Comments for The Swedenborg Project

Comment on Knowing Jesus, Loving Jesus by Knowing Jesus

Knowing Jesus — Fri, 30 Dec 2011 20:46:37 +0000

The article quotes Joel Osteen, “I find today people are not looking for theology. There’s a place for it, [but] in your everyday life you need to know how to live.”

I think here Osteen brings up a false dichotomy, that is making a difference between “theology” and “everyday life”. I would say that theology and the doctrines we hold have a direct impact in our lives. Paul the apostle says to “adorn the doctrine of God”, and through His letters has a huge emphasis on doctrine.

Paul usually focuses on doctrine in the first half of his epistles and then the “walk” and application in the second half. This shows Paul’s emphasis on doctrine and good theology, in order to know how to live.

Comment on The Life on Other Planets Question by Lou

Lou — Fri, 30 Dec 2011 03:16:57 +0000

Swedenborg states that other planets must have some use otherwise why are they there. And his contention that they exist because they have human inhabitants makes perfect sense to me.

But any interaction by earthly humans with those from other planets of a much different spiritual state would certainly result in spiritual chaos and cause irreparable harm, thus the Lord would protect against that by separating them. Thus, earthly humans on our moon (for example) would not be allowed to see or interact with each other– Divine protection to me is undoubtedly the reason.

Swedenborg is so dead right on all his other spiritual insights, especially his salvation explanations (sanctification) and heaven and hell, that he must also be right on his other worlds spiritual views. And we all shall see that clearly after we pass from our temporary home, earth, to heaven. Do not let this be a stumbling block.

Comment on “Jesus Was A Workplace Minister” by Kent Doering

Kent Doering — Mon, 19 Dec 2011 02:56:21 +0000

My Benedictine Monk friends got that aspect right-the “imitatio-Christi” is best accomplished at the workplace in dilligent service for what some modern companies call “customer benefit first.”

“Ora et Labora”

Kent Doering, Munich

Comment on The Future of the New Church. Swedenborg Colloquium by Kent Doering

Kent Doering — Mon, 19 Dec 2011 02:42:01 +0000

Not having been invited participate,I can´t make any comments.

I reside in Munich and voluntarilly staffed a soup kitchen for the homeless at a local Bedictine monastery. Anybody could staff, and anybody could walk in the door, participate in Mass, and take the Communion wafer.

“By invitation alone” sounds so “country club elitist” in my ears. I recall a quip by Groucho Marx: “I would not want to join a country club that would accept me as a member”.

I shall continue living the life of an eucumenical “Clowesian”, happilly participating in
the life of both a local Luthern Church and a
Catholic Benedictine monastery parish. Ora et
Labora.” (Worse, I am a “party book” carrying
member of the German SPD -Social Democratic
Party-Germany, and, oh how horrible, even have
contacts with the Greens. I am also a member of
the US expatriate “Democrats Abroad” and
subscribe to progressive Blog Sites such as “Think Progress” by the “Center for American Progress”
and”Treehugger”.

Anyhow, have a Merry Christmas, Kurt.

Kent Otho Doering, Munich

Comment on The Second “Half?” of the book Marriage (“Conjugial”) Love by Paul

Paul — Tue, 18 Oct 2011 22:05:24 +0000

an interesting read concerning sex, love, and marriage-in their deepest sense:

The Sexes Here and Hereafter By William Henry Holcombe

http://quod.lib.umich.edu/m/moa/AKK5035.0001.001/8?rgn=full+text;view=image

Comment on The Second “Half?” of the book Marriage (“Conjugial”) Love by Kurt

Kurt — Thu, 29 Sep 2011 10:26:20 +0000

Weathervane: Sorry to lose what I’m sure were some stimulating thoughts! After having had some of that problem myself, I now write anything long as a Word file and then copy and paste. Takes a few more clicks but worth it.

Comment on The Second “Half?” of the book Marriage (“Conjugial”) Love by weathervane article

weathervane article — Thu, 29 Sep 2011 03:45:00 +0000

Wow that was unusual. I just wrote an really long comment but after I clicked submit my comment didn’t appear. Grrrr… well I’m not writing all that over again. Anyway, just wanted to say excellent blog!

Comment on Market Driven Churches by John Jeremiah Conroyuchid

John Jeremiah Conroyuchid — Mon, 19 Sep 2011 00:16:11 +0000

the church to me is universal for all people of all races,religions and gender.the church is unlimited in its community of people by nolimits of time and place. the body of christ of believers are everywhere.theres plenty of room in heaven for all of the lords people. all good things cometh from God that enticeth and inspires man to do good

Comment on The Life on Other Planets Question by John Jeremiah Conroyuchid

John Jeremiah Conroyuchid — Mon, 19 Sep 2011 00:00:16 +0000

its not very hard for me to believe in the plurality of other worlds and other earths in swedenborgs book earths in the universe. in earths of the universe by swedenborg confirms my latter day saint belief in modern day revelation mormon scripture in the doctrine and covenants 76:24 about inhabitants living on other worlds.thru study and prayer and pondering ive asked the lord for wisdom and understanding thru the holy ghost and the holy ghost in my spiritual heart is my witness of truth thru prayer and study t hat there exsists other worlds.just because we dont physically see these other earth worlds doesnt mean they dont exisists. look at the spirit world full of the world of spirits. we dont see them doesnt mean they dont exisits. the wind exists and heat and cold exists even though we cant see them physically. the same applies to the spirit world of the world of spirits.trillions and zillions of souls go to the other side even though we physically dont see that.the lord has to open our eyes spiritually.

Comment on The Life on Other Planets Question by John Jeremiah Conroyuchid

John Jeremiah Conroyuchid — Sun, 18 Sep 2011 23:34:46 +0000

yes after i read craig millers article on the similiarities and differances on mormonism and swedenborganism i it actually confirmed my beliefs in both theologies. the main central core to mormon doctrine is the doctrine of three heavens known in mormon theology as three degrres of glory, three seperate kingdoms. in mormon scripture known as the doctrine and covenants section 76 mentions three heravens seperately known as telestial terrestrial and celestial kingdoms. swedenborg mentions in his book heaven and hell and the arcana coelestia that there is three heavens, celestial,spiritual and earthly.mormons also teach in their main doctrine eternal marriage in heaven. swedenborg teaches eternal marriage.these doctrines of eternal marriage and three heavens or three kingdoms goes back much further then joseph smith and swedenborg. the doctrine goes back to the early primitive church and apostolic church fathers such as origin, justin, etc.these teachings i believe are original teachings that have been restored and brought back to earth thru servants such as emanual swedenborg and joseph smith.heavenly father uses all his children on the earth as vessels of the lord.i believe that both worlds the spiritual and earthly lives go hand in hand together and cannot be seperated.both spiritual and earthly lives are important for us to live while we are on this journey