Swedenborgianism, or New Church, are names for several Protestant denominations that developed as a result of the writings of Emanuel Swedenborg.
Swedenborg was an 18th-century Swedish theologian, philosopher, and scientist who did not personally found any of the denominations that resulted from his work, but he did believe that his teachings would one day be the basis of a "New Church," which he compared to the New Jerusalem named in the Book of Revelation.
During his lifetime, he and a couple of his followers were charged with heresy in 1768. A trial was initiated in Sweden against his writings, charging that his theological writings were inconsistent with Christian doctrine. In the 1770s, a Royal Ordinance declared that his writings were "clearly mistaken," and that they should not be taught, although there was no real examination of his system of theological thought. His supporters were ordered to stop using his teachings, his books were taken out of circulation, and customs officials were directed to impound his books. A new investigation of Swedenborg was eventually dropped in 1778.
Swedenborg visited England frequently, and it was in London where he died in 1772, after having suffered a stroke. Shortly after his death, a group of his followers in England decided to establish a separate church body.
The first New Church congregation was established at Great Eastcheap, London, and was quickly followed by several others. In 1789, the General Conference of the New Church was established.
Before long, New Church missionaries were being sent out to other parts of the world, including Africa and North America. Among the first Swedenborgian missionaries to the Americas was John Chapman, better known as Johnny Appleseed, as he was also a nurseryman who introduced apples to large parts of Ontario, Canada, and Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, and Pennsylvania in the United States.
The General Convention of the New Jerusalem in the United States of America was founded in 1817, also known as the Swedenborgian Church in North America. In 1897, a splinter group formed over differences in interpretation, initially known as the Academy of the New Church, later becoming the General Church of New Jerusalem. In the 1930s, a small group split from the General Church over a doctrinal issue relating to the authority of Swedenborg's writings. They became the Lord's New Church Which Is Nova Hierosolyma, now generally known as the Lord's New Church. The Lord's New Church is primarily active in South Africa, although it has a small membership in the Australia, Germany, and the United States, where its members are known for social justice activism.
Membership in the New Church has always been small, although New Church organizations are heavily involved in publishing activities.
Theologically, New Church doctrine is similar to Oneness Pentecostalism, although they developed independently.
Worship in the Swedenborgian churches is usually liturgical. Preaching of the Scriptures is generally based on Swedenborg's teaching that Scripture should be interpreted spiritually rather than literally.
There are two essential doctrines. The first is that God is one person in Jesus Christ, and the second is that Christians are to live according to His commandments. Swedenborgians hold that if one is unaware of these essential doctrines, but has believed in one God and lived a good life, he will be taught this by the angels after death.
Baptism and the Eucharist (Communion, Holy Supper) are the two chief sacraments of the New Church. Marriage is considered a personal sacrament of the New Church.
Swedenborgians believe that before God created the universe, there was no space or time and that the realm where there is no space and time is the spiritual world. The spiritual world, divided between heaven and hell, is where the internal states of the soul become reality. In the spiritual world, rather than time, there are states of being. Instead of space, there is love. The closer that two souls are to one another, the closer they will appear to each other. As God is love, the more that a soul is in love with God and others, the closer that soul will be to heaven. Conversely, the more that a soul is in love with self and with the world, the closer they will be to hell. There is no such thing as purgatory.
Other names for Swedenborgianism include New Church, New Christian, Neo-Christian, Church of the New Jerusalem, and the Lord's New Church. Some adherents prefer to distance themselves from Swedenborgianism as a title, as this implies a following of Swedenborg rather than of Jesus Christ.
Swedenborgianism has had an influence on the development of Mormonism and the New Thought movement.
Topics related to Swedenborgianism or New Church, by whatever name, are the focus of this category.
Recommended Resources
Center for Swedenborgian Studies
The graduate school for religious training and scholarship has been in operation since 1866, and currently functions as the seminary for the Swedenborgian Church of North America, and a think tank for Swedenborgian studies throughout the world. Its educational programs, faculty, and staff are set forth, along with a variety of historical resources, such as the life and works of Emanuel Swedenborg, sacred texts and traditions, theology, spirituality, and practice.
https://css.gtu.edu/
The theological writings of theologian, philosopher, and scientist, Emanuel Swedenborg, are featured here, in English and in the original Latin. Other resources include collections of related literature and an introduction to the ideas presented in Swedenborg’s writings. The collections may be found through a keyword search. Developed by the Bryn Athyn College of the New Church Theological School, a desktop version is available for Windows operating systems.
http://www.heavenlydoctrines.org/
New Christian Bible Study Project
The online Bible study program is based on the religious works of Emanuel Swedenborg, who published expositions of the books of Genesis, Exodus, and Revelation., as well as outlining the meanings of the Psalms and the Prophets. Although he wrote in Latin, his books have been translated into several languages. His works are available here, along with a bibliography, a glossary of terms, Latin grammar search, and other research tools.
