Freemasonry, Christian theosophy and Illuminism
Emanuel Swedenborg
Scientist and engineer who, after a spiritual transformation in the 1740s, claimed sustained encounters with heaven, hell, angels and spirits.
- Dates
- 29 January 1688 – 29 March 1772
- Dating
- documented dates
- Born
- Stockholm
- Died
- London
The life
He first had a distinguished career as scientist, engineer and administrator. He suffered a stroke late in 1771 and died in London the following March.
Place in the tradition
Swedenborg's heavens, spirits and doctrine of correspondences formed a bridge from Christian mysticism to nineteenth-century Spiritualism and occultism.
the written record
Principal works
-
1749–1756
Secrets of Heaven
Arcana Coelestia
A large spiritual interpretation of Genesis and Exodus built through his doctrine of correspondences.
-
1758
Heaven and Hell
His best-known account of the afterlife: heaven and hell as states corresponding to inward loves rather than external rewards and punishments.
-
1763
Divine Love and Wisdom
Systematic metaphysics of God, creation and spiritual reality.
-
1764
Divine Providence
A study of divine governance and human freedom.
-
1766
Apocalypse Revealed
A spiritual interpretation of Revelation.
-
1768
Conjugial Love
Spiritual sexuality and the correspondence of marriage.
-
1771
True Christian Religion
The great synthesis of his later theology.