Swedenborgianism

Swedenborgianism is the ecclesiastical organization of beliefs developed from the writings of Emanuel Swedenborg, and as such, considered a religious movement by many. Many aspects are closely related to Christianity, and the movement is founded on the belief that Swedenborg witnessed the Last Judgment and second advent of the Lord, along with the inauguration of the New Church and an explanation of the spiritual meaning of the literal sense of the Scriptures. Some Swedenborian organizations teach that the writings of Swedenborg (often called The Writings) 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.

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 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 Johnny Appleseed. Early missionaries also went to parts of Africa, as Swedenborg himself regarded black Africans as more receptive to spiritual teachings.

Related Topics:
May 7 - 1787 - Johnny Appleseed

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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).

Related Topics:
Occultism - Theosophy - Alchemy - Divination - Heaven and Hell - Heaven - Hell - The Divine Comedy

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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.

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The movement in the United States grew increasingly 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 become the General Church of New Jerusalem (sometimes referred to as the General Church,) with headquarters in Bryn Athyn, a suburb of Philadelphia. Today, the General Church has about 5,000 members in 33 churches. The Swedenborgian Church of North America, with headquarters in Newtonville, a suburb of Boston, now has 37 active churches with about 1,500 members in the U.S.

Related Topics:
Academy of the New Church - General Church of New Jerusalem - Bryn Athyn - Philadelphia - Swedenborgian Church of North America - Boston

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The most recent membership figures for the Four Church Organizations 2000http://religiousmovements.lib.virginia.edu/nrms/borg.html:

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

Australia and Germany are estimated to have 504 and 200 members, respectively. With additional members in Asia, Africa, and South America, current sources put the total of Swedenborgians as between 25,000-30,000.

Related Topics:
Australia - Germany - Asia - Africa - South America

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