https://newchristianbiblestudy.org/
With a focus on articles, images, and projects related to the life and work of Emanuel Swedenborg, the influences of his theological teachings worldwide, and a history of the New Church from its founding in the 18th century to contemporary times, the site offers informational articles, an image gallery, and trivia about Swedenborg and the New Church movement. Links to related sites are included.
http://www.newchurchhistory.org/
The weekly online magazine features essays and other articles from a variety of writers influenced by the writing of Emanuel Swedenborg and the New Christian movement. Topics include discussions of Swedenborg’s writings, as well as contemporary ideas. Although the site ceased publishing new content in 2015, its site includes an archive of its collections, which may be found by issue, by the author, special collections, or keyword tag.
http://www.newchurchperspective.com/
Founded as the Cambridge Society of the New Jerusalem, the church is affiliated with the Swedenborgian Church of North America. Its history and a brief history and biography of the denomination’s founder, Emanuel Swedenborg, is set forth, along with its pastor, staff, and officers, and an overview of the chapel architecture. A chapel schedule, calendar of reading groups, studies, and other events are included.
http://www.swedenborgchapel.com/
The Swedenborg Foundation is an independent, US-based, educational non-profit that publishes, preserves, and promotes the principles of the 18th-century spiritual world of Emanuel Swedenborg. Membership information and office contacts are posted to the site, book or manuscript proposals may be submitted, and catalogs are available for download. An online bookstore offers Swedenborg’s writings and other content.
https://swedenborg.com/
The independent project began for the purpose of spreading the ideas of a new Christianity based on the theological and philosophical teachings of Emanuel Swedenborg, whose teachings influenced the founding of the New Church movement. Its work includes the translation and publishing of Swedenborg’s writings. Also available is a New Christian Bible study based on Swedenborg’s works.
http://www.swedenborg.org.uk/
Swedenborgian Church of North America
Founded on the teachings of Emanuel Swedenborg, the affiliation of regional associations is also known as the General Convention of the Church of the New Jerusalem, headquartered in Cambridge, Massachusetts. A historical timeline is presented, along with a schedule of annual conventions, a directory of member congregations, church camps, and retreat centers. Publications and an online shopping area are included.
https://swedenborg.org/
Swedenborgian Church of San Francisco
Affiliated with the Swedenborgian Church of North America, the church began operations in 1895, and its meeting place has been designated a National Historic Landmark. Its history is presented, along with an overview of its beliefs and practices, membership policies, leadership, and staff. Sunday worship schedules, a calendar of events, a minister’s blog, and leadership contacts are published to the site.
https://sfswedenborgian.org/
A ministry of the Swedenborgian Church of North America, which bases its interfaith, inclusive, and affirming spirituality on the Christian mysticism of Emanuel Swedenborg. An introduction to the Church, a list of member congregations and programs, and an overview of its beliefs and practices are included. Registered members may access and be included in a business directory, classified advertising, and a registrant directory.
http://www.swedenborgiancommunity.org/
Also known as the General Church of the New Jerusalem is an international Christian church organization headquartered in Bryn Athyn, Pennsylvania, whose theology is based on the theological writings of Emanuel Swedenborg. The New Church is differentiated from other Swedenborgian churches in that it holds that Swedenborg’s “Writings for the New Church have authority equal to that of the New and Old Testaments.
https://newchurch.org/
The Swedenborg Digital Library
Sponsored by the Swedenborg Project, the site features, and makes available online the writings of Emanuel Swedenborg, those about him, and those related to Swedenborgianism or the New Church movement. A biography of Swedenborg is put forth, along with a discussion of which of his books are divine revelation, and the books of Jesus Christ’s Second Coming, published by Emanuel Swedenborg.
http://www.swedenborgdigitallibrary.org/
The independent project began for the purpose of spreading the ideas of a new Christianity based on the theological and philosophical teachings of Emanuel Swedenborg, whose teachings influenced the founding of the New Church movement. Its work includes the translation and publishing of Swedenborg’s writings. Also available is a New Christian Bible study based on Swedenborg’s works.
http://www.swedenborgproject.org/
Intended for Christians, the site discusses the work of Emanuel Swedenborg, offering an introduction to his theology and philosophy, with links to where the text of his works can be found online, and discusses the nature of his writings, as well as specific issues, such as the Lord and attitudes toward Him, the daily practice of good works, issues involving men and women, spiritual conflicts, and spiritual sense and the science of correspondence. Links to New Church sites are included.
http://newchurch.net/
Located in Radcliffe, North Manchester, England, the Center offers a space for reflection, creativity, learning, and connecting with others, as well as for the Swedenborg Open Learning Centre, offering courses of study inspired by the writings and theological philosophy of Emanuel Swedenborg. Its location and a profile of the facilities are offered, along with its course offerings, registration policies, fees, and a student login.
http://www.swedenborg-openlearning.org.uk/
