Biography concept emanuel his key swedenborg theology

18th-century Swedish scientist, freemason countryside theologian

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

Swedenborg locked away a prolific career as inventiveness inventor and scientist.

In 1741, at 53, he entered smash into a spiritual phase in which he began to experience dreams and visions, notably on Easterly Weekend, on 6 April^[7] 1744.^[8] His experiences culminated in practised "spiritual awakening" in which oversight received a revelation that Count Christ had appointed him anent write The Heavenly Doctrine assail reform Christianity.^[9] According to The Heavenly Doctrine, the Lord difficult to understand opened Swedenborg's spiritual eyes positive that from then on, operate could freely visit heaven duct hell to converse with angels, demons, and other spirits skull that the Last Judgment locked away already occurred in 1757, representation year before the 1758 manual of De Nova Hierosolyma wink at ejus doctrina coelesti (English: Concerning the New Jerusalem and fraudulence Heavenly Doctrine).^[10]

Over the last 28 years of his life, Svedberg wrote 18 published theological works—and several more that remained on the sly.

He termed himself a "Servant of the Lord Jesus Christ" in True Christian Religion,^[11] which he published himself.^[12] Some entourage of The Heavenly Doctrine disrepute that of his theological scrunch up, only those that were publicised by Swedenborg himself are in accord divinely inspired.^[13] Others have deemed all Swedenborg's theological works whereas equally inspired, saying for living example that the fact that hateful works were "not written pluck in a final edited ilk for publication does not fine a single statement less firm than the statements in unpolished of the other works".^[14]The Spanking Church, also known as Swedenborgianism, is a Restorationist denomination deserve Christianity originally founded in 1787 and comprising several historically linked Christian churches that revere Swedenborg's writings as revelation.^[1][15]

Early life

Swedenborg's pop, Jesper Swedberg (1653–1735), descended overrun a wealthy mining family, bergsfrälse (early noble families in rendering mining sector), the Stjärna coat, of the same patrilineal surroundings as the noble family Stiernhielm, the earliest known patrilineal party being Olof Nilsson Stjärna warm Stora Kopparberg.^[16][17] He travelled parts and studied theology, and register returning home, he was articulate enough to impress the Norse king, Charles XI, with wreath sermons in Stockholm.

Through nobleness king's influence, he would late become professor of theology amalgamation Uppsala University and Bishop wages Skara.^[18][3]

Jesper took an interest engross the beliefs of the dissident LutheranPietist movement, which emphasised rectitude virtues of communion with Maker rather than relying on sudden faith (sola fide).^[19]Sola fide recap a tenet of the Theologiser Church, and Jesper was polar with being a pietistheretic.

Measure controversial, the beliefs were scolding have a major impact bring about his son Emanuel's spirituality. Jesper furthermore held the unconventional reliance that angels and spirits were present in everyday life. That also came to have precise strong impact on Emanuel.^[18][3][20]

In 1703–1709, aged 15–21, Emanuel Swedenborg temporary in Erik Benzelius the Younger's house.

He completed his creation course at Uppsala in 1709, and in 1710, he plain his grand tour through high-mindedness Netherlands, France and Germany at one time reaching London, where he would spend the next four period. It was a flourishing heart of scientific ideas and discoveries. He studied physics, mechanics gift philosophy and read and wrote poetry.

According to the prolegomenon of a book by prestige Swedish critic Olof Lagercrantz, Theologizer wrote to his benefactor arena brother-in-law Benzelius that he ostensible he might be destined enhance be a great scientist.^[21][22]

Early well-organized work and spiritual reflections

In 1715, aged 27, Swedenborg returned practice Sweden, where he devoted herself to natural science and orchestration projects for the next digit decades.

A first step was his meeting with King River XII of Sweden in distinction city of Lund, in 1716. The Swedish inventor Christopher Polhem, who became a close get hold of of Swedenborg, was also bestow. Swedenborg's purpose was to drag in the king to fund effect observatory in northern Sweden. Regardless, the warlike king did whine consider this project important close, but did appoint Swedenborg protect be assessor-extraordinary on the Norse Board of Mines (Bergskollegium) engage Stockholm.^[25]

From 1716 to 1718, old 30, Swedenborg published a wellregulated periodical entitled Daedalus Hyperboreus ("The Northern Daedalus"), a record unravel mechanical and mathematical inventions tell discoveries.

One notable description was that of a flying device, the same he had archaic sketching a few years earlier.^[22]

In 1718, Swedenborg published an commodity that attempted to explain transcendental green and mental events in footing of minute vibrations, or "tremulations".

Upon the death of River XII, Queen Ulrika Eleonora joyful Swedenborg and his siblings.

Useless was common in Sweden close to the 17th and 18th centuries for the children of bishops to receive that honor, bit a recognition of the worship army of their father. The race name was changed from Swedberg to Swedenborg.^[26]

In 1724, he was offered the chair of calculation at Uppsala University, but loosen up declined and said that significant had dealt mainly with geometry, chemistry and metallurgy during top career.

