Emanuel Swedenborg facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts

Quick facts for kids Emanuel Swedenborg
Portrait of Swedenborg by Carl Frederik von Breda
Born	Emanuel Swedberg (1688-02-08)8 February 1688 Stockholm, Swedish Empire
Died	29 March 1772(1772-03-29) (aged 84) London, England
Education	Uppsala University
Occupation	Mining engineer Anatomist Astronomer Author
Notable work	Arcana Cœlestia True Christian Religion Heaven and Hell
Theological work
Era	18th-century
Tradition or movement	Lutheranism; inspired the New Church
Main interests	Theology Science Philosophy
Notable ideas	Trinity in one person Correspondence The Last Judgment and Christ's Second Coming began in 1757

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Emanuel Swedenborg (born Emanuel Swedberg; 8 February 1688 – 29 March 1772) was a Swedish scientist, philosopher, and mystic. He is most famous for his book about the afterlife, called Heaven and Hell (1758).

Swedenborg had a very busy career as an inventor and scientist. When he was 53, in 1741, he started having spiritual experiences. These included dreams and visions, especially around Easter in 1744.

These experiences led to a "spiritual awakening." He believed that Jesus Christ had chosen him to write The Heavenly Doctrine. This book was meant to help reform Christianity. According to The Heavenly Doctrine, God opened Swedenborg's spiritual eyes. This allowed him to visit heaven and hell freely. He said he could talk with angels, demons, and other spirits. He also claimed that the Last Judgment had already happened in 1757. This was just before his book Concerning the New Jerusalem and its Heavenly Doctrine was published in 1758.

For the last 28 years of his life, Swedenborg wrote many books about his spiritual ideas. He called himself a "Servant of the Lord Jesus Christ." Some people who follow his teachings believe that only the books he published himself were truly inspired by God. Others think all his spiritual writings are equally important. After his death, a new religious group called The New Church (or Swedenborgianism) was formed. They see Swedenborg's writings as a new revelation from God.

Early Life and Education

Memorial plaque at the former location of Swedenborg's house at Hornsgatan on Södermalm, Stockholm.

Emanuel Swedenborg's father, Jesper Swedberg, came from a rich mining family. Jesper studied theology and became a professor at Uppsala University. He later became a Bishop in Skara.

Jesper was interested in a Christian movement called Pietism. This movement focused on having a close connection with God. It was different from the main Lutheran Church at the time. Jesper also believed that angels and spirits were part of everyday life. These ideas greatly influenced his son, Emanuel.

From ages 15 to 21 (1703–1709), Emanuel lived with his brother-in-law, Erik Benzelius. He finished his university studies at Uppsala in 1709. In 1710, he traveled through Europe. He visited the Netherlands, France, and Germany before arriving in London. London was a hub of new scientific ideas. He studied physics, mechanics, and philosophy. He also wrote poetry. Swedenborg once wrote that he felt he was meant to become a great scientist.

A Career in Science and Engineering

The Flying Machine, sketched in his notebook from 1714. The operator would sit in the middle and paddle himself through the air.

In 1715, when he was 27, Swedenborg returned to Sweden. For the next 20 years, he focused on natural science and engineering. He met King Charles XII of Sweden in 1716. Swedenborg wanted the king to fund an observatory in northern Sweden. The king wasn't interested in that project. However, he did appoint Swedenborg to a special role on the Swedish Board of Mines.

From 1716 to 1718, Swedenborg published a science magazine called Daedalus Hyperboreus. This magazine shared new mechanical and mathematical inventions. One famous idea he described was a flying machine. He had sketched this machine a few years earlier.

In 1718, Swedenborg wrote an article about how spiritual and mental events might be explained by tiny vibrations.

After King Charles XII died, Queen Ulrika Eleonora of Sweden made Swedenborg and his siblings nobles. This was a common way to honor the children of bishops in Sweden. Their family name was changed from Swedberg to Swedenborg.

