The Swedenborgian Church
God is love itself and wisdom itself. God it not vengeful and does not punish anyone. Instead, God looks tirelessly for the best good that can be brought out of each of us, even if only evil had been there before, God came to earth in the form of Jesus Christ because of love and concern for the human race. Christ planted the seeds for a new awareness of God and a truly creative society of people who care for each other as they would care for themselves. In that menifestation, God is often referred to as "The Lord." Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are but three aspects of this one God; the Father is the divine love, the Son is the divine wisdom, and the Holy Spirit is the outgoing energy from love and wisdom that works among us for salvation.

Salvation, or enlightenment, is the outcome of a caring life, even if imperfectly, as long as our values are ruled by a sincere desire to be of service to the higher good of ourselves and those around us and maintain a loveing heart. Salvation is not limited to Christians. People of good intention everywhere have truths to share and will find God's favor and guidance, though they may not be aware of its high source. Swedenborgians have always been strong voices for interfaith sharing.

The Bible contains the word of God, and in its depths, even in passages disputed by scholars, there is an inner sense which reveals truth much more clearly and profoundly than its literal meaning. This inner sense affects us inwardly when we read the Word with devotion and attention to what God is trying to say to us, even when we are not conscious of what the inner sense is saying.

We live after death, and in the kind of world we have fashioned in our physical lives. There is a heaven and a hell, and no one is compelled to go to either one. Our love of good or its opposite leads us to actually prefer heaven or hell. No one is sent to hell; those who have lived selfishly prefer more opportunities to do so and will go there of their own accord; hell is the state of self-centeredness and grasping competition, not punishment or torture. Hell is simoply the degradation of soul and heart of those who live selfishly. Those who live in regard for the best in themselves and others also prefer more opportunities to do so; they find in heaven a more intense and happy life of wisdom and mutual love.

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i found this quite interesting. I've never heard of this church before. thoughts?