SOURCE: Goodenough, Daniel W. “A Trust from God: A Survey of Swedenborg's Political Thought.” In Swedenborg and His Influence, edited by Erland J. Brock et al., pp. 135-53. Bryn Athyn, Penn.: Academy of the New Church, 1988.

In the following essay, Goodenough examines Swedenborg's political ideas—including his vision of an organically unified humanity—which the critic says are not simply those of a spiritual dreamer but are thoughtful, practical, detailed, and concern actual problems needing attention.

Swedenborg began his productive years as a sort of technology trouble-shooter for Charles XII, six years his elder. Devoted to war and a bright mathematician, King Charles was pleased to employ the brilliant son of his Bishop of Skara, almost entirely in pursuits important for the war effort. And Swedenborg's enthusiasm for spreading scientific know-how in Sweden must have flattered the king's own intellectual affectations. For his part Swedenborg received, in return...