In 1724, he was offered a job teaching mathematics at Uppsala University. He turned it down. He said he had mostly worked with geometry, chemistry, and metallurgy. He also mentioned that he had a stutter. This made him speak slowly and carefully. Because of this, he never gave public speeches.

New Ideas and Discoveries

In the 1730s, Swedenborg studied anatomy and physiology a lot. He had early ideas about the neuron, which is a basic unit of the nervous system. Scientists didn't fully understand neurons until about a century later. He also had advanced thoughts about the cerebral cortex (the brain's outer layer). He thought about how the nervous system is organized and the functions of different brain parts. Some of his ideas have been proven true by modern science.

During the 1730s, Swedenborg became more interested in spiritual topics. He wanted to understand how matter and spirit are connected. He explored the structure of matter and how creation works. In his book Principia, he shared his way of thinking. This included using experience, geometry, and reason. He also presented his ideas about how the Solar System formed. This idea, called the nebular hypothesis, might have been thought of by Swedenborg 20 years before another famous philosopher, Kant.

In 1735, he published a three-volume work called Philosophical and Mineralogical Works. In this book, he tried to combine philosophy with metallurgy (the study of metals). The book was praised for its parts on how to melt iron and copper. This work made Swedenborg famous around the world. That same year, he also wrote a small book called On the Infinite. In it, he tried to explain how the finite relates to the infinite. He also discussed how the soul connects to the body. This was his first time writing about such deep spiritual matters.

Spiritual Journey and Visions

By 1744, when he was 56, Swedenborg was traveling in the Netherlands. Around this time, he started having unusual dreams. He kept a travel journal, which was later found and published as Journal of Dreams.

Swedenborg had many different dreams and visions. Some were pleasant, while others were unsettling. These experiences continued when he traveled to London. One writer suggested that these experiences were like a cleansing process for him. They helped him understand the difference between self-love and the love of God.

Spiritual Insights

In his journal, Swedenborg seemed to decide on his path by October 1744. He felt he should stop his current work and write a new book about worshipping God. He started writing The Worship and Love of God, which was published in 1745.

In 1745, when he was 57, Swedenborg was eating at a tavern in London. Suddenly, his vision became dark, and the room seemed to change. He saw a person sitting in a corner who told him: "Do not eat too much!" Swedenborg was scared and went home. Later that night, the same man appeared in his dreams. The man told Swedenborg that he was the Lord. He said he had chosen Swedenborg to explain the spiritual meaning of the Bible. He also promised to guide Swedenborg in what to write. That same night, Swedenborg said the spiritual world was opened to him.

Later Life and Legacy

In the summer of 1771, Swedenborg traveled to London. Shortly before Christmas, he had a stroke and became partly paralyzed. His health improved a bit, but he died in 1772. People who knew him, including a Swedish pastor named Arvid Ferelius, shared stories about his last months.

Swedenborg wrote a letter to John Wesley, the founder of Methodism. Swedenborg said he had heard in the spiritual world that Wesley wanted to talk to him. Wesley was surprised because he hadn't told anyone about his interest in Swedenborg. Wesley replied that he would contact Swedenborg after a six-month trip. Swedenborg wrote back that it would be too late. He said he would be going to the spiritual world for the last time on March 29. Swedenborg's servant, Elizabeth Reynolds, said he predicted his death date. She said he was as happy about it as if he was "going on holiday."

Swedenborg House in London

He was buried in the Swedish Church in London. In 1912/1913, 140 years after his death, his remains were moved to Uppsala Cathedral in Sweden. They now rest near the grave of the famous botanist Carl Linnaeus. In 1938, a road in London was renamed Swedenborg Gardens in his honor. In 1997, a garden and memorial were created there.

How True Were His Claims?

Many people have been fascinated by Swedenborg's change from a scientist to a spiritual writer. Some people believe he didn't have a divine revelation. They think his ideas came from his father and other thinkers. For example, Swedish writer Martin Lamm and critic Olof Lagercrantz shared this view. Lagercrantz called Swedenborg's spiritual writings "a poem about a foreign country."

Swedenborg tried to prove his spiritual teachings were true by using many quotes from the Old Testament and New Testament. He wanted to show that his ideas matched the Bible. A Swedish Royal Council once looked into his writings. They concluded that "there is much that is true and useful in Swedenborg's writings."

Scientific Ideas and Spiritual Views

Swedenborg had many scientific ideas. When he was young, he wanted to come up with a new idea every day. Later, he believed that higher knowledge came from intuition. After 1745, he felt he received scientific knowledge directly from angels.

After 1745, when he believed he entered a spiritual state, he described his experiences like a scientist. He tried to report accurately what he saw and heard on his spiritual journeys.

One of his most important ideas for understanding his spiritual teachings is "correspondences." He first wrote about this in 1744. The idea of correspondences is that there's a special connection between the natural world, the spiritual world, and the divine world. This idea comes from ancient philosophy. With this idea, Swedenborg believed he could understand the Bible in a new way. He claimed that even simple sentences in the Bible could have a deep spiritual meaning. He argued that this spiritual meaning is what makes the Bible divine.

Stories of His Psychic Abilities

There are four famous stories about Swedenborg's supposed psychic abilities.

The Stockholm Fire

On July 19, 1759, a large fire broke out in Stockholm, Sweden. It destroyed about 300 houses. Swedenborg was at dinner with friends in Gothenburg, about 400 km away. He became upset and said at six o'clock that there was a fire in Stockholm. He said it had burned his neighbor's house and was threatening his own. Two hours later, he said the fire had stopped three doors from his home.

News from Stockholm usually took two to three days to reach Gothenburg. But messengers later confirmed Swedenborg's report. They said the fire had indeed stopped at the exact time he announced. This event made many people curious about Swedenborg.

There's also a less known story. Swedenborg warned a mill owner named Bolander about a fire starting in one of his mills.

The Queen of Sweden

In 1758, Swedenborg visited Queen Louisa Ulrika of Prussia of Sweden. She asked him to tell her something about her deceased brother. The next day, Swedenborg whispered something to the Queen. It made her turn pale. She said it was something only she and her brother could have known.

The Lost Document

The fourth story involves a woman who lost an important document. She asked Swedenborg if a recently deceased person could tell him where it was. Some stories say he did find out the location the next night.

Sailors who traveled with Swedenborg between Stockholm and London noticed something else. They said he always had excellent sailing conditions. When a friend asked him about this, Swedenborg said he was surprised too and couldn't do miracles.

Immanuel Kant's View

Immanuel Kant wrote Dreams of a Spirit-Seer, a methodical investigation of Swedenborg's claims.

In 1763, the philosopher Immanuel Kant was interested in stories about Swedenborg's psychic abilities. He bought Swedenborg's expensive books. Kant wrote to a friend, calling Swedenborg's gift "miraculous." He described Swedenborg as "reasonable, agreeable, remarkable and sincere" and "a scholar." Kant's friend, Joseph Green, also visited Swedenborg. He found Swedenborg to be a "sensible, pleasant and openhearted" man.

However, three years later, in 1766, Kant anonymously published a book called Dreams of a Spirit-Seer. This book was a strong criticism of Swedenborg. Kant called Swedenborg a "spook hunter." Kant's friend, Moses Mendelssohn, wondered if Kant's book was meant to make philosophy funny or spirit-seeking believable.

Swedenborg's Spiritual Teachings

Swedenborg claimed that the teachings of the Second Coming of Jesus Christ were revealed to him. He believed his writings were a revelation of the true Christian religion. He felt that this religion had become unclear over many centuries. He didn't call his writings "theology" because he believed they were based on real experiences.

