Emanuel Swedenborg - Swedish scientist and mystic

29. January 1688 Stockholm - 29.March London - died 250 years ago

author of many Latin writings, was a Swedish scientist, inventor, theologian, and mystic. From his teachings arose the Church of the New Jerusalem, whose members are known as Swedenborgians.
Modern scientific experiments, especially in the field of atomic energy, have confirmed many of Swedenborg's cosmological assumptions.
However, as his mind evolved, he became more and more interested in generalizing the discoveries of others than in his own experiments. His thinking showed more philosophical than empirical inclinations. Nevertheless, in metallurgy and biology, he made experimental discoveries that ranked him among the original thinkers of these industries. According to modern scholars, Swedenborg's discoveries opened the way to "most of the foundations of nervous and sensory psychology" and is also valued for understanding the function and importance of the endocrine glands, especially the pituitary gland.
His writings are based on the assumption that the divine force permeates all matter, and therefore his further thinking turns to the search for the relationship between the finite and the infinite. According to Swedenborg, this connection between God and man, between the infinite and the finite, must be the soul, even if one cannot see or measure it.
Swedenborg's ideas and works influenced Goethe, William Blake, Balzac, Baudelaire, Thomas Carlyle, Dostoevsky, H. Hein, Schelling, Schopenhauer, Strindberg, William James, Elizabeth Barrett-Browning, Ralph W. Emerson and many other important thinkers 20. for example, Carl Gustav Jung or Jorge Luis Borges.

Swedenborg is both a unique and fascinating historical figure. Though he was at the top of many of his fields of study in 18th century Europe, and his spiritual works have had a profound impact on literature, the arts, and alternative spirituality, he remains relatively unknown in the world today.
In the two-year period of 1743 to 1744, Swedenborg began to experience a series of intense and cataclysmic spiritual events, including vivid dreams, out-of-body experiences, and various visions. He came to believe that he was chosen by God to experience and articulate the reality of the spiritual world. 
                            

Emanuel Swedenborg was son of a famous Swedish bishop. At a very early age, Emanuel showed special gifts. Very quickly he became a famous scientist, philosopher, metallurg etc, a true polymath of his time like Leonardo da Vinci. He worked extensively at the copper mine of Falun city in Sweden. He had exceptional abilities to enter into concentration and he could hold his breath for several minutes from an early age.

Here is one event from his life. It is reported that he had proven supernormal abilities too and he told people in Gothenburg when the royal castle in Stockholm caught fire and was destroyed. One week later the courier arrived and confirmed his story. He realized that his life purpose was to explain the Bible´s true meaning and the facts about the future ”New Church” that would spread across the globe and save the predestined people at the end of Times.

         "All religion relates to life, and the life of religion is to do good" 

                                                                    E.Swedenborg

            Have a good day             

                                          Margaret