I've been reading some of the material about the Swedenborgian Church in your on-line book and I've seen other references on the web about it being considered a cult. I read too much on the internet. Sometimes I think I'm better off staying away from it altogether. There is just as much negative information as positive information on just about any given subject. There's a Swedenborgian Church in Bath, Maine (not far from my home) and I didn't know anything about their doctrine or beliefs until I looked it up. I've been searching for a long time for a church but it seems the more I look, the more confused I become and I just get further away from finding the truth.

Best regards,

Pegasus

Hi Pegasus,

Sounds to me like you have a good opportunity here. If you're looking for a church (I'm not the church going type myself) I think it would be worth your while to at least take a look. You might be pleasantly surprised. While I doubt very much that anybody's going to come looking for you if you decide this is not for you.

As for Roy Masters (regarding the other thread), as much as I admire the guy and appreciate his sincerity, he is an extremist and that may not be the way for you to go? ... I have found the meditation to be useful though, in fact I still practice something very similar to it today. And here I think it all depends on your approach and the frame of mind you enter into it when you begin practicing it. Aside from that I don't have a whole lot else to say, Okay?


P.S. Please note my reply to your thread about the Meditation Practice.

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So when the body dies, and consciousness departs, where do "we" go? ... Off to define another "reality" perhaps?

Stay away if you're gay (like me). The English write & illustrator William Blake didn't like the Swedenborgians because of their traditional morality. I myself don't care for organized religion: the Holy Spirit is like the wind, it comes & goes when it wants, & will not be organized. Peace.

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Once you find your way, you're there.

Was it the Swedenborgians he had a problem with, or Swedenborg himself? Because I don't think he had a problem with Swedenborg. In fact I think much of his work reflected Swedenborg's.

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So when the body dies, and consciousness departs, where do "we" go? ... Off to define another "reality" perhaps?

It was the Swedenborgians. I think he was disappointed that they didn't seem open to creativity and non-conformity.

__________________
Once you find your way, you're there.

Of course you are referring to something which occurred 200 years ago, when just about every church maintained some sense of traditional morality. In fact I think if you were to compare the Swedenborgian Church of today (this is just my opinion of course), you would probably find them to be more liberal than most other churches. At least none of this hell fire and damnation crap anyway. And like I said, if you are looking for a church, it would probably be worth looking into.

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So when the body dies, and consciousness departs, where do "we" go? ... Off to define another "reality" perhaps?

My path is my church.

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Once you find your way, you're there.

Well some people need a sense of community, and quite often this is where they find it. Of course if it's not all it's cracked up to be they might find a few other things too.

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So when the body dies, and consciousness departs, where do "we" go? ... Off to define another "reality" perhaps?

I'm not gay but I don't know of any churches that wouldn't welcome gays to attend their services as long as their behavior doesn't offend anyone. In other words, if they were purposely trying to provoke antagonism by flaunting their "gayness" in front of everybody just to get something started (and I've come across this before). Some gay people seem to enjoy getting something started so they can a put an "anti-gay" label on everyone that crosses their path. God loves all people (gay or otherwise) but the Bible is very clear about homosexuality. There are several passages in the Bible that leave no doubt about the sin of homosexuality. That's why I don't understand why gays cry "discrimination" on the issue of gay marriage. The institution of marriage was meant to be between a man and a woman. God created "Adam and Eve" not "Adam and Steve." You can't go against God's natural laws and then claim you're being discriminated against.

There are two Bibles, one living, one dead.

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Once you find your way, you're there.

This is a touchy issue indeed, but I think the main thing here is that we're not flagrant about it and, as Pegasus says, "flaunt it in front of everyone."

While due to the way life works, we can't always help but be who we are, and we should reserve any judgment we might place on others. If you consider the fact that some people are born hermaphrodites (with both male and female genitals), you also have to consider the fact that some people are born with the predispostion towards being gay. While there are also those who were brought up under such an emotionally charged climate, that they couldn't help but be swayed in that direction. So in most cases I don't think homosexuals "choose" to be homosexuals.

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So when the body dies, and consciousness departs, where do "we" go? ... Off to define another "reality" perhaps?

I do. And, I flaunt it, 'cuz Jesus loves me no matter what I might do.

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Once you find your way, you're there.

While I'm sure He loves mass murderers too (i.e., for the sake of example here), but that doesn't mean they're not going to wind up in hell.

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So when the body dies, and consciousness departs, where do "we" go? ... Off to define another "reality" perhaps?

Hell = love?

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Once you find your way, you're there.

Yes, it's called Ruling Love.

Sorry about the edit note on your post by the way. Being the Moderator that I am, I have the ability to edit posts, and unfortunately I hit "edit" instead "quote" and botched it up. If it doesn't look right feel free to correct it. Again, sorry.

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So when the body dies, and consciousness departs, where do "we" go? ... Off to define another "reality" perhaps?

I've had a gay hairdresser for over twenty years but he chooses not to "flaunt it" for various reasons. We've never discussed his homosexuality in all the years that I've known him. We talk about things that everyone else talks about--family, church, shopping, restaurants, his cats. His parents have very conservative views about things in general and I think he is "quiet" about his personal life out of love and respect for them. He doesn't like to make them feel uncomfortable and I guess he doesn't feel a need to "be in your face" about the whole thing. I also know of someone in my hometown who suddenly started talking differently one day when he decided to "come out" and proclaim to the world that he was gay. I don't have a problem with the "coming out" but why did he suddenly start talking in an altogether different way? I bumped into him one day at a convenience store and I overheard him talking to someone and the difference in his voice was like night and day. I was so startled by the difference, I just didn't know what to make of it. Why would he all of a sudden have to start talking in a different way when just the day before he sounded just like anyone else? It's almost like that because he was "coming out", he must now have evidence of his being gay and put on some kind of display. Anyway, there's a lot I don't understand about homosexuality and I realize that I don't have all the answers. I've also seen gay men who don't appear or sound any different outwardly and one would never guess about their sexuality. Many people didn't know that Rock Hudson was gay until he was dying with AIDS. Well--I guess I'm not going to say any more on the subject.

By the way, I'm not taking exception to the notion that you're gay here, just to the notion that Jesus loves you the way you are ...

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So when the body dies, and consciousness departs, where do "we" go? ... Off to define another "reality" perhaps?

Hi.

I have recently joined up with a Swedenborg church as you call it, and I guess as I call it too sometimes. If you have questions, you can ask and I'll try answer as truthfully as I can, from my own experiences and spiritual seeking.

You could visit the church group, as someone else suggested on the forum.

You could also try reading some of swedenborgs books, though this could be very difficult. His writings have a strong sense of certainty, as though there is no room for debate. This made me afraid when I first was introduced to the writings.

As far as I can tell, the church is fairly organised. I have a bit of a distrust for organisations, especially if they are not flexible.

Last night my pastor said that, in the past (or currently), new church organisations (as swedenborgians are also called) had a bit of a problem as seeing themselves as "the only organisation", "the only keepers of the truth", which agrees with my orginal feelings towards that society.

Also, my church services are very patterned, which I am not so used to. I feel ritualistic repetition may yield mindlessness and kills the spirit. I used to go to an anglican church, which was also very patterned, and focused on repetition (...what does god say about vain repetitions...).

There is lots more I can say, I guess, but you ask.

PS, the finding of truth is a fantastic journey, with god as the end.

Best regards,
Aresti
Pegasus

Is this in response to my post above? I noticed that my name is at the bottom of your post along with the name Aresti? You said that you called the church that you recently began attending a Swedenborg church but it sounds as though this isn't the actual name? You referred to someone visiting the church group that someone else mentioned in the forum. Which church group were you referring to and who suggested going to this church group? You were a little vague. Sorry.