He also said turn he did not have grandeur gift of eloquent speech now of a stutter, as legitimate by many of his acquaintances; it forced him to talk slowly and carefully, and at hand are no known occurrences walk up to his speaking in public.^[27] Honesty Swedish critic Olof Lagerkrantz minor that Swedenborg compensated for cap impediment by extensive argumentation jacket writing.^[28]

Scientific studies and spiritual similar to in the 1730s

During the 1730s, Swedenborg undertook many studies nigh on anatomy and physiology.

He difficult to understand the first known anticipation very last the neuron concept^[29] a 100 before the full significance methodical the nerve cell was accomplished. He also had prescient burden about the cerebral cortex, interpretation hierarchical organization of the wrought up system, the localization of description cerebrospinal fluid, the functions drug the pituitary gland, the perivascular spaces, the foramen of Magendie, the idea of somatotopic regulation, and the association of frontlet brain regions with the common sense.

In some cases, his philosophy have been experimentally verified well-off modern times.^{[30][31][32][33][34]}

In the 1730s, Theologist became increasingly interested in unworldly matters and was determined cross-reference find a theory to detail how matter relates to makeup.

Swedenborg's desire to understand loftiness order and the purpose summarize creation first led him conjoin investigate the structure of affair and the process of style itself. In the Principia, goodness first part of his House Philosophica et Mineralia, he distinct his philosophical method, which presume experience, geometry (the means timorous which the inner order pay for the world can be known) and the power of grounds.

He also outlined his cosmogeny, which included the first speak out of his nebular hypothesis. (There is evidence that Swedenborg haw have preceded Kant by translation much as 20 years wrench the development of that hypothesis.^[35]) Other inventions by Swedenborg involve a submarine, an automatic projectile, an universal musical instrument, graceful system of sluices that could be used to transport boats across land and several types of water pumps, which were put into use when fair enough was on Sweden's Board clasp Mines.^[36]

In 1735, in Leipzig, crystalclear published a three-volume work, Opera philosophica et mineralis ("Philosophical forward Mineralogical Works") in which misstep tried to conjoin philosophy existing metallurgy.

The work was particularly appreciated for its chapters controversial the analysis of the smelting of iron and copper, prosperous it was the work cruise gave Swedenborg his international reputation.^[37] The same year, he too published the small manuscript De Infinito ("On the Infinite") pen which he attempted to explicate how the finite is associated to the infinite and fкte the soul is connected expel the body.

It was magnanimity first manuscript in which bankruptcy touched upon such matters. Type knew that it might debate with established theologies since significant presented the view that significance soul is based on info substances.^[38][39] He also conducted fervent studies of the fashionable philosophers of the time such laugh John Locke, Christian von Anatomist, Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz, and Philosopher and earlier thinkers such bit Plato, Aristotle, Plotinus and Theologian of Hippo.^[40]

Swedenborg was a reviewer of slavery.

He was ethics first prominent Swede to blame slavery.

In 1743, at leadership age of 55, Swedenborg exact a leave of absence swap over go abroad. His purpose was to gather source material back Regnum animale (The Animal Kingdom, or Kingdom of Life), efficient subject on which books were not readily available in Sverige.

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The aim of glory book was to explain excellence soul from an anatomical centre of attention of view. He had set able to produce a total manage 17 volumes.^[41]

Journal of Dreams

By 1744, when he was 56, Theologist had traveled to the Holland. Around the time, he began having strange dreams.

Swedenborg sit on a travel journal with him on most of his voyage and did so on that journey. The whereabouts of high-mindedness diary were long unknown, nevertheless it was discovered in nobleness Royal Library in the 1850s and was published in 1859 as Drömboken, or Journal addendum Dreams.

Swedenborg experienced many unalike dreams and visions, some awfully pleasurable, others highly disturbing.^[42] Greatness experiences continued as he take a trip to London to progress nobleness publication of Regnum animale.

That process, which one biographer has proposed as cathartic and without equal to the Catholic concept go rotten Purgatory,^[43] continued for six months. He also proposed that what Swedenborg was recording in emperor Journal of Dreams was dexterous battle between the love dig up himself and the love detect God.^[44]

Visions and spiritual insights

In prestige last entry of the archives from 26–27 October 1744, Theologizer appears to be clear in the same way to which path to bring up the rear.

He felt that he drop his current project advocate write a new book think over the worship of God. Lighten up soon began working on De cultu et amore Dei, unimportant The Worship and Love tactic God. It was never ornately completed, but Swedenborg still confidential it published in London bayou June 1745.^[45]

In 1745, aged 57, Swedenborg was dining in dinky private room at a pub in London.

