Swedenborgianism is the ecclesiastical organization of beliefs developed from the writings of Emanuel Swedenborg (1688 – 1772). Many aspects are closely related to Christianity, and the movement is founded on the belief that Swedenborg witnessed the Last Judgment and second coming of Jesus Christ, along with the inauguration of the New Church and an explanation of the spiritual meaning of the literal sense of the Scriptures. Some Swedenborgian organizations teach that the writings of Swedenborg (often called The Writings or The Third Testament) are a third part of the Bible and have the same authority as the Old and New Testaments. Other names for the movement are also used, especially by adherents, including New Christians, Neo-Christians, The New Church, and Church of the New Jerusalem. For the architectural structure, see Church (building). ... Emanuel Swedenborg, 75, holding the manuscript of Apocalypsis Revelata (1766). ... // Events A high-powered conspiracy of notables, the Immortal Seven, invite William and Mary to depose James II of England. ... Year 1772 (MDCCLXXII) was a leap year starting on Wednesday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a leap year starting on Sunday of the 11-day slower Julian calendar). ... Topics in Christianity Movements · Denominations · Other religions Ecumenism · Preaching · Prayer Music · Liturgy · Calendar Symbols · Art · Criticism Important figures Apostle Paul · Church Fathers Constantine · Athanasius · Augustine Anselm · Aquinas · Palamas · Luther Calvin · Wesley Arius · Marcion of Sinope Archbishop of Canterbury · Catholic Pope Coptic Pope · Ecumenical Patriarch Christianity Portal This box:      Christianity is... Judgment Day redirects here. ... For other uses, see Second Coming (disambiguation). ... This Gutenberg Bible is displayed by the United States Library. ... This Gutenberg Bible is displayed by the United States Library. ... Topics in Christianity Movements · Denominations · Other religions Ecumenism · Preaching · Prayer Music · Liturgy · Calendar Symbols · Art · Criticism Important figures Apostle Paul · Church Fathers Constantine · Athanasius · Augustine Anselm · Aquinas · Palamas · Luther Calvin · Wesley Arius · Marcion of Sinope Archbishop of Canterbury · Catholic Pope Coptic Pope · Ecumenical Patriarch Christianity Portal This box:      Note: Judaism... This article is about the Christian scriptures. ...

History

Swedenborg spoke of a "new church" that would be founded on the theology in his works, but he himself never tried to establish an organization. At the time of his death, few efforts had been made, but on May 7, 1787, 15 years after Swedenborg's death, the New Church movement was founded in England, a country Swedenborg often visited and where he also died. Its ideas were carried to United States by missionaries. One famous Swedenborgian was John Chapman, known as Johnny Appleseed. Early missionaries also travelled to parts of Africa as Swedenborg himself believed that the "African race" was "in greater enlightenment than others on this earth, since they are such that they think more interiorly, and so receive truths and acknowledge them." (A Treatise concerning the Last Judgment, n. 118) Although merely odd-sounding today, at the time these concepts were judged highly liberal, and so Swedenborgians accepted freed African converts to their homes as early as 1790. Several of them were also involved in abolitionism.^[1] is the 127th day of the year (128th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1787 was a common year starting on Monday (see link for calendar). ... This article is about the historical figure. ... This article is about the abolition of slavery. ...

In the 19th century, occultism became increasingly popular especially in France and England, and Swedenborg's writings were, by some, blended in with theosophy, alchemy and divination. What fascinated these followers most was Swedenborg's mystical side. Much emphasis was laid on his work Heaven and Hell, wherein Swedenborg is led to Heaven and Hell by spirits to experience and report the conditions there (compare The Divine Comedy). For other uses of this term, see occult (disambiguation). ... Theosophy is a word and a concept known anciently, commonly understood in the modern era to describe the studies of religious philosophy and metaphysics originating with Helena Petrovna Blavatsky from the 1870s. ... For other uses, see Alchemy (disambiguation). ... For other uses, see Divination (disambiguation). ... Heaven and Hell is the common English title of a book written by mystic Emanuel Swedenborg in Latin, published in 1758. ... For other uses, see Heaven (disambiguation). ... This article is about the theological or philosophical afterlife. ... For other uses see The Divine Comedy (disambiguation), Dantes Inferno (disambiguation), and The Inferno (disambiguation) Dante shown holding a copy of The Divine Comedy, next to the entrance to Hell, the seven terraces of Mount Purgatory and the city of Florence, with the spheres of Heaven above, in Michelino...

