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The Presence of Other Worlds: The Psychological and Spiritual Findings of Emanuel Swedenborg
In 1974, Wilson Van Dusen published a groundbreaking study on the findings of Emanuel Swedenborg, a book that has inspired thousands to look more closely into Swedenborg's works and to consider the implications of living a useful and thoughtfully directed life. This updated second edition, published on the thirtieth anniversary of the book's original publication, includes a new introduction to this bestselling work.
An account of the monumental journey of an eighteenth-century scientist and philosopher into the depths of his own mind and to spiritual worlds beyond, The Presence of Other Worlds shows how Swedenborg's personal experiences radiate with insights about psychological and spiritual develpments that are relevant to modern-day seekers. It has been hailed since its first publication as a passport for all spiritual voyagers into the human psyche and the innter sanctum of the afterlife.
Dr. Raymond Moody, author of Life After Life, provides a foreword that explains the importance of Swedenborg's mystical experiences in connection with the near-death experience. Dr. James Lawrence presents a tribute to Wilson Van Dusen and his enduring legacy in an afterword.
An account of the monumental journey of an eighteenth-century scientist and philosopher into the depths of his own mind and to spiritual worlds beyond, The Presence of Other Worlds shows how Swedenborg's personal experiences radiate with insights about psychological and spiritual develpments that are relevant to modern-day seekers. It has been hailed since its first publication as a passport for all spiritual voyagers into the human psyche and the innter sanctum of the afterlife.
Dr. Raymond Moody, author of Life After Life, provides a foreword that explains the importance of Swedenborg's mystical experiences in connection with the near-death experience. Dr. James Lawrence presents a tribute to Wilson Van Dusen and his enduring legacy in an afterword.
288 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1974
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
March 12, 2012
Swedenborg is (or should be) pretty much the foundation for modern, secular, empirical mysticism. Not only that, Van Dusen brings the light of Swedenborg's experience to the understanding of schizophrenia.
This is a readable, not to say exciting, book that everyone with an interest in Spirit or Reality should read.
Swedenborg, by himself, is far from an easy read; through this book, Van Dusen gives us access to horizons which most of us did not realise were even there.
To echo his own caution against following in his footsteps: what is the difference between Swedenborg, the great ‘polymath’ of the 18th century, consultant to the king of Sweden, expert in modern sciences and son of an archbishop, wondering through the astral worlds of Spirit, and Van Dusen’s schizophrenics? Your reviewer’s answer is immense discipline and carefully educated brilliance. This book may cause you to ask how many of today’s mental health patients have in them the seeds of the visionary.
This is a readable, not to say exciting, book that everyone with an interest in Spirit or Reality should read.
Swedenborg, by himself, is far from an easy read; through this book, Van Dusen gives us access to horizons which most of us did not realise were even there.
To echo his own caution against following in his footsteps: what is the difference between Swedenborg, the great ‘polymath’ of the 18th century, consultant to the king of Sweden, expert in modern sciences and son of an archbishop, wondering through the astral worlds of Spirit, and Van Dusen’s schizophrenics? Your reviewer’s answer is immense discipline and carefully educated brilliance. This book may cause you to ask how many of today’s mental health patients have in them the seeds of the visionary.
February 17, 2013
Excellent look at the theology of Swedenborg from a psychological and universally spiritual point of view.
January 2, 2024
"In a real sense Swedenborg is a latter-day prophet and revelator, and like his ancient predecessors, his task is not to break with ancient traditions in a new breed of understanding, but simply to deepen our understanding of ancient traditions."
This title caught my attention after reading Van Dusen's brief booklets on 'The Presence of Spirits in Madness' and 'Uses.' (As ref, it turns out that the former is also reproduced in this book.) I've been captivated by Swedenborg ever since I first read his most famous Heaven & Hell, and my appreciation has only deepened with each read. That cued me to this Swedenborg approach from the author's psychological/medical background.
Overall I found this short yet slower read fascinating, with insight on a variety of subjects. However, one recurring aspect I found disappointing—but not very surprising, and likely reflective of its 60s-70s era—came in most strikingly at the very end. Though I assume Van Dusen meant well, it seems regrettably close to placing the Bible on the same level as any other religious text. While I can share aspects of his take and musings, and having studied a range of world religions, as a Christian this stood out to me, and sounds borderline contradicting when Swedenborg's work is entirely based on the Bible.
