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author. But as Gerald points out, not only Journey Program do this, but also
various other New Church literature.
I have found this to be happening increasingly in New Church Life. For
example, in the current May/June issue: p. 218, “Swedenborg says”; p. 264,
“Swedenborg’s exegesis of the first chapters of Genesis” and “Swedenborg’s
description of the people of the Most Ancient Church”; p. 266, “When
Swedenborg introduces the concept of the Ancient Word”; p. 267, “the
theological Writings of Swedenborg” and “Swedenborg himself spoke of.”
Although I have singled out these expressions, there are other examples
by other authors in other issues of New Church Life which give the same
impression, namely that Swedenborg wrote the truths on which the New
Church is based. Although I applaud the authors for the academic content
of these items, and it is with sadness that I am critical of a few expressions
in otherwise excellent articles, I would ask future authors to be aware that
wording such as cited above can mislead others and be detrimental to the New
Church.
It is as well to keep in mind Swedenborg’s own words written in 1770 in a
reply to Dr. Johann August Ernesti, Professor of Leipzig University, who was
hostile to Swedenborg: “Please read what is written about the mysteries that
have been disclosed by the Lord through me His servant.” (My emphasis)
I have great concern that the people most affected by this growing trend of
seemingly crediting Swedenborg with writing the theological works are those
who are not yet secure in the beliefs of the New Church, namely young people,
newcomers and enquirers.
This year I have been fortunate to speak to several interested persons but
unfortunately all of them had heard previously of Swedenborgianism or heard
that I was a Swedenborgian. It was already in their minds that my church had
been started by Swedenborg and that I was one of his adherents, just as are
followers of other cults.
It would seem sensible to have a short name that would be acceptable,
hopefully, to all branches of the New Church, that could be used in speech,
on census forms, hospital admission forms, etc., so that we become an easily
identifiable church. Let’s agree on something as simple as New Church or New
Christian Church. But NOT Swedenborgian!
We are not S wedenborgians, we are not followers of Swedenborg, we are
not a cult. We follow the Lord alone in the Old Testament, New Testament and
the Divine Truths of His Second Coming that He alone disclosed through His
servant, Emanuel Swedenborg.
Heulwen Ridgway (Miss)
Canberra, Australia
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