Swedenborg

To be blunt, we believe that God himself is the inspiration behind Purley Chase Centre! We are convinced that people who have an interest in spirituality, who recognise that they are spiritual in essence, need a place where they can come together in a non-judgemental environment, to enjoy each other's company, to learn of Him from whom this inspiration flows and so to come to more truly worship Him through the life they lead. That is what is behind the development of Purley Chase.

In the eighteeth century God inspired a seer and scientist called Emanuel Swedenborg to write a series of books which form the basis of a New Christian Religion. Through these Writings the Lord Jesus Christ reveals Himself to us as the One God of Heaven, tells us about life after death, what heaven and hell are really like, how much He loves us, why He wants us to become heavenly and that it is here on this earth that we decide whether to be heavenly or not. Purley Chase is an inspiring place where these concepts can be thought through and be of real use to us.

Swedenborg's Rules of Life
1. Often to read and meditate on the Word of God.
2. To submit everthing to the will of Divine Providence.
3. To observe in everything a propriety of behaviour, and to keep the conscience clear.
4. To discharge with fidelity the functions of my employments, and to make myself in all things useful to society.

Swedenborg's Writings

Swedenborg's writings are one of the greatest intellectual challenges in the world today and at the same time they can be read and enjoyed by anyone. They are extremely interesting to many people.

Helen Keller said this about Emanuel Swedenborg's writings:

“Were I but capable of interpreting to others one-half of the stimulating thoughts and noble sentiments that are buried in Swedenborg’s writings, I should help them more than I am ever likely to in any other way. It would be such a joy to me if I might be the instrument of bringing Swedenborg to a world that is spiritually deaf and blind.”

They describe:

• The inner meanings of the Bible, for example the days of creation in the first and second chapters of Genesis are about the seven stages of growth of the human spirit.
• The nature of the next life. Hundreds of detailed descriptions of houses, clothing, different societies and their structure, landscapes, work, what angels look like in the heavens and what infernal spirits look like in the hells, and so on.
• The science of correspondences which is the key to understanding the inner meanings of the Bible. For example, heat in this world is replaced by (corresponds to) love in the next.

Here are some beautiful quotations from Swedenborg's writings, they offer us great confidence in the life to come:

‘All religion has relation to life and the life of religion is to do good.’

‘The purpose of creation is to create a heaven of angels from the human race.’

‘Heaven is such that all who have lived well, of whatever religion have a place there.’

‘Man is so created that he can be more and more united to the Lord. He is so united not by knowledge alone, nor by intelligence alone, nor even by wisdom alone, but by a life in accordance with these. The more closely he is united to the Lord, the wiser and happier he becomes.’

‘Conscience is God’s presence in man.’

‘Love consists in desiring to give what is our own to another and feeling his delight as our own.’

‘God is worshipped only when He is loved.’

‘He who lives a life of love and charity is constantly at worship.’

‘Genuine Divine worship is unknown to those who think worship consists only in adoration and prayers, and not in work done from good of love and faith. But the Lord regards nothing in man but what is written on his heart or will.’

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