About Emanuel Swedenborg

The New Church bases its doctrine on the Bible as illuminated by the theological writings of Emanuel Swedenborg, an eighteenth century theologian and scientist (read the full biography). This theology is founded on the belief that God used Swedenborg as a vessel through which to spread His teachings to people on earth. During a process of divinely inspired revelations, Swedenborg wrote thirty-five volumes of theological books, referred to as the Writings for the New Church or Heavenly Doctrines, addressing the mysteries of human life, which had previously gone unexplained or which had not been clearly understood.

One of the prime purposes for his work was to reveal an inner meaning in the Bible, thus uncovering new relevance and hope for humankind. Within these Writings, Swedenborg describes the nature of the Divine, the function of creation, and the life that awaits us after death. He also provides practical guidelines for having a relationship with God and bringing religion into everyday life.

Above all, Swedenborgian (pronounced “Sweden-borg-ee-an”) theology seeks to make God visible and accessible to humankind: “Linking with an invisible God is like linking the sight of the eye with the expanse of the universe, the bounds of which are not to be seen. Or it is like looking out in the middle of the ocean, when the gaze falls on the air and sea and is frustrated. But linking with a visible God is like seeing a person in the air or the sea opening His arms and inviting you to come into His embrace." (True Christianity 787).

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