"I appreciate your events so much–they are thoughtful, sane, and restore the soul!"
Victoria, Chicago, IL 
"If we despise our neighbors or regard people as our enemies for merely disagreeing with us or not showing us reverence or respect, our life is a life of self-love. If for similar slights we hate our neighbors and persecute them, then we are even more deeply entrenched in self-love. And if we burn with vengeance against them and crave their destruction, our self-love is stronger still; people with this attitude eventually love being cruel."
–Emanuel Swedenborg, "New Jerusalem" section 68. 
"Thanks for the welcoming format of the Common Ground lectures at the Swedenborg Library...warm & relaxing." 
Bill, Wilmette, IL
The Swedenborg Library has public hours on Wednesday and Friday afternoons, from 1–5 PM Central Time

Above, the monument to Swedenborg, whose vision of the new Jerusalem (Revelation, chapter 21 in the Bible) inspired city planner Daniel Burnham; in Chicago's Lincoln Park on a particularly beautiful day. Swedenborg looks benevolently toward the city, holding a copy of "Secrets of Heaven" to his heart. 
Swedenborg Library Film Discussions

Join in our Fall Film Viewing & Discussions:

Friday Nov. 17, 2–3 PM: "Gnosticism: The Gospel of Thomas"

The Library will be closed the week of November 22 for the Thanksgiving Holiday. 

Wednesday, Nov. 29 , 1:30 PM: "The New Jerusalem: Goodness & Truth" 

Friday, December 1, 2-3 PM: "Gnosticism: Valentinus, Great Preacher of Gnosis" and "Becoming Male Through Valentinian Ritual," Film & Discussion

Wednesday, December 6, 1:30 PM: "The New Jerusalem: Will & Understanding"

Friday, December 8, 2–3 PM: "Gnosticism: Valentinian Views on Christian Theology"

Wednesday, December 13, 1:30 PM "The New Jerusalem: The Inner Self and The Outer Self"

Friday, December 15: 2-3 PM "Gnosticism: Mary Magdalene as an Apostle of Gnosis" and "Competing Revelations of Christ."

Wednesday, December 20, 1:30 PM: "The New Jerusalem: Love in General"

Friday, December 22: 2-3 PM "Gnosticism: The Invention of Heresy" and "Make Gnosis Orthodox."

Wednesday, December 27, 1:30 PM: "The New Jerusalem: Love for Ourselves and Love for the World"

Friday, December 29: 2-3 PM "Gnosticism: Gnosticism and Judaism," and "Gnosis Without Christ."
Swedenborg's "New Jerusalