new church life: september/october 2017
Swedenborg. Watch for an article in the November/December issue of New
Church Life on this whole fascinating history and its implications for the New
Church.
(BMH)
roots
My wife and I enjoyed a delightful tour of Scandinavia in July. It’s a beautiful
part of the world, with incredible scenery and happy, wholesome people.
Norway is particularly spectacular. Everywhere you look is a postcard.
But it was Sweden that resonated – for two reasons.
First, Sweden is the homeland of my late mother, Eva (Sandstrom), and
I hope she was smiling somewhere that we finally made the pilgrimage. This
was a guided tour so there was no opportunity to visit Swedenborg’s roots.
But we did have a free afternoon and evening to enjoy a typical Swedish meal
in the home of cousin Alf Bryntesson and his wife, Karin, plus Eva and Olle
Björkström and Gustav Fornander.
We also visited the beautiful New Church in Stockholm, where these five
are among the pillars. Their devotion to keeping this church going is inspiring.
The second reason Sweden resonated is because this is the homeland
of Emanuel Swedenborg, the man chosen by the Lord to receive the new
revelation that will eventually transform the world.
Swedenborg might be disappointed that the Church is so small and
struggling in Sweden – as well as the rest of the world – although he would
be heartened by his trust in the Lord’s leading and vision for His Church. And
that is surely what keeps the Bryntessons, the Björkströms, the Fornanders so
dedicated, along with their pastor, the Rev. Göran Appelgren.
Swedenborg apparently is becoming better known and respected in his
homeland – but he does not yet have the status of a “Tail Fin Hero.”
Norwegian Air honors the “heroes” of Scandinavia with large portraits
on the tail fins of their planes. There are 71 of these heroes – representing
architecture, art, freedom fighters, music and entertainment, literature,
philosophy, pioneering, science and sports. Among them are: Roald
Amundson, Hans Christian Anderson, Victor Borge, Roald Dahl, Greta Garbo,
Edvard Grieg, Sonja Henie, Thor Heyerdahl, Henrik Ibsen, Soren Kierkegaard
(the only philosopher), Jenny Lind and Carl von Linne. There is no Emanuel
Swedenborg. Not yet.
(BMH)
science versus scientism
I love science because I love nature, which is so beautiful and interesting,
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