The main ideas of Swedenborg's teachings are in Arcana Cœlestia (Heavenly Mysteries). This book was published from 1749 to 1756. In it, he explains the spiritual meaning of the Bible, especially the books of Genesis and Exodus. He believed the Bible describes a person's journey from being focused on material things to becoming a spiritual being. He called this process rebirth or regeneration. He said the creation story in the Bible was not about the creation of Earth. Instead, it was about a person's spiritual rebirth in six steps.

Marriage in the Spiritual World

Swedenborg never married, but he wrote a lot about marriage. His book Marriage Love (1768) focused on this topic.

A key question he discussed was whether marriage continues after death. Jesus is quoted as saying there is no marriage in heaven. Swedenborg wrote a detailed explanation of what he believed this meant.

He taught that the quality of a marriage on Earth continues in the spiritual world. If a couple had true love, they stay together in heaven forever. If they didn't have that love, they might separate after death. Then, each person could find a new partner who is a better match. A partner is also given to someone who wanted a true marriage but never found one on Earth.

Swedenborg saw creation as a series of pairs. These pairs come from God's love and wisdom. Examples include good and truth, charity and faith, and husband and wife. The goal for these pairs is to become truly connected. For marriage, the goal is for two partners to join spiritually and physically, which brings happiness.

The Trinity

Swedenborg did not agree with the common idea of the Trinity as three separate Persons (Father, Son, Holy Spirit). He said this idea wasn't taught in the early Christian church. Instead, he explained that the Divine Trinity exists in One Person, in One God: the Lord Jesus Christ. He believed this was taught in the Bible (Colossians 2:9). According to his teachings, Jesus came to Earth because evil had spread.

Swedenborg argued against the idea of a Trinity of Persons in almost all his works. He felt it made Christianity hard for people of other religions to understand. He believed the idea of three separate Persons came from later church councils.

Faith Alone

The Heavenly Doctrine rejects the idea of salvation through "faith-alone". Swedenborg believed that both faith and charity (doing good deeds) are needed for salvation. He said one cannot exist without the other. This was different from what some Protestant reformers like Martin Luther taught. They believed that faith alone justified a person, even if that faith should lead to good works.

According to Swedenborg, the purpose of faith is to guide a person to live according to the truths of faith. This means living a life of charity. He strongly argued that salvation is only possible when faith and charity are combined in a person. He also said that faith and charity must be shown through good works whenever possible.

Influence and Reception

Swedenborg did not try to start a church himself. But after his death, small groups formed, especially in England, to study his writings. His ideas appealed to many people who were looking for new spiritual explanations.

Many famous writers and artists were influenced by Swedenborg's works. These include Robert Frost, William Blake, Ralph Waldo Emerson, and Carl Jung. His philosophy also greatly influenced King Carl XIII of Sweden, who was a leader in Freemasonry. However, not everyone liked his ideas. Some people, like the Swedish author Johan Henric Kellgren, called Swedenborg "nothing but a fool."

Some people have suggested that Swedenborg might have had a mental illness. But his active involvement in the Swedish Parliament and the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences makes this seem unlikely. Also, his spiritual writings are considered very clear and logical by many. Swedenborg himself said he was commanded by God to publish his writings. He knew they might make him seem strange to others.

Works

Here are some of Swedenborg's most important works:

1716–1718, Daedalus Hyperboreus (The Northern Inventor)
1734, Opera Philosophica et Mineralia (Philosophical and Mineralogical Works)
1749–1756, Arcana Cœlestia (Heavenly Mysteries), 8 volumes
1758, Heaven and Hell
1758, The Last Judgment
1758, Earths in the Universe
1758, The New Jerusalem and Its Heavenly Doctrine
1763, Divine Love and Wisdom
1764, Divine Providence
1766, Apocalypse Revealed
1768, Conjugial Love, or Marriage Love
1771, True Christian Religion
1859, Drömboken, Journalanteckningar (Journal of Dreams), written 1743–1744

Images for kids

Emanuel Swedenborg's signature
Principia rerum naturalium, 1734
Swedenborg at age 75, holding the manuscript of Apocalypse Revealed (1766)