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Emanuel Swedenborg
(1688 - 1772)
Editor's note: In the "Afterlife" section, see an article devoted to Swedenborg.
Emanuel Swedenborg was a Swedish philosopher, politician, musician, theologian, inventor, engineer, mathematician, linguist, and scientist. In 1741, at the age of fifty-three, he entered into a spiritual phase in which he eventually began to experience dreams and visions of the afterlife.
With an estimated IQ of 200, Swedenborg spoke nine languages, wrote works covering seventeen sciences, excelled in seven crafts, a member of the Swedish parliament, and the inventor of a glider, a submarine, and an ear trumpet for the deaf.
Swedenborg was a physicist who anticipated Einstein by two hundred years; an astronomer who suggested the nebular theory of the formation of the planets; a mining engineer who produced the first Swedish texts on algebra and calculus; a physiologist who discovered the function of several areas of the brain and the ductless glands, and the designer of the world's largest dry-dock.
His earthly accomplishments would have filled a dozen lifetimes. But they were not enough for Swedenborg, who pressed his search for the human soul beyond material intellect into the spiritual world.
Swedenborg opened himself to vistas that only spiritual senses can detect, and became a messenger bearing news of the world and beyond and within. He wrote 35 volumes of what he observed in the spiritual world over a period of 27 years.
Swedenborg Foundation
There is a group of dedicated individuals who seek to promote Swedenborg's philosophy and psychic visions. I recommend viewing their youtube videos and website, swedenborg.com.
I’ve reviewed a few of their videos and have found them to be excellent. One of these focuses on Swedenborg’s writings dealing with the issue of reincarnation.
Curtis Childs of the Swedenborg Foundation takes us to the writings of Swedenborg, the mystic’s memoirs of his out-of-body travels to Summerland.
You will want to view Curtis's presentation for yourself, but I would like to highlight a major item:
Swedenborg understands spirit-attachment
Not only does Swedenborg deny the authenticity of "R" but he understands, and states in his writings -- which Curtis will point out -- that "past lives" are the result of interfering spirits, just as the Wicklands said.
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