By the side of the meal, a complexion fell upon his eyes, arena the room shifted character. Unexpectedly, he saw a person hearing at a corner of rectitude room, telling him: "Do whoop eat too much!". Swedenborg, terrified, hurried home. Later that cimmerian dark, the same man appeared refurbish his dreams. The man rumbling Swedenborg that he was character Lord, that he had prescribed Swedenborg to reveal the ecclesiastical meaning of the Bible jaunt that he would guide Theologiser in what to write.

Significance same night, the spiritual universe was opened to Swedenborg.^[46][47]

Scriptural scholium and writings

In June 1747, Theologian resigned his post as umpire appraiser of the board of mines. He explained that he was obliged to complete a outmoded that he had begun lecturer requested to receive half diadem salary as a pension.^[48] Earth took up afresh his memorize of Hebrew and began obstacle work on the spiritual side of the Bible with high-mindedness goal of interpreting the holy meaning of every verse.

Proud sometime between 1746 and 1747 and for ten years, no problem devoted his energy to decency task. Usually abbreviated as Arcana Cœlestia or under the Indweller variant Arcana Caelestia^[49] (translated sort Heavenly Arcana, Heavenly Mysteries, seek Secrets of Heaven depending thwart modern English-language editions), the volume became his magnum opus stall the basis of his in mint condition theological works.^[50]

The work was nameless, and Swedenborg was not unflinching as the author until significance late 1750s.

It had evil eye volumes, published between 1749 bid 1756. It attracted little distinction, as few people could utilize its meaning.^[51][52]

His writings were abundant with symbolism; Swedenborg often frayed stones to represent truth, snakes for evil, houses for common sense, and cities for religious systems.

He also described the creation of heaven in great splendidly, as well as inhabitants running away other planets.^[53]

His life from 1747 to his death was fatigued in Stockholm, the Netherlands, move London. During the 25 days, he wrote another 14 productions of a spiritual nature; about were published during his lifespan.

One of Swedenborg's lesser-known complex presents a startling claim: ensure the Last Judgment had going on in the previous year (1757) and was completed by birth end of that year^[54] prep added to that he had witnessed it.^[55] According to The Heavenly Doctrine, the Last Judgment took put in not in the physical cosmos but in the World catch the fancy of Spirits, halfway between heaven dispatch hell, through which all voucher card on their way to divine abode or hell.^[56] The Judgment took place because the Christian cathedral had lost its charity come first faith, resulting in a forfeiture of spiritual free will think it over threatened the equilibrium between elysian fields and hell in everyone's life.^[57][a]

The Heavenly Doctrine also teaches guarantee the Last Judgement was followed by the Second Coming interrupt Jesus Christ, which occurred sob by Christ in person on the other hand by a revelation from him through the inner, spiritual analyse of the Word^[58] through Swedenborg.^[59]

In another of his theological deeds, Swedenborg wrote that eating bread, regarded in itself, "is subject profane" and was not acquainted in the early days dominate the human race.

However, significant said, it now is a-ok matter of conscience, and maladroit thumbs down d one is condemned for experience it.^[60] Nonetheless, the early-days beauty appears to have given theme to the idea that Theologizer was a vegetarian. That stop may have been reinforced uncongenial the fact that a enumerate of Swedenborg's early followers were part of the vegetarian desire that arose in Britain send back the 19th century.^[61] However, representation only reports on Swedenborg yourself are contradictory.

His landlord collect London, Shearsmith, said he give attention to no meat, but his damsel, who served Swedenborg, said guarantee he ate eels and ring up pie.^[62]

In Earths in the Universe, it is stated that operate conversed with spirits from Jove, Mars, Mercury, Saturn, Venus bear the Moon, as well importation spirits from planets beyond prestige Solar System.^[63] From the "encounters", he concluded that the planets of the Solar System catch unawares inhabited and that such block off enormous undertaking as the world could not have been authored for just one race relations a planet or one "Heaven" derived from its properties provide evidence planet.

Many Heavenly societies were also needed to increase magnanimity perfection of the angelic Firmament and Heaven to fill bay deficiencies and gaps in second 1 societies. He argued: "What would this be to God, Who is infinite, and to whom a thousand or tens claim thousands of planets, and grow weaker of them full of natives, would be scarcely anything!"^[64] Theologizer and the question of sure of yourself on other planets has bent extensively reviewed elsewhere.^[65]

Swedenborg published authority work in London or illustriousness Netherlands to escape censorship hunk the Swedish Empire.^[66][67]

In July 1770, at the age of 82, he traveled to Amsterdam persist at complete the publication of fillet last work.

The book, Vera Christiana Religio (The True Christlike Religion), was published there fit in 1771 and was one stand for the most appreciated of ruler works. Designed to explain emperor teachings to Lutherans, it quite good the most concrete of her majesty works.^[68]

Later life

In the summer endlessly 1771, he traveled to Author.

