GOD'S LOVE

"God's love goes forth not only to good people but to evil people. God loves not only those who are in heaven, but also those who choose hell, for God is everywhere and forever the same."- Emanuel Swedenborg

SPIRITUAL KNOWLEDGE

"We cannot be spiritually reborn without some knowledge of the new or spiritual life, of the true ideas that we ought to believe and good things that we ought to do. Our physical senses give us information about the material world and ourselves, not about heaven and God. Spiritual knowledge comes only from revelation."- Emanuel Swedenborg

THE ANGELS

"We were born to become angels. Life in this world is preparation period for an eternity to come. Where the tree falls there it lies. So also does a person's life when he dies remain such as it has been." - Emanuel Swedenborg

BOOK REVIEW ABOUT SWEDENBORG

Title: There is an Answer – Living in the Post – Apocalyptic World
Author: Candace Frazee (Bunny House Books Pasadena, California, USA)
N0 of Pages: 377
Reviewer: Mawutodzi K. Abissath (P.O.Box TU 111, Accra, Ghana )
For those who believe in the doctrine or concept of reincarnation, it will not be difficult for them to consider the proposition that the author of this book, Candace Frazee has lived and continues to live a thousand lives in one life.
If I may explain myself. It is my considered opinion, of course, am I not entitled to my own opinion? That it will be practically impossible for someone who had never lived before, especially during Swedenborg’s time to impose such a herculean task on herself to provide answers to questions about Swedenborg.
And the ease with which she has been discharging this seemingly insurmountable self-imposed task tempts this reviewer to speculate that Candace Frazee herself could be a reincarnation of Swedenborg. ( But this review is not about speculation as to who was Candace Frazee in her past life – No, it is about a book she has written – entitled: There is an Answer in America and posted an advanced copy to me all the way in Ghana – West Africa, to review it for her).
It is in my own interest to confess that I am yet to complete reading the entire 377- page-book before attempting this review. But my inner conviction about the sincerity of the author and the diligence with which she approached her work is enough to commend her efforts. If the “Advanced Copy uncorrected proof” she sent to me is anything to go by, then I can guarantee readers who may be privileged to lay hands on the final work that they will be handling a gem kind of a book.
The preface of the work alone speaks for itself. The author did the right thing by alerting the reader about her own origin and how she came to know the man Emanuel Swedenborg. I will leave that very interesting part of her life for the reader to read it for himself or herself. But I will not hesitate to hint that she was born to Swedenborgian parents. Here, my only comment will be that, “There is no accident in the cosmic plan.” In other words there is this interesting African proverb which says, “A crab does not beget a hippopotamus.”
She writes: “…In 1988, Swedenborgians around the world celebrated the 300th birthday of Emanuel Swedenborg (1688 – 1772). Two years prior to this Tricentenary, I joined the planning committee at my church and helped organize several events in Toronto,” Canada. She went on, “When I moved to Los Angeles (US), in 1986 to ‘make’ in Hollywood, I found that the La Crescenta New Church wasn’t planning any 300th celebration. So I formed a committee (called it Information Swedenborg of Los Angeles because Toronto called theirs Information Swedenborg) and got busy with plans. I rallied volunteers. With my show biz skills I organized a big bash, SWEDENBORG: PAST & PRESENT. It was at the Theodore Roosevelt Junior High School in Glendale on 29 April 1988.”
Candace recalls the event was held the week King Carl XVI and Queen Silvia visited Los Angeles. “They came to U.S. in 1988 because it was ‘The Year of New Sweden’ – 350th anniversary of the establishment of New Sweden in America.” According to the author, about 300 people attended the Tricentenary, including The Mayor of Glendale, Carl Raggio and the Press Attaché of the Swedish Consulate, Claes Jernaeus.
“I hosted the event with Rev. Cedric King of El Toro, CA. A slide presentation of Emanuel Swedenborg’s life was shown; a panel of experts in psychology, science; and religion discussed his contributions to society; Rev. Frank Rose of Tueson, Arizona costumed as a convincing Swedenborg answered questions from the audience; Norwegian Imports & Bakery in San Pedro donated Swedish cake and hot Swedish punch; we sang Happy Birthday, Emanuel! It was a fun event,” she conceded with sweet memory.
From all account, the 300th anniversary organized by this special woman was fantastic! “I don’t do things small!” she contended. Then she recalls that the following Sunday at church, a mailed letter from a stranger was handed to her. The letter was addressed to THE LADY IN RED DRESS with the church’s address. When she opened the letter it reads:
“I attended the Tricentenary Party for Swedenborg’s 300th birthday in Glendale. You were on stage. Please tell me more about the man.” Signed: L.P. Glendale, California, May 1988.
“I wrote back. A second letter was sent to me by another person! I answered it, too. A guest book had been set out at the Tricentenary. I figured others were probably thinking what these two newcomers were, so I wrote an Open Letter about Swedenborg and mailed it to all the 80 people that signed the guest book. I haven’t stopped receiving and answering questions about Swedenborg since. That was 20 years ago,” Candace Frazee concluded her preface.
And I have largely quoted the preface in this review not only because of the premium I personally placed on it, but also to help the reader appreciate the genesis of this 400- page philosophical master piece written by a woman of vision and mission.
On Page 375, among other things, the author wrote: “…Swedenborgianism actually won’t spread like wildfire, for then it would be burning a path threatening destruction instead of healing. Swedenborgianism will spread like sunshine for then it will warm with love and shed light with understanding spiritually into hearts and minds.”
If this statement alone does not reveal the inner beauty and philosophical quality of the author and the spiritual worth of the book itself then I am at my wits end as to what the book is all about. And I can put my last coin on the table that readers of a certain degree of spiritual enlightenment will definitely find this work worthwhile.
As the tile indicates, the book is principally about insightful answers to probing and sometimes controversial and skeptical questions about Emanuel Swedenborg, especially his claims that he was able to talk to angels and devils in real terms.
Swedenborg was a famous scientist but little known son of a Swedish Lutheran bishop. Later in life, his interest developed more toward philosophy, theology and matters of divine nature. He actually communicated with Angels continuously for over 27 years. He wrote over thirty volumes of theology and five volumes of his personal experiences, entitled Spiritual Experiences. His other works included Arcana Coelestia, Apocalypse Explained, and Apocalypse Revealed, which focused on the symbolic understanding of the Christian Bible.
It is to this great soul that Candace Frazee dedicates her book to create awareness about Emanuel Swedenborg for the benefit of humanity and to the glory of the Universal Mind. Candace Frazee is also the only human being I have come across on this planet of mysteries who organizes a Festival of Angels in America. It is the expectation of this reviewer to witness the Festival of Angels one day so as to write about it at first hand for the reading pleasure of enlightened souls of our time.

SPIRITUAL BEAUTY

"Seek beauty, love beauty, for it is beauty that will save you. Obviously, I am speaking to you here of spiritual beauty. Through meditation and contemplation, try to sense this beauty, to clothe yourself in it to become imbued with it, for it will protect you from the beauty that deceives." -Omraam M.Aivanov

WHAT IS LOVE AND WISDOM?

"What is love without the understanding of how to express it, or wisdom without love to guide and motivate? They are nothing. What are love and wisdom without action, or a life where these can find fulfillment? They are nothing. Love and wisdom are only actual, that is, real, if they are used in life."-Emanuel Swedenborg