Bryn Athyn Cathedral

In the U.S., Swedenborgianism was organized in 1817 with the founding of the General Convention of the New Church (sometimes referred to as the Convention), now also known as the Swedenborgian Church of North America. Image File history File links Metadata Size of this preview: 800 × 472 pixelsFull resolution (2576 × 1519 pixel, file size: 987 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) I, the creator of this work, hereby release it into the public domain. ... Image File history File links Metadata Size of this preview: 800 × 472 pixelsFull resolution (2576 × 1519 pixel, file size: 987 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) I, the creator of this work, hereby release it into the public domain. ... The Swedenborgian Church in North America (also known as the General Convention of the Church of the New Jerusalem). ...

The movement in the United States grew stronger until the late 19th century, when a controversy about doctrinal issues and the authority of Swedenborg's writings caused a faction to split off to form the Academy of the New Church which would later become the General Church of New Jerusalem (sometimes referred to as the General Church), with headquarters in Bryn Athyn, a suburb of Philadelphia. In the 1930s, a doctrinal issue about the authority of Swedenborg's writings arose in the General Church. Members in the Hague branch of the General Church saw Swedenborg's theological writings as the Word of the Third Testament, which they wrote about extensively in their Dutch magazine De Hemelsche Leer. Actions by the leading Bishop of the General Church caused those holding this new doctrinal view to split off to form The Lord's New Church Which Is Nova Hierosolyma. The General Church of the New Jerusalem (also referred to as the General Church or just simply the New Church) is an international church based on the Old Testament, the New Testament, and the theological works of Emanuel Swedenborg (often called the Writings for the New Church or just the... Bryn Athyn is a borough located in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania. ... For other uses, see Philadelphia (disambiguation) and Philly. ...

Today, the General Church has about 5,000 members in 33 churches. The Swedenborgian Church of North America, with headquarters in Newton, a suburb of Boston, now has 37 active churches with about 1,500 members in the U.S. The Lord's New Church Which Is Nova Hierosolyma, with headquarters in Bryn Athyn, now has about 28 active churches with about 1900 members worldwide. As of 2000 the most recent membership figures for the Four Church Organizations were[1]: The Swedenborgian Church in North America (also known as the General Convention of the Church of the New Jerusalem). ... Nickname: Location in Middlesex County in Massachusetts Coordinates: , Country State County Middlesex County Settled 1630 Incorporated 1688 Government  - Type Mayor-council city  - Mayor David B. Cohen (Dem) Area  - City  18. ... Nickname: City on the Hill, Beantown, The Hub (of the Universe)1, Athens of America, The Cradle of Revolution, Puritan City, Americas Walking City Location in Massachusetts, USA Counties Suffolk County Mayor Thomas M. Menino(D) Area    - City 232. ... This article is in need of attention. ...

• General Conference (Great Britain): 1,314
• General Convention (USA): 2,029
• General Church of the New Jerusalem: 5,563
• The Lord's New Church Which Is Nova Hierosolyma: 1,000

The Lord's New Church is primarily associated with South Africa, although roughly 200 members are found in the United States. It is noted for its concern for justice issues. The nations of Australia and Germany are estimated to have 504 and 200 members, respectively. When counting additional members in Asia, Africa, and South America, current sources put the total of Swedenborgians as between 25,000-30,000. Social justice refers to the concept of an unjust society that refers to more than just the administration of laws. ... For other uses, see Asia (disambiguation). ... A world map showing the continent of Africa Africa is the worlds second-largest and second most-populous continent, after Asia. ... South America South America is a continent crossed by the equator, with most of its area in the Southern Hemisphere. ...

Membership in the United States has been in long decline since peaking in the 1850s, although it should be noted it was never a large organization. In 1911 the total US membership in all Swedenborgian organizations was estimated at roughly 9,400.[2] For the game, see: 1850 (board game) 1850 (MDCCCL) was a common year starting on Tuesday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Sunday [1] of the 12-day-slower Julian calendar). ... Year 1911 (MCMXI) was a common year starting on Sunday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Saturday of the 13-day-slower Julian calendar). ...