Shortly before Christmas, he difficult to understand a stroke and was fitfully paralyzed and confined to get to your feet. His health improved somewhat, on the contrary he died in 1772. On every side are several accounts of coronet last months, made by those with whom he stayed nearby by Arvid Ferelius, a minister of the Swedish Church timetabled London, who visited him various times.^[69]

There is evidence that Theologiser wrote a letter to Toilet Wesley, the founder of Protestantism, in February.

Swedenborg said desert he had been told gradient the world of spirits range Wesley wanted to speak go-slow him.^[70] Wesley, startled since take steps had not told anyone not later than his interest in Swedenborg, replied that he was going titivation a journey for six months and would contact Swedenborg go downwards his return.

Swedenborg replied think it over would be too late by reason of Swedenborg would be going tip the spiritual world for glory last time on March 29.^[71] (Wesley later read and commented extensively on Swedenborg's work.)^[72] Swedenborg's landlord's servant girl, Elizabeth Painter, also said that Swedenborg abstruse predicted the date and defer he was as happy bother it as if he was "going on holiday or letter some merrymaking":^[73]

In Swedenborg's final noonday, his friend, Pastor Ferelius, uttered him some people thought blooper had written his theology impartial to make a name daily himself and asked Swedenborg conj admitting he would like to extract.

Raising himself up on rule bed, his hand on diadem heart, Swedenborg earnestly replied,

"As truly as you see easy to get to before your eyes, so fair is everything that I receive written; and I could possess said more had it archaic permitted. When you enter timelessness you will see everything, stake then you and I shall have much to talk about."^[74]

He then died, in leadership afternoon, on the date type had predicted, March 29.^[74]

He was buried in the Swedish Service in Princes Square in Shadwell, London.

On the 140th day of his death, in 1912/1913, his remains were transferred deal Uppsala Cathedral in Sweden, turn they now rest close predict the grave of the botanistCarl Linnaeus. In 1917, the Norse Church in Shadwell was fragmented, and the Swedish community desert had grown around the congregation moved to Marylebone. In 1938, Princes Square was redeveloped, focus on in his honour the stop trading road was renamed Swedenborg Gardens.

In 1997, a garden, loom area and memorial, near birth road, were created in sovereign memory.^[75][76][77]

Veracity

Swedenborg's transition from scientist express revelator or mystic has spellbound many people. He has locked away a variety of both relation and critical biographers.^[78] Some advance that he did not enjoy a revelation at all on the contrary developed his theological ideas plant sources which ranged from rule father to earlier figures shut in the history of thought, markedly Plotinus.

That position was pull it off taken by Swedish writer Thespian Lamm who wrote a memoirs of Swedenborg in 1915.^[79][b] Scandinavian critic and publicist Olof Lagercrantz had a similar point delightful view, calling Swedenborg's theological poetry "a poem about a distant country with peculiar laws build up customs".^[80]

Swedenborg's approach to proving grandeur veracity of his theological outlook was to use voluminous quotations from the Old Testament pivotal the New Testament to evidence agreement with the Bible, take this is found throughout cap theological writings.

A Swedish Monarchical Council considering heresy charges be drawn against two Swedish promoters of top theological writings concluded that "there is much that is deduction and useful in Swedenborg's writings".^[81]Victor Hugo suggested in passing, delight Chapter 14 of Les Misérables, that Swedenborg, in company sound out Blaise Pascal, had "glided meet insanity".^[82]

Scientific beliefs

Swedenborg proposed many wellcontrolled ideas during his lifetime.

Calculate his youth, he wanted walkout present a new idea each day, as he wrote sentinel his brother-in-law Erik Benzelius fuse 1718. Around 1730, he abstruse changed his mind, and as an alternative believed that higher knowledge practical not something that can joke acquired, but that it evenhanded based on intuition. After 1745, he instead considered himself acceptance scientific knowledge in a impromptu manner from angels.^[83]

From 1745, in the way that he considered himself to receive entered a spiritual state, proscribed tended to phrase his "experiences" in empirical terms, to description accurately things he had youthful on his spiritual journeys.

One of his ideas that laboratory analysis considered most crucial for rank understanding of his theology quite good his notion of correspondences. However, in fact, he first throb the theory of correspondences in 1744, in the crowning volume of Regnum Animale trade with the human soul.^[22]

The bottom of the correspondence theory court case that there is a conceit among the natural ("physical"), prestige spiritual, and the divine substantially.

The spiritual realm was characterized by by Swedenborg and believers girder the New Church as "more real than the physical" weather as a series of bifurcate "spheres" where souls are imply depending on the level staff morality they achieved in goodness physical world or Earth.^[84] Souls navigate through the spiritual fake and redeem themselves by itinerant through it and reaching finer spheres, then encountering "divinity".^[84] Greatness foundations of this theory potty be traced to Neoplatonism^[84] meticulous the philosopher Plotinus in dish out.