Despite Swedenborg's endearing humility, perhaps he might agree with me on rightly giving the Bible its proper credit in lieu of an 'inclusive' tone. It's still a worthy read that offers much to reflect upon, with a fitting nudge to go to the source material.
This title caught my attention after reading Van Dusen's brief booklets on 'The Presence of Spirits in Madness' and 'Uses.' (As ref, it turns out that the former is also reproduced in this book.) I've been captivated by Swedenborg ever since I first read his most famous Heaven & Hell, and my appreciation has only deepened with each read. That cued me to this Swedenborg approach from the author's psychological/medical background.
Overall I found this short yet slower read fascinating, with insight on a variety of subjects. However, one recurring aspect I found disappointing—but not very surprising, and likely reflective of its 60s-70s era—came in most strikingly at the very end. Though I assume Van Dusen meant well, it seems regrettably close to placing the Bible on the same level as any other religious text. While I can share aspects of his take and musings, and having studied a range of world religions, as a Christian this stood out to me, and sounds borderline contradicting when Swedenborg's work is entirely based on the Bible.
Despite Swedenborg's endearing humility, perhaps he might agree with me on rightly giving the Bible its proper credit in lieu of an 'inclusive' tone. It's still a worthy read that offers much to reflect upon, with a fitting nudge to go to the source material.
November 17, 2023
Lucid overview of the life and works of Swedish polymath-turned-mystic, Emanuel Swedenborg. Swedenborg’s quest for knowledge led him to turn inward and investigate the human mind, leading him to a year of intense meditation and dream analysis. This led to a propensity for visionary experiences which would last him the rest of his life, and that he would devote himself to explaining to others. Van Dusen’s experience as a psychotherapist and practiced meditator makes him quite an insightful student of Swedenborg. Discusses the symbolic nature of reality, the nature of God, perennialism, mystical experiences, and more. Will read Swedenborg directly sometime soon.
March 25, 2021
Definitely a slog, but a worthwhile one for the spiritual seeker. Some went over my head, some confirmed my experience, and learned a lot.
January 6, 2012
"I am well aware of the fact that many people will say that nobody can possibly speak to spirits or angels as long as he is living in the body, and that many will call it a delusion. Some will say that I have spread these ideas around so as to win people's trust, while others will say something different again. But none of it deters me; for I have seen, I have heard, I have felt."
- Emanuel Swedenborg (Arcana Coelestia)
A zealous and a tad self-indulgent introduction by the reputable Wilson Van Dusen to the spiritual work of the 18th century Swedish polymath Emanuel Swedenborg. It's not easy to evaluate an existential/phenomenological approach to texts about experiential discoveries of an omnipresent world as the content is always secure in its factualness. And while truth and falsity is irrelevant, and Van Dusen's meaning (when distinct from truth values) is also meagre then it remains mysterious as why I should share in the author's enthusiasm.
However, interesting areas were Swedenborg's model of existence - feelings at the core that feed outer functions of thinking, language, etc, but as was the case with the unspeakability of heaven this had me recalling the force of the 'private language argument'. Also, Van Dusen's conversations with the spirit hallucinations of psychotic patients in a Californian hospital in 1964 which follow the assertion that "I seem to have found a confirmation for one of Emanuel Swedenborg's more unusual findings: that a human being's life involves an interaction with a hierarchy of spirits. This interaction is normally not conscious, but perhaps in some cases of mental illness, it has become conscious".
- Emanuel Swedenborg (Arcana Coelestia)
A zealous and a tad self-indulgent introduction by the reputable Wilson Van Dusen to the spiritual work of the 18th century Swedish polymath Emanuel Swedenborg. It's not easy to evaluate an existential/phenomenological approach to texts about experiential discoveries of an omnipresent world as the content is always secure in its factualness. And while truth and falsity is irrelevant, and Van Dusen's meaning (when distinct from truth values) is also meagre then it remains mysterious as why I should share in the author's enthusiasm.
However, interesting areas were Swedenborg's model of existence - feelings at the core that feed outer functions of thinking, language, etc, but as was the case with the unspeakability of heaven this had me recalling the force of the 'private language argument'. Also, Van Dusen's conversations with the spirit hallucinations of psychotic patients in a Californian hospital in 1964 which follow the assertion that "I seem to have found a confirmation for one of Emanuel Swedenborg's more unusual findings: that a human being's life involves an interaction with a hierarchy of spirits. This interaction is normally not conscious, but perhaps in some cases of mental illness, it has become conscious".
November 18, 2015
Wanted to know more about Swedenborg but found this rather heavy going.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews