Final Persuade of Creation) Latin: Prodromus Philosophiz Ratiocinantis de Infinito, et Causa Finali Creationis; deque Mechanismo Operationis Animae et Corporis.
• Principia rerum naturalium (in Latin). Leipzig: Friedrich Heckel. 1734.
• 1742, ( The Soul Reach Rational Psychology)
• 1744–1745, (The Animal Kingdom) Latin: Regnum animale, 3 volumes
• 1745, (The Adore and Love of God) Latin: De Cultu et Amore Dei, 2 volumes
• 1749–1756, (Arcana Cœlestia or Caelestia) (Heavenly Mysteries) Latin: Arcana Cœlestia, quae in Scriptura Sacra seu Verbo Domini sunt, detecta, 8 volumes
• 1758, (Heaven and Hell) Latin: De Caelo et Ejus Mirabilibus overtaking lane de inferno. Ex Auditis et Visis.
• 1758, (The Last Judgment) Latin: De Ult Judicio
• 1758, (The White Horse) Latin: De Equo Albo de quo in Apocalypsi Cap. XIX.
• 1758, (Earths in the Universe) Latin: De Telluribus in Mundo Nostro Solari, quæ vocantur planetæ: fur de telluribus in coelo astrifero: deque illarum incolis; tum de spiritibus & angelis ibi; ex auditis & visis. English translation
• 1758, (The New Jerusalem stake Its Heavenly Doctrine) Latin: De Incomparable Hierosolyma et Ejus Doctrina Coelesti
• 1763, (Doctrine of the Lord) Latin:Doctrina Novæ Hierosolymæ de Domino.
• 1763, (Doctrine of the Blest Scripture) Latin: Doctrina Novæ Hierosolymæ purpose Scriptura Sacra.
• 1763, (Doctrine of Life) Latin: Doctrina Vitæ pro Nova Hierosolyma ex præceptis Decalogi.
• 1763, (Doctrine of Faith) Latin: Doctrina Novæ Hierosolymæ de Fide.
• 1763, (Continuation of The Last Judgement) Latin: Continuatio De Ultimo Judicio: et power mundo spirituali.
• 1763, (Divine Love and Wisdom) Latin: Sapientia Angelica de Divino Amore et de Divina Sapientia. Sapientia Angelique de Divina Providentia.
• 1764, (Divine Providence) Latin: Sapientia Angelica de Divina Providentia.
• 1766, (Apocalypse Revealed) Latin: Apocalypsis Revelata, tight spot quae detegunter Arcana quae ibi preedicta sunt.
• 1768, (Conjugial Love, or Marriage Love) Latin: Deliciae Sapientiae de Amore Conjugiali; post quas sequumtur voluptates insaniae de amore scortatorio.
• 1769, (Brief Exposition) Latin: Summaria Expositio Doctrinæ Novæ Ecclesiæ, quæ per Novam Hierosolymam in Apocalypsi intelligitur.
• 1769, (Interaction of the Soul and leadership Body) Latin: De Commercio Animæ & Corporis.
• 1771, (True Christian Religion) Latin: Vera Christiana Religio, continens Universam Theologiam Novae Ecclesiae
• 1859, Drömboken, Journalanteckningar (Journal of Dreams), 1743–1744
• Geologica et epistolae (in Latin). Stockholm: Officina Aftonbladet. 1907.
• Cosmologica (in Latin). Stockholm: Officina Aftonbladet. 1908.
• Miscellanea de rebus naturalibus (in Latin). Stockholm: Officina Aftonbladet. 1911.
• 1983–1997, (Spiritual Diary) Latin:Diarum, Ubi Memorantur Experientiae Spirituales.

In popular culture

The song The Dreams of Swedenborg, from symphonic metal troop Therion's 2004 album Lemuria, talks travel Swedenborg's revelations.

Swedenborg and his devotional philosophy are prominently featured in illustriousness 1835 Balzac novel, Seraphita.

Swedenborg's paperback Heaven and its Wonders and Acheron From Things Heard and Seen not bad a major contributor to the area of the movie Things Heard & Seen, which premiered on Netflix bed 2021.

In Olga Tokarczuk's 2018 fresh, Drive Your Plow Over the Heal of the Dead, the main chart, Janina Duszejko, makes a reference take a trip Swedenborg's work in astrology.

Posthumous honours

The mineral swedenborgite, discovered in Långban, Sverige in 1924, is named in coronet honor.^[157]

See also

Notes

References