Swedenborg 101: The Basic Nature of Everything

[Ymarsakar]

I like their short tidbits of wisdom based on Swedenborg's teachings. This one touches on the importance of freedom and agency..

"...something that is compelled is completely different than something that is done in freedom..."

[youtube]…

I wonder how much evil is based on trying to force, deception and shifting responsibility.

I have a question. Do you think spirits in hell (or various degrees of Heaven or hell) know where they are?

They know they desire control. So that is a price they pay. To control x requires that something stronger controls u.

[Silver Pie]

Do you think spirits in hell (or various degrees of Heaven or hell) know where they are?

If this place is hell (and it fits the vision of D&C 76 where it talks about the telestial kingdom, then says, "these are they who are thrust down to hell"), then I would have to say no, most don't.

[Thinker]

I wonder how much evil is based on trying to force, deception and shifting responsibility.

I have a question. Do you think spirits in hell (or various degrees of Heaven or hell) know where they are?

They know they desire control. So that is a price they pay. To control x requires that something stronger controls u.

That does seem to be part of it. The desire to control - or deceive oneself into controlling.

[Thinker]

Do you think spirits in hell (or various degrees of Heaven or hell) know where they are?

If this place is hell (and it fits the vision of D&C 76 where it talks about the telestial kingdom, then says, "these are they who are thrust down to hell"), then I would have to say no, most don't.

In this life, it does seem more common than not, that people who lean toward hellish ways, do so significantly because they lack awareness. However, I think Swedenborg suggested that once in the Spiritworld - spirits can no longer portray themselves differently than their true intentions. Each of us are given chances to kind of “own up to” whatever is replayed from our lives. Those who choose & gravitate toward hell were seen kind of refusing to come clean about that - they wanted to hide. And I guess hell is kind of comfortable for those who prefer to try to keep hiding.

My ggrandma said her dad (who screwed up a lot I suppose) came to her in a dream after he died & said it was like he was in a rustic cabin but was working his way toward better. So maybe there is some sense of awareness. But who knows!

[Cruiserdude]

This was an INCREDIBLE interview on one of my favorite NDE channels and the interviewee is the guy that is basically the modern day Swedenborg expert, Curtis Childs.
Well worth the hour listen, so much truth.
https://youtu.be/VwV6a9pHcP4

[Original_Intent]

About halfway thru and loving it!

[creator]

I thought this was a good little snippet about Love + Wisdom.

[creator]

That also fits with the idea that "Lucifer represents Wisdom without Love."

Wisdom without Love becomes prideful and selfish.

[Original_Intent]

That also fits with the idea that "Lucifer represents Wisdom without Love."

Wisdom without Love becomes prideful and selfish.

[creator]

Yet another good Swedenborg related video..

[Cruiserdude]

Yet another good Swedenborg related video..

Don't judge me..... But I fall much more in line with this view that he shares, then I do the traditional Christian view of it.... Don't judge me!!
Excellent video.

[creator]

Don't judge me..... But I fall much more in line with this view that he shares, then I do the traditional Christian view of it.... Don't judge me!! Excellent video.

Same. I posted it in the Heretic Sub-Forum for a reason

And it won't be me judging you, but I'm sure there are plenty of LDS who don't agree with this view.

[Niemand]

Yet another good Swedenborg related video..

So right and so wrong at the same time.

[Erastothenes]

Say what you want about Swedenborg but so many of his writings seem to completely resonate with me. They make sense. They feel correct. That's enough for me.

[creator]

[Cruiserdude]

Look how young he was there!!!
And of course, he nails it.

[ajax]

This was an INCREDIBLE interview on one of my favorite NDE channels and the interviewee is the guy that is basically the modern day Swedenborg expert, Curtis Childs.
Well worth the hour listen, so much truth.
https://youtu.be/VwV6a9pHcP4

"Heaven and hell are psychological states"

Reminds me of this from JS:

"...let me be resurrected with the Saints, whether I ascend to heaven or descend to hell, or go to any other place. And if we go to hell, we will turn the devils out of doors and make a heaven of it."

