Emanuel Swedenborg

Can any one comment on Emanuel Swedenborg's books or literature? What I'm basically asking is are they worth buying or reading in relation to Spiritualism?

Hi Skye,

I think teh works may be somewhat old fashioned in language and at variance with Spiritualism. The New Church, which he founded, still exists. Swedenborg is well worth looking up and undoutedly his teachings were one of the major influences on Spiritualism.

Of course the impact was heightened because Andrew Jackson Davis was particularly influenced by the teachings of Swedenborg. Probably one of the key isues was his teaching rejected the Holy Trinity, bringing out the Spirit within. However, this view was shared by the Unitarians, Universalists and sympathetic to Quaker teachings. As these movements were all to provide many of the pioneers of Spiritualism then it is hard to define which had most impact on early philosophy.

What is absolutely certain is that Davis's Harmonial Philosophy Association was a very major impact.

This book may give you a better idea of the issues. Written in 1846 by George Bush (not I trust a predecessor of the 2 Presidents), who was a major write about Swedenborgs New Church it discusses Swedenborg, mesmerism (another huge influence upon Spiritualism) and draws in Andrew Jackson Davis.

The pdf download is at
http://ia700305.us.archive.org/19/items/mesmerandsweden00bushgoog/mesmerandsweden00bushgoog.pdf

Broad details of the book are at
http://www.archive.org/details/mesmerandsweden00bushgoog

Skye wrote:Can any one comment on Emanuel Swedenborg's books or literature? What I'm basically asking is are they worth buying or reading in relation to Spiritualism?

Skye,The Swenborg Society is based in London and details are available here:

http://www.swedenborg.org.uk/contact

Thanks for the link Jim. It looks like I have a far bit of reading to do. I have read a short section of the pdf dowload and can see how Swedenborg's teaching had an influence on Spiritualism. I can understand the difficulty in deciding who or which section of society had the most impact on the Spiritualist movement or Spiritualism. In one aspect I doubt it matters, more so to those in the spirit world. I feel they would have been pleased to learn truth was gaining interest.

I'm not sure I could consider mesmerism as a way to contact spirit, but I believe the interest in mesmerism continues, although I don't know if it's for the same reason as Swedenborg's.

I don't know if Davis's Harmonial Philosophy is available as an E-book but this may be worth buying either way. A book to put on my wish list.

Z, thanks for this link too. I will check it out later.

Almost all of Andrew Jackson Davis's books are available as pdf downloads Skye.

Mesmerism is very interesting because the "mediumship" without the influence of Spirit appears very early on, The Seeress of Prevorst" is worthwhile and downloadble as is the material concerning the Didier brothers.

I often look back at this time as the proof of our innate psychic, as opposed to mediumsistic, abilities.

Jim

Thanks again Jim. That will save me some money.

I can understand what you are saying about mesmerism it does make for interesting reading I suppose. I don't know anything about the subject, so I can't comment. For instance, would this method work to prove our continued survival in the way mediumship does or should?

One of the most important things is to realise that neither in Mesmerism nor in the associated "magnetic mediumship", through which this information was obtained, was there any suggestion of Spirit involvement. At no time was this related to communication to prove survival.

It is, however, a brilliant example of the way in which a Psychic can work, communication linking our energy field with that of the universe to obtain information which we could not know specifically when we link to another individual. The earliest forms of psychometry appeared thought this means and this is very much a psychic skill not mediumship unles specifically used to communicate with the discarnate energy of a loved one (if they happen to be present).

From the little I have read Jim, I had assumed survival of the human spirit was not related to Mesmerism. I just wanted to make sure I was on the right track.

Strangely (or maybe not so strangely) some of those who supported Mesmerism were fierce critics of Spiritualism. One, John Elliotson, caused huge problems with Maria Hayden when she arrived as one of the first US mediums to visit the UK. Subsequently he was converted by seeing the great Dd Home at work.

When presented with new information, anyone is liable to make mistakes in interpretation. But I really liked Swedenborg's interpretation of angels and relate it to the Spiritualist concept of different incarnations belonging to a single "higher soul."

Swedenborg is frome sweden ore was   - nice

Mesmaier if I remeber right was invold Whit trance and healing!