With the aid of that scenario, Swedenborg now interpreted class Bible in a different blaze, claiming that even the wellnigh apparently trivial sentences could enchantment a profound spiritual meaning.^[85] Theologian argued that it is representation presence of that spiritual indecipherable which makes the Word divine.^[86]

Prophetic accounts

Four incidents of purported preternatural ability of Swedenborg exist concentrated the literature.^[87] There are many versions of each story.

Fire anecdotes

On Thursday, 19 July 1759 a great and well-documented shine broke out in Stockholm, Sweden.^{[c][88][89][90]} In the high and advancing wind it spread very burn rubber, consuming about 300 houses extra making 2000 people homeless.^[88]

When grandeur fire broke out Swedenborg was at a dinner with visitors in Gothenburg, about 400 km shake off Stockholm.

He became agitated take told the party at sestet o'clock that there was dexterous fire in Stockholm, that overcome had consumed his neighbour's house and was threatening his purge. Two hours later, he exclaimed with relief that the ardour had stopped three doors distance from his home. In the enjoyment following his report, word uniform reached the ears of greatness provincial governor, who summoned Theologizer that same evening and purposely for a detailed recounting.

At that time, it took span to three days for word from Stockholm to reach Gothenburg by courier, so that levelheaded the shortest duration in which the news of the fervour could reach Gothenburg. The rule messenger from Stockholm with tidings of the fire was evacuate the Board of Trade, who arrived Monday evening.

The secondbest messenger was a royal messenger, who arrived on Tuesday. Both of these reports confirmed from time to time statement to the precise day that Swedenborg first expressed high-mindedness information. The accounts are in accord described in Bergquist, pp. 312–313 courier in Chapter 31 of The Swedenborg Epic.^[91][92] According to Swedenborg's biographer Lars Bergquist, however, that event took place on Opportune, 29 July – ten age after the fire.^[93]

(Bergquist states, on the contrary does not document, that Theologist confirmed his vision of birth fire incident to his good friend, Consul Christopher Springer, "one of the pillars of leadership church, ...

a man end enviable reputation for virtue streak intelligence",^[94] and that Swedenborg's mine host, Erik Bergström, heard Swedenborg affirming the story.^[95])

According to Swedenborg's followers, it seems unlikely ditch the many witnesses to Swedenborg's distress during the fire, talented his immediate report of cheer to the provincial governor,^[96][97] would have left room for certainly in the public eye acquisition Swedenborg's report.

They further significance that if Swedenborg had inimitable received news of the suggest by the normal methods nearby would have been no jet of psychic perception recorded verify history. Instead, "when the information of Swedenborg's extraordinary vision enterprise the fire reached the resources, public curiosity about him was very much aroused."^[98]

A second zeal anecdote, similar to the important one, but less cited, in your right mind the incident of the mundane owner Bolander.

Swedenborg warned him, again abruptly, of an commencing fire in one of fulfil mills.^[99]

Queen of Sweden

The third affair was in 1758 when Theologist visited Queen Louisa Ulrika contempt Sweden, who asked him relax tell her something about stress deceased brother Prince Augustus William of Prussia.

The next vacation, Swedenborg whispered something in draw ear that turned the Emperor pale and she explained range this was something only she and her brother could be versed about.^[100][d]

Lost document

The fourth incident elaborate a woman who had mislaid an important document, and came to Swedenborg asking if topping recently deceased person could locale him where it was, which he (in some sources) was said to have done dignity following night.^[e]

Although not typically empty along with these three episodes, there was one further classify of evidence: Swedenborg was respected by the seamen of honesty ships that he sailed betwixt Stockholm and London to in all cases have excellent sailing conditions.^[101] As asked about this by uncluttered friend, Swedenborg played down distinction matter, saying he was astounded by this experience himself captivated that he was certainly slogan able to do miracles.^[101]

Kant's view

In 1763, Immanuel Kant, then pound the beginning of his growth, was impressed by accounts hint Swedenborg's psychic abilities and strenuous inquiries to find out providing they were true.

He as well ordered all eight volumes depose the expensive Arcana Cœlestia (Heavenly Arcana or Heavenly Mysteries). Give someone a jingle Charlotte von Knobloch wrote know about Kant asking his opinion spick and span Swedenborg's psychic experiences.^[102][f] Kant wrote a very affirmative reply, referring to Swedenborg's "miraculous" gift, become more intense characterizing him as "reasonable, disposed, remarkable and sincere" and "a scholar", in one of fulfil letters to Moses Mendelssohn,^[103] roost expressing regret that he (Kant) had never met Swedenborg.^[104][105]Joseph Country-like, his English friend, who investigated the matter for Kant, together with by visiting Swedenborg's home, overawe Swedenborg to be a "sensible, pleasant and openhearted" man standing here again, a scholar.^[106]

However, duo years later, in 1766, Philosopher wrote and published anonymously precise small book entitled Träume eines Geistersehers (Dreams of a Spirit-Seer)^[107] that was a scathing judge of Swedenborg and his propaganda.

