More Good Reading
Tag Archives: introspection
In the Spiritual World, every word you speak gives others a true portrait of yourself
All speech (no matter what the language) has its origins in the ideas and emotions of our intellect and heart. In the spiritual world—which is closer to the origins of our being and mind—individuals communicate their ideas and affections directly … Continue reading
Posted in god, Inner growth, Life after death, love, Reality, religion, spirituality, unity
Tagged Emanuel Swedenborg, feelings, human evolution, ideas, inner quality, introspection, the spirit
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Borrowed interest
The term “borrowed interest” is something I learned when I was working for an advertising agency. It is a tactic used when there is little to tout about a product or service’s actual distinctive benefits that you are trying to … Continue reading
Posted in god, Inner growth, love, psychology, Reality, religion, spirituality, unity
Tagged Alcoholics Anonymous, borrowed interest, compassion, good works, hitting bottom, innocence, introspection, order, purification, salvation
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It is easy to turn evil into good, but much harder to turn good into good
I am aware that the above heading sounds anti-intuitive. Most people simply do not look deeper than the mere outward expression of goodness. However, the notion that not all good deeds and kind acts are really good is a most … Continue reading
Posted in god, Inner growth, psychology, Reality, religion, spirituality, unity
Tagged charity, Emanuel Swedenborg, fantasy, goodness, innocence, introspection, regeneration, remains, sincerity, trance
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What creates more humility—religion or hemorrhoids?
No one brags about their hemorrhoids. The only thing that brings humility to an individual is to have a personally embarrassing defect that is plainly visible and causes real discomfort. Hemorrhoids fulfill this condition of personal mortification. One cannot easily … Continue reading
Posted in Inner growth, psychology, Reality, religion, spirituality, unity
Tagged conscience, hemorrhoids, humility, introspection, salvation, soul, spiritual impurities
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Confessions of a Swedenborgian sinner
Probably the most contested statement by Emanuel Swedenborg from “Swedenborgians” themselves is that the human race “is filled with evil of every kind.” Such an unflattering statement seems anti-intuitive to the human post-modern mind. Hell and evil seem like archaic … Continue reading
Posted in god, Inner growth, psychology, Reality, religion, spirituality, unity
Tagged consciousness, Emanuel Swedenborg, evil, humility, innocence, introspection, regeneration, self-delusion, theology
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Worship on steroids!
According to the theology of Emanuel Swedenborg “all worship has as its end that man may be purified from evils and falsities” (Arcana Coelestia n 10022). Without the removal of these character flaws, the Lord God’s goodness and wisdom cannot … Continue reading
Posted in god, Inner growth, love, psychology, Reality, religion, spirituality, unity
Tagged Emanuel Swedenborg, innocence, introspection, purification, salvation, sincerity, true goodness, worship
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What really is “salvation by faith alone?”
Many followers of the theology of Emanuel Swedenborg believe that he changed the focus of spiritual transformation in Christianity from “faith” to “good works.” In other words, salvation does not consist of mere belief and acknowledgement of the Lord Jesus … Continue reading
Posted in god, Inner growth, love, Reality, religion, spirituality, unity
Tagged Emanuel Swedenborg, faith, good works, innocence, introspection, salvation, sincerity, spiritual regeneration
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I hang out with lots of shady characters
I have been on a spiritual path for four decades. Amazingly, I feel worse off today than I did forty years ago. What has become more apparent to me is the reality of my imagined goodness. This imagined goodness was … Continue reading
Posted in god, Inner growth, psychology, Reality, religion, spirituality, unity
Tagged Arcana Coelestia, Emanuel Swedenborg, inner demons, introspection, self-delusion, spiritual regeneration, temptation
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Swedenborg’s inner pain
A lot of people are taking the liberty of challenging many of Swedenborg’s theological ideas. This activity is motivated by the belief that the human race is smarter today and more enlightened than those who lived in Swedenborg’s era (and … Continue reading
“Forbidden Planet” and Forbidden Fruit
Recently on TV, I came across the science-fiction classic, Forbidden Planet. Thanks to the visionary discoveries of scientist/theologian Emanuel Swedenborg, I was able to enjoy the movie from a higher level by deciphering the movie’s deeper symbolic message. Forbidden Planet … Continue reading
