Theos-Talk Archives (March 1998 Message tt00201)

On Sat, 21 Mar 1998 21:48:00 GMT, you wrote:

>Thanks for using NetForward!
>http://www.netforward.com
>v^v^v^v^v^v^v^v^v^v^v^v^v^v^v^v^v^v^v^v^v^v^v^v^v^v^v^v^v
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><snip>
>>   Have now another plain fact.  Any man of mechanical talents
>> may, from the
>> writings of Paracelsus or Jacob Behem, produce ten thousand volumes of
>> equal value with Swedenborg's and from those of Dante or Shakespear an
>> infinite number.
>>   But when he has done this, let him not say that he knows better than=
 his
>> master, for he only holds a candle in sunshine.
>>=20
>> ********
>> The above is presented for discussion --I've never taken the time to =
digest
>> enough of Swedenborg to say I agree or disagree.

It quite a while since I read most of Swedenborg's books but I would
not really agree with the above statement.
His insight into the idea of the Grand Man as a concept for
understanding heaven and many other things, gave me a much expanded
view of all things. I moved into Theosophy a few years after studying
him and found the broad visions presented easier to digest because I
had struggled with Swedenborg's wide vistas. I don't think one can
read all the other philosophies and get the same stuff Swedenborg
presented. He was able in his later years to tap into the visions that
he presented. He interpreted them within his religious belief system
otherwise he may have sounded a little like CWLeadbeater if he had a
belief system that was similar. All the way through his writings he
did not claim to be special but claimed that he saw what he saw by the
grace of God. I found his writings to be interesting but I now find
that through Theosophy, much has been added to my philosophy of life
that he could not supply. I will always be thankful that I read his
works and the help they gave me at the time. I could just about feel
my brain cells expanding with the effort I put in to try to grasp his
visions.=20
Bee Brown
>>=20
>
>
>Many thanks!
>