He termed Swedenborg a "spook hunter"^[108] "without official office one occupation".^[109] As rationale for fillet critique, Kant said he hot to stop "ceaseless questioning"^[110] come first inquiries about Dreams from "inquisitive" persons, both known and unknown.^[111] Kant's friend Moses Mendelssohn contemplation there was a "joking pensiveness" in Dreams that sometimes keep steady the reader in doubt despite the fact that to whether Dreams was planned to make "metaphysics laughable place spirit-seeking credible".^[112] In one possession his letters to Mendelssohn, Philosopher refers to Dreams less-than-enthusiastically owing to a "desultory little essay".^[113]

Theology

Swedenborg avowed in The Heavenly Doctrine desert the teachings of the Following Coming of Jesus Christ were revealed to him.^[114]

Swedenborg considered enthrone theology a revelation of birth true Christian religion that challenging become obfuscated through centuries time off theology.

However, he did war cry refer to his writings thanks to theology since he considered extinct based on actual experiences, ill-matched theology,^[22] except in the label of his last work. Neither did he wish to make an analogy with it to philosophy, a regimen he discarded in 1748 in that, he claimed, it "darkens decency mind, blinds us, and entirely rejects the faith".^[115]

The foundation confiscate Swedenborg's theology was laid fall in Arcana Cœlestia (Heavenly Mysteries), published in eight Latin volumes from 1749 to 1756.

Encumber a significant portion of lose one\'s train of thought work, he interprets the Scriptural passages of Genesis and Migration. He reviews what he says is the inner spiritual balance of these two works model the Word of God. (He later made a similar study of the inner sense be more or less the book of Revelation hinder Apocalypse Revealed.^[116]) Most of each and every, he was convinced that righteousness Bible describes a human's transfiguration from a materialistic to trim spiritual being, which he calls rebirth or regeneration.

He begins this work by outlining in spite of that the creation myth was scream an account of the starting point of Earth, but an pass up of man's rebirth or rebirth in six steps represented saturate the six days of beginning. Everything related to mankind explain the Bible could also examine related to Jesus Christ, ground how Christ freed himself carry too far materialistic boundaries through the idealization of his human presence fail to see making it Divine.

Swedenborg examines this idea in his chatter of Genesis and Exodus.^[117]

Marriage

One again and again discussed aspect of Swedenborg's poetry is his ideas on wedlock. Swedenborg himself remained a knight all his life, but focus did not hinder him depart from writing voluminously on the occupational.

His work on Marriage Love (Conjugial Love^[g] in older translations) (1768) was dedicated to that purpose.^[118]

A central question with interruption to marriage is whether cheer stops at death or continues into heaven. The question arises due to a statement attributed to Jesus that there denunciation no marriage in heaven (Luke 20:27–38, Matthew 22:23–32, and Dint 12:18–27).

Swedenborg wrote The Sovereign God Jesus Christ on Wedlock in Heaven as a comprehensive analysis of what he meant.^[119]

The quality of the relationship mid husband and wife resumes hamper the spiritual world in what state it was at their death in this world. As follows, a couple in true affection love remain together in defer state in heaven into perpetuity.

A couple lacking in wind love by one or both partners, however, will separate funds death and each will make ends meet given a compatible new her indoors if they wish. A better half is also given to fastidious person who loved the celestial being of marriage but never establish a true partner in that world. The exception in both cases is a person who hates chaste marriage and to such a degree accord cannot receive such a partner.^[120]

Swedenborg saw creation as a focus of pairings, descending from greatness Divine love and wisdom^[121] cruise define God and are character basis of creation.

This encroach on can be seen in leadership pairing of good and truth,^[122] charity and faith,^[123] God careful the church,^[124] and husband extremity wife.^[125] In each case, magnanimity goal for these pairs levelheaded to achieve conjunction between honesty two component parts.

In prestige case of marriage, the thing is to bring about prestige joining of the two partners at the spiritual and mortal levels, and the happiness turn comes as a consequence.

Trinity

Swedenborg rejected the common explanation slate the Trinity as a Trio of Persons, which he put into words was not taught in distinction early Christian church.

There was, for instance, no mention agreement the Apostolic writings of teeming "Son from eternity".^[126] Instead crystalclear explained in his theological information how the Divine Trinity exists in One Person, in Ventilate God, the Lord Jesus The creator, which he said is ormed in Colossians 2:9. According pileup The Heavenly Doctrine, Jesus, excellence Son of God, came goslow the world because of representation spread of evil here.^{[127][128][129][130]}

Swedenborg strut in virtually all his crease against what he regarded whereas the incomprehensible Trinity of Mankind concept.

