Heaven and Hell

Emmanuel Swedenborg's guide to the afterlife, and the importance of the human connection to God, remains one of the most celebrated Enlightenment-era works on the subject. Originally published in Latin during the mid-18th century, Swedenborg's treatise contains rich allusions not merely to the realms of the afterlife, but also to the principles of Christianity. The nature of marriage, an argument against polygamy, and the concept of a spirit world, and how spiritual matters influence human will, are some of the notions raised by Swedenborg that render his thoughts enchanting. According to Swedenborg, the entirety of this text was inspired after he had received a divine revelation from God himself. This was simply the notion that God is the very essence of love in the universe, and that His divine force intends for every human being to go to heaven. He never descends into anger or hatred, and the traversal of every human spirit into heaven was His intention by the very act of Creation. The author's mission is to soundly reconcile Christ's teachings with the familiar concepts of the afterlife, with his own philosophical thoughts on the importance of the human spirit, together with scientific considerations such as time and space. Constructing a sound theology in these pages was an ambitious task, yet Emmanuel Swedenborg approached these profound subjects with articulate and definite clarity. This book is also known by its complete title: Heaven and its Wonders and Hell From Things Heard and Seen. It has since been thought an influence upon Mormon theology, particularly the sections in which Swedenborg contemplates the nature of the stars and the astronomical heavens. This translation of Heaven and Hell is by John C. Ager, a respected scholar whose English language renditions of Swedenborg remain much-read in the modern day.