[ajax]

Are these ideas in his Heaven and Hell book?

[creator]

Are these ideas in his Heaven and Hell book?

Yes, there are similar ideas in that book.

[creator]

[Cruiserdude]

Awesome. Swedenborg understood we're to liken the scriptures unto ourselves.

[Shawn Henry]

Yet another good Swedenborg related video..

If the apostles misunderstood his coming, then how much easier and more likely that we misunderstand his return.

[creator]

Interesting insights in this one regarding how the spiritual world interacts with us, and some explanation of some lesser understood aspects of what the Bible actually is (and more)..

[Thinker]

Interesting insights in this one regarding how the spiritual world interacts with us, and some explanation of some lesser understood aspects of what the Bible actually is (and more)..

[youtube]JKVtbhzaPQs

The worst scripture:

• “Happy shall he be, that taketh and dasheth thy little ones against the stones.” - Psalms 137:9

Maybe “he” is Satan. And people - including some Christians - are doing something similar except it’s hidden & silenced under water/amniotic fluid. Abortion is the #1 killer.

How do you interpret that scripture? What we’re some points that stood out to you from that discussion?

[creator]

How do you interpret that scripture?

I really like how Swedenborg, Steiner, and others have delved into the symbolic meanings of the scriptures. One of the biggest takeaways is to truly liken the scriptures unto ourselves - to our inner journey - and realize that there is an inner-meaning in the scriptures that is significant to each of us and why we are here. Here's a Swedenborgian interpretation:

First, the TL;DR: "those are blessed who are humble, and who, as soon as they see the love of domineering arising in themselves, destroy it by means of the principles of truth and justice, before it has a chance to grow"

"Let us now turn to one of the cities mentioned in the Old Testament, and examine the dark saying in reference to the great city Babylon, found in Psalm 137, verses 8-9, where we read: " O daughter of Babylon, who art to be destroyed: Happy shall he be that taketh and dasheth thy little ones against a stone."

"What are we to make of such a passage as this? A more cruel command could scarcely be given. Are these the words of a God of infinite Love? Do these words contain a message from heaven? Yea, Reader, they contain a most needed message, if they are but understood aright. It is a universal rule that men hear God according to their own desires. If God speaks to a cruel people, they twist His words into words of cruelty. If He speaks to a proud people, they turn His words into words of pride. The Jews were a cruel people, and loved cruelty; wherefore, when Jehovah the Lord spoke to them, they interpreted His words as cruel words. Still, in order that a Word or Revelation might be written, which should contain within its bosom the Divine Love and Wisdom, God provided that what was inscribed should contain within it the wisdom of the angels.

"In the verse that we are considering let us first see if we can discover the meaning of the city which is spiritually called Babylon.

"Babylon ruled over the first world-empire. She ruled autocratically, according to the will of her potentates, and not according to any system of law. The will of the city of Babylon took the place of law and justice in the lands over which she ruled. Babylon, therefore, came to symbolize the love of such autocratic rule,—the love of rule according to the whim of one's own desire, and not according to Divine law. This love of rule is not confined to kings and princes. A man may tyrannize over his family; a woman may strive for the power to enforce her will upon her friends; a man of business may command his employees without regard to justice. In any case wherein one tries to carry out his will, and impose it on others, without regard to right and justice, it is the same ancient love that was symbolized or represented by that great city, Babylon.

"If this love of rule, this love of tyrannization, once takes hold of a man, it holds him in its grip, so that he who has found delight in it can scarcely escape. It is most important, therefore, that it be rooted out in childhood. A boy should not be permitted to tyrannize over his fellow schoolmates; as soon as this dangerous love is born in the heart of man, it must be rooted out. The head of such a love must be crushed against a stone,—against the foundation of truth, which a stone symbolizes.

"It now becomes obvious that the spiritual meaning of the command, " Happy shall he be that taketh and dasheth thy little ones against a stone," is that those are blessed who are humble, and who, as soon as they see the love of domineering arising in themselves, destroy it by means of the principles of truth and justice, before it has a chance to grow."