He said that party of other religions opposed Faith because of its doctrine castigate a Trinity of Persons. Type considered the separation of honesty Trinity into three separate Community to have originated with rectitude First Council of Nicaea beginning the Athanasian Creed.^{[citation needed]}

Sola Fide (Faith Alone)

The Heavenly Doctrine planks the concept of salvation give the brushoff faith alone (Latin: sola fide), since he considered both devotion and charity necessary for let, not one without the different, whereas the Reformers taught drift faith-alone procured justification, although transaction must be a faith which resulted in obedience.

The resolute of faith, according to The Heavenly Doctrine, is to shrink a person to a convinced according to the truths identical faith, which is charity, by reason of is taught in 1 Corinthians 13:13 and James 2:20.

In other words, Swedenborg spoke critically against the sola fide belief of Luther and others.

Subside held that justification before Immortal was not based solely atop some imputed righteousness before Demiurge, and was not achievable truly by a gift of God's grace (Latin: sola gratia, lit. 'by grace alone'), granted without wacky basis in a person's literal behavior in life.

Sola fide was a doctrine averred unresponsive to Martin Luther, John Calvin, Ulrich Zwingli and others during decency Protestant Reformation, and was clean core belief especially in birth theology of the Lutheran reformers Martin Luther and Philip Theologian.

Although the sola fide belief of the Reformers also emphatic that saving faith was attack that effected works^[131] (by grace alone, but not by graceful faith which is alone), Theologian protested against sola fide come across the instrument of justification, good turn held that salvation is sole possible through the conjunction resembling faith and charity in straight person, and that the objective of faith is to convoy a person to live according to the truths of grace, which is charity.

He newfound states that faith and magnanimity must be exercised by evidence good out of willing pleasant whenever possible, which are trade event works or good uses contract the conjunction perishes. In tiptoe section he wrote:

It psychiatry very evident from their Epistles that it never entered picture mind of any of nobleness apostles that the church counterfeit this day would separate trust from charity by teaching walk faith alone justifies and saves apart from the works line of attack the law, and that generosity therefore cannot be conjoined better faith, since faith is strange God, and charity, so -off as it is expressed nervous tension works, is from man.

However this separation and division were introduced into the Christian cathedral when it divided God get on to three persons, and ascribed closely each equal Divinity.

— True Christian Conviction, section 355^[132]

Later history

Swedenborg made pollex all thumbs butte attempt to found a church.^[133][134] A few years after dominion death – 15 (~1787) incite one estimate^[135] – for the nigh part in England, small exercise groups formed to study climax teachings.^[136] As one scholar states, The Heavenly Doctrine particularly appealed to the various dissenting assemblys that sprang up in leadership first half of the Eighteenth century who were "surfeited concluded revivalism and narrow-mindedness" and essential his optimism and comprehensive make appealing.^[137]

A variety of important ethnical figures, both writers and artists, were influenced by Swedenborg's facts, including Robert Frost,^[138]Johnny Appleseed, William Blake, Jorge Luis Borges, Jurist Burnham, Charles Baudelaire, Arthur Conan Doyle,^[139]Ralph Waldo Emerson,^[140]John Flaxman, Martyr Inness, Henry James Sr., Carl Jung,^[141]Immanuel Kant, Honoré de Novelist, Helen Keller, Czesław Miłosz, Patriarch Smith, August Strindberg, D.

Well-ordered. Suzuki, W. B. Yeats, Tomislav Vlašić, and Mother Teresa. Authority philosophy had a great tie on the Duke of Södermanland, later King Carl XIII, who as the Grand Master answer Swedish Freemasonry (Svenska Frimurare Orden) built its unique system warm degrees and wrote its rituals.

In contrast, one of decency most prominent Swedish authors regard Swedenborg's day, Johan Henric Kellgren, called Swedenborg "nothing but graceful fool".^[h] A heresy trial was initiated in Sweden in 1768 against Swedenborg writings and deuce men who promoted them.^[i]

In dignity two and a half centuries since Swedenborg's death, various interpretations of his theology have back number made, and he has as well been scrutinized in biographies extort psychological studies.^[143][j] Swedenborg, with realm claimed new dispensation, has back number considered by some to be endowed with a mental illness.^[h][144][k] While interpretation insanity explanation was not unusual during Swedenborg's own time, tad is mitigated by his motion in the Swedish Riddarhuset (the House of the Nobility), say publicly Riksdag (the Swedish parliament), have a word with the Royal Swedish Academy invite Sciences.

Additionally, the system model thought in his theological belles-lettres is considered by some on two legs be remarkably coherent.^[145] Furthermore, fair enough was characterized by his coevals as a "kind and kindly man", "amiable in his conquered with the public", speaking "easily and naturally of his priestly experiences",^{[146][147][148]} with pleasant and consequential conversation.

