Swedenborgianism Summary and Analysis

Emanuel Swedenborg, who was born in Sweden and lived from 1688 to 1772, founded the Church of New Jerusalem. He was an inventive genius with great acceptance and prominence who may have practiced clairvoyance. In 1743, he apparently received spiritual illumination with tremblings, voices, and lights. In 1745, he told people he received a divine summons. The Church of New Jerusalem was organized in London in 1788. In 1789, they held their first general conference. The church was organized in Baltimore, Maryland in 1792. Today it is known as the Swedenborgian Church and it has fifty thousand worldwide members, with two thousand living in the United States. The church operates Urbana University in Urbana, Ohio.

Swedenborgians believe God is not three distinct persons, but three "essentials" of one God. Thus, they do not believe in the Trinity. They do not believe the Holy Spirit is a distinct person...