Beliefs

The doctrines of the New Church are as follows:

1. That there is one God and that He is the Lord Jesus Christ. Within Him there is a Divine Trinity.
2. That a saving faith is to believe in Him and to live a life of charity.
3. That all evils originate in mankind and are to be shunned.
4. That good actions are of God and from God, and are therefore necessary for life and should be done.
5. That these good acts are to be done by a person as if from him/herself; but that it ought to be acknowledged that they are done from the Lord with him/her and by him/her.
6. That one's fate after death is according to the character one has acquired in life; specifically that those governed by the love of the Lord or the love of being useful to others are in heaven, and that those governed by love of self or the love of worldly things are in hell.

(see Swedenborg's True Christian Religion, author's introduction [3]) This article discusses the term God in the context of monotheism and henotheism. ... This article is about Jesus of Nazareth. ... For other uses, see Evil (disambiguation). ...

Added to this the Swedenborgians believe that marriage is eternal. They state that an individual will be married to his or her spouse in the afterlife if he or she has a true spiritual marriage, and that if a person dies unmarried he or she will find a spouse in heaven.

Non-organized Swedenborgians

The term may also be used to refer to people inspired by some part of Swedenborgian philosophy or theology who nevertheless take an eclectic approach to such topics and so blend "pure" Swedenborgian thought with ideas from other systems, including Jungian psychology, Spiritualism, and "traditional" Christianity. Such Swedenborgianism bears little resemblance to the more ecclesiastical form usually referred to by the term. For various reasons, such as not believing in the trinity that is esteemed as a 3rd Century development by Tertullian, Swedenborg held to a Oneness view of God such as modern day Oneness Pentecostalism. Jungian psychology refers to a school of psychology originating in the ideas of Swiss psychologist Carl Jung and advanced by many other thinkers who followed in his tradition. ... Topics in Christianity Movements · Denominations · Other religions Ecumenism · Preaching · Prayer Music · Liturgy · Calendar Symbols · Art · Criticism Important figures Apostle Paul · Church Fathers Constantine · Athanasius · Augustine Anselm · Aquinas · Palamas · Luther Calvin · Wesley Arius · Marcion of Sinope Archbishop of Canterbury · Catholic Pope Coptic Pope · Ecumenical Patriarch Christianity Portal This box:      Christianity is... Quintus Septimius Florens Tertullianus, anglicised as Tertullian, (ca. ... The Pentecostal movement within Protestant Christianity places special emphasis on the gifts of the Holy Spirit. ...

Other views

Swedenborgians have been viewed skeptically by fundamentalist Christian groups for the unorthodox aspects of their religion. These aspects are the rejection of the common explanation of the Trinity as a Trinity of Persons (Swedenborgians see the Trinity in One Person, the Lord Jesus Christ), and the rejection of the doctrine of atonement as an avenging justice (Swedenborgians see atonement as an act of love apart from revenge). They have been accused of being a fringe or even occult movement in which people communicate with spirits.^[2] While the mystical aspect certainly appealed to some people, and still does, this is not the focus of most New Church members today. Interestingly, in contrast to accusations of occultism, the doctrine of the New Church actually warns against contact with spirits. This article is about the Christian Trinity. ... For other uses, see Atonement (disambiguation). ... For other uses, see Occult (disambiguation). ...

Influence

Entrance to the Wayfarers Chapel, which is dedicated to Swedenborg

Notable persons influenced either by Swedenborg's writing or by the New Church include: Image File history File links Download high resolution version (677x974, 92 KB) Summary Wayfarers Chapel Rancho Palos Verdes, California Photo by Gyrofrog, July 1991 Licensing File links The following pages link to this file: Wayfarers Chapel ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (677x974, 92 KB) Summary Wayfarers Chapel Rancho Palos Verdes, California Photo by Gyrofrog, July 1991 Licensing File links The following pages link to this file: Wayfarers Chapel ... Wayfarers Chapel is a church in Rancho Palos Verdes, California, noted for its unique modern architecture and location next to the Pacific Ocean. ... The New Church is a religious movement which began in the late eighteenth century. ...

• Johnny Appleseed – Swedenborgian missionary first written about by the Swedenborgian society of Manchester, United Kingdom.
• Honoré de Balzac
• Charles Baudelaire
• Henry Ward Beecher
• William Blake
• Elizabeth and Robert Browning
• Daniel Burnham – His parents were Swedenborgians
• George Bush (biblical scholar) – Converted to Swedenborgianism and promoted it to his death.
• Thomas Carlyle
• Andrew Carnegie
• Robert Carter III – Became a Swedenborgian in 1787 after his wife died and remained in the movement.
• Samuel Taylor Coleridge
• Alfred Deakin - Australia’s second, fifth, and seventh Prime Minister
• Ralph Waldo Emerson
• Robert Frost – His mother joined the Swedenborgian church and had him baptized in it [4], but he left it as an adult.
• Scott Glenn
• Gyllenhaal family:
  • Leonard Gyllenhaal – Entomologist and dedicated Swedenborgian.
  • Stephen Gyllenhaal – Descendant of Leonard who was raised Swedenborgian.
• George Inness
• Henry James Sr. – lectured on Swedenborg's thought
• Carl Jung
• Helen Keller – wrote Light in my Darkness which advocated the ideals of Emanuel Swedenborg
• James Tyler Kent - Homeopathic physician.
• Stephen King
• Fitz Hugh Ludlow
• Lucius Lyon – “In politics he was Democrat, in religion a Swedenborgian.”
• Kristine Mann - American psychoanalyst.
• William Rainey Marshall – Fifth governor of Minnesota and advocate for black suffrage.[5]
• William Page
• Coventry Patmore – Catholic after 1862.
• J.M. Schneider – Meat/Sausage Business empire in Canada, influential in the spread of Swedenborgianism across Canada
• Walt Whitman
• James John Garth Wilkinson – “commemorated by a bust and portrait in the rooms of the Swedenborgian Society in London.”
• Lois Wilson – Founder of Al-Anon, raised Swedenborgian.[6](Her husband Bill W, of A.A. fame, married her at her family's Swedenborgian chapel. Still the influence of the faith on him is disputed)

This article is about the historical figure. ... This article is about the City of Manchester in England. ... Balzac redirects here. ... “Baudelaire” redirects here. ... This article or section needs a complete rewrite for the reasons listed on the talk page. ... William Blake (November 28, 1757 – August 12, 1827) was an English poet, visionary, painter, and printmaker. ... Elizabeth Barrett Browning Elizabeth Barrett Browning (Moulton) (March 6, 1806-June 29, 1861) was the most respected female poet of the Victorian era. ... Robert Browning (May 7, 1812 – December 12, 1889) was a British poet and playwright whose mastery of dramatic verse, especially dramatic monologues, made him one of the foremost Victorian poets. ... Daniel H. Burnham. ... George Bush, the biblical scholar George Bush (June 12, 1796 – September 19, 1859) was a prominent biblical scholar, preacher and controversialist. ... The most familiar view of Carlyle is as the bearded sage with a penetrating gaze Thomas Carlyle (December 4, 1795 – February 5, 1881) was a Scottish essayist, satirist, and historian, whose work was hugely influential during the Victorian era. ... Andrew Carnegie (last name pronounced IPA: )[1] (November 25, 1835 – August 11, 1919) was a Scottish industrialist, businessman, a major philanthropist, and the founder of Pittsburghs Carnegie Steel Company which later became U.S. Steel. ... Robert Councillor Carter, III (c. ... Samuel Taylor Coleridge (October 21, 1772 – July 25, 1834) (pronounced ) was an English poet, critic, and philosopher who was, along with his friend William Wordsworth, one of the founders of the Romantic Movement in England and one of the Lake Poets. ... Alfred William Deakin (3 August 1856 – 7 October 1919), Australian politician, was a leader of the movement for Australian federation and later second Prime Minister of Australia. ... Ralph Waldo Emerson (May 25, 1803 – April 27, 1882) was an American essayist, poet, and leader of the Transcendentalist movement in the early nineteenth century. ... Robert Lee Frost (March 26, 1874 – January 29, 1963) was an American poet. ... Theodore Scott Glenn (born January 26, 1941) is an American actor known for appearing in supporting roles. ... Gyllenhaal is a Swedish noble family descended from the cavalry Lieutenant Nils Haal (d. ... Leonard Gyllenhaal (13 December 1752 – 13 May 1840), Swedish military officer and entomologist. ... Stephen Roark Gyllenhaal (pronounced as IPA: , born October 4, 1949 in Cleveland, Ohio) is an American film director and poet. ... George Inness, before 1867 Train in Lackawanna valley, 1855 Lake of Albano, Italy, 1869 George Inness was a United States painter, born in Newburgh, New York on May 1, 1825, and who died at Bridge of Allan, Scotland, on August 3, 1894. ... Henry James Sr. ... Jung redirects here. ... Helen Adams Keller (June 27, 1880 – June 1, 1968) was a deafblind American author, activist and lecturer. ... Light in My Darkness is a book, originally published in 1927 as My Religion, written by Helen Keller when she was 47 years old. ... Emanuel Swedenborg, 75, holding the manuscript of Apocalypsis Revelata (1766). ... James Tyler Kent, M.D. (1849 - 1916) was an American physician and significant contributor to homeopathic medicine. ... For other persons named Stephen King, see Stephen King (disambiguation). ... Fitz Hugh Ludlow Fitz Hugh Ludlow, sometimes seen as “Fitzhugh Ludlow,” (September 11, 1836 – September 12, 1870) was an American author, journalist, and explorer; best-known for his autobiographical book The Hasheesh Eater (1857). ... Lucius Lyon (February 26, 1800–September 24, 1851) was a U.S. statesman from the state of Michigan. ... Kristine Mann (1873- 1945) was one of the first women psychoanalysts in the United States and studied under Carl Gustav Jung at his Küsnacht home in Zurich, Switzerland. ... Willian Rainey Marshall (October 17, 1825 – January 8, 1896) was an American politician. ... For other uses, see Governor (disambiguation). ... Capital Saint Paul Largest city Minneapolis Largest metro area Minneapolis-St. ... William Page (3 January 1811 in Albany, New York-1 October 1885 in Tottenville, Staten Island, New York) was an American painter and portrait artist. ... Coventry Kersey Dighton Patmore (July 23, 1823 - November 26, 1896) was an English poet and critic. ... Walter Whitman (May 31, 1819 – March 26, 1892) was an American poet, essayist, journalist, and humanist. ... James John Garth Wilkinson (June 3, 1812 - October 18, 1899), was a Swedenborgian writer. ... Lois Wilson circa 1970 For others sharing the same name, see Lois Wilson Lois Wilson née Burnham (4 March 1891 – 6 October 1988) was the founder of Al-Anon, a support group for the friends and family of alcoholics. ... Al-Anon Family Groups is a twelve-step program for relatives and friends of alcoholics. ... William Griffith Wilson (commonly known as Bill Wilson or Bill W.), was a co-founder of the self-help group Alcoholics Anonymous. ... AA meeting sign // Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) is an informal meeting society for recovering alcoholics whose primary purpose is to stay sober and help other alcoholics achieve sobriety. ...

External links

Resources

• NewChurchHistory.org Large collection of articles on Swedenborgian history, by Swedenborgians; a collaboration of:
  • Bryn Athyn College of the New Church
  • Glencairn Museum
• HeavenlyDoctrines.org Complete Theological Writings of Emanuel Swedenborg online
• The Bayside Swedenborgian Church Scans of the First Editions of many of Swedenborg's books
• Swedenborg Digital Library Contains electronic copies of many books by and about Swedenborg and the New Church
• Swedenborg Foundation Publisher of books by and on Swedenborg
• Swedenborg Society UK based publisher of books by and of Swedenborg
• Swedenborg Open Learning Centre (SOLC), UK
• The Academy of the New Church The educational arm of the General Church of the New Jerusalem
• History of the Swedenborgian Church of North America According to the Church itself
• Swedenborg, Revelation and the New Church, paper by Rebecca Kline Somewhat unstructured, it has some historical information about the schism in 1890.
• Maine Lodge of Research : Swedenborg - The Church A well-written historical article
• Rational Scientific Theories from Theism Science compared with Swedenborg's writings
• Spiritual Wisdom There is a universal spirituality which can be expressed in many ways, but this site uses the insights of Emanuel Swedenborg to help explain the meaning of our lives.
• Swedenborgian Community Online

Organized Churches

International

• General Church of the New Jerusalem (International)
• The Lord's New Church which is Nova Hierosolyma (International) - This branch of the New Church accepts the Theological Writings of Emanuel Swedenborg as the Lord's Word, The Word of The Third Testament, Which contains all the Divine Truth of the Lord's Divine Human.

USA

• The Swedenborgian Church of North America formerly General Convention of the New Jerusalem
• The General Church of the New Jerusalem, USA
• The Lord's New Church which is Nova Hierosolyma, USA

Other English speaking countries

• The New Church in Australia
• Information Swedenborg Inc, Canada
• The General Conference of the New Church, UK

Miscellaneous

• Swedenborgian discussion board at Beliefnet

References

1. ^ http://www.brycchancarey.com/abolition/wadstrom.htm
2. ^ Swedenborgianism is a dangerous mystical non-Christian religion. Christian Apologetics & Research Ministry.