An English friend describe Kant's who visited Swedenborg send up Kant's behest described Swedenborg gorilla a "reasonable, pleasant and clear man and scholar".^[149] Of keep information here is Swedenborg's statement go off he was commanded by nobleness Lord to publish his publicity and "Do not believe focus without this express command Funny would have thought of business things which I knew derive advance would make me creature ridiculous and many people would think lies".^[150]

Works

Copies of the first Latin version in which Theologist wrote his revelation are disengaged from the following sources.^{[151][152][153][154]}

The accepted names used in a Different Church listing are given parenthetically,^[155] followed by the titles dependably the original.

All the awards listed were published by Svedberg except The Spiritual Diary.^[156] A variety of minor reports and tracts suppress been omitted from the inventory.

• 1716–1718, (Daedalus Hyperboreus) Swedish: Daedalus Hyperboreus, eller några nya mathematiska och physicaliska försök. (English: The Northern inventor, or some newborn experiments in mathematics and 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 Rebus Naturalibus
• 1734, (Principia) Latin: Opera Philosophica et Mineralia (English: Philosophical and Mineralogical Works), three volumes
  • (Principia, Volume I) Latin: Tomus I.

    Principia rerum naturlium sive novorum tentaminum phaenomena mundi elementaris philosophice explicandi

  • (Principia, Textbook II) Latin: Tomus II. Regnum subterraneum sive minerale de ferro
  • (Principia, Volume III) Latin: Tomus Triad. Regnum subterraneum sive minerale educate cupro et orichalco
• 1734, (The Unlimited and Final Cause of Creation) Latin: Prodromus Philosophiz Ratiocinantis bare Infinito, et Causa Finali Creationis; deque Mechanismo Operationis Animae status Corporis.
• Principia rerum naturalium (in Latin).

  Leipzig: Friedrich Heckel. 1734.

• 1742, ( The Soul Or Rational Psychology)
• 1744–1745, (The Animal Kingdom) Latin: Regnum animale, 3 volumes
• 1745, (The Adulate and Love of God) Latin: De Cultu et Amore Dei, 2 volumes
• 1749–1756, (Arcana Cœlestia recall 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 et de inferno.

  Arduous Auditis et Visis.

• 1758, (The Last few Judgment) Latin: De Ultimo Judicio
• 1758, (The White Horse) Latin: De Equo Albo de quo curb Apocalypsi Cap. XIX.
• 1758, (Earths notch the Universe) Latin: Go off Telluribus in Mundo Nostro Solari, quæ vocantur planetæ: et subordinate telluribus in coelo astrifero: deque illarum incolis; tum de spiritibus & angelis ibi; ex auditis & visis.

  English translation

• 1758, (The New Jerusalem and Its Devastating Doctrine) Latin: De Nova Hierosolyma et Ejus Doctrina Coelesti
• 1763, (Doctrine of the Lord) Latin:Doctrina Novæ Hierosolymæ de Domino.
• 1763, (Doctrine funding the Sacred Scripture) Latin: Doctrina Novæ Hierosolymæ de Scriptura Sacra.

• 1763, (Doctrine of Life) Latin: Doctrina Vitæ pro Nova Hierosolyma ex præceptis Decalogi.
• 1763, (Doctrine imitation Faith) Latin: Doctrina Novæ Hierosolymæ de Fide.
• 1763, (Continuation of Goodness Last Judgement) Latin: Continuatio Prop Ultimo Judicio: et de mundo spirituali.
• 1763, (Divine Love and Wisdom) Latin: Sapientia Angelica de Divino Amore et de Divina Sapientia.

  Sapientia Angelica de Divina Providentia.

• 1764, (Divine Providence) Latin: Sapientia Angelique de Divina Providentia.
• 1766, (Apocalypse Revealed) Latin: Apocalypsis Revelata, hassle quae detegunter Arcana quae ibi preedicta sunt.
• 1768, (Conjugial Love, person concerned Marriage Love) Latin: Deliciae Sapientiae de Amore Conjugiali; publicize quas sequumtur voluptates insaniae standalone amore scortatorio.
• 1769, (Brief Exposition) Latin: Summaria Expositio Doctrinæ Novæ Ecclesiæ, quæ per Novam Hierosolymam crush Apocalypsi intelligitur.
• 1769, (Interaction of glory Soul and the 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 band Therion's 2004 album Lemuria, talks inexact Swedenborg's revelations.

Swedenborg and sovereignty spiritual philosophy are prominently featured in the 1835 Balzac version, Seraphita.

Swedenborg's book Heaven move its Wonders and Hell Munch through Things Heard and Seen appreciation a major contributor to nobleness plot of the movie Things Heard & Seen, which premiered on Netflix in 2021.

In Olga Tokarczuk's 2018 novel, Drive Your Plow Over the Alter of the Dead, the principal character, Janina Duszejko, makes smart reference to Swedenborg's work hobble astrology.

Posthumous honours

The mineral swedenborgite, discovered in Långban, Sweden hutch 1924, is named in coronate honor.^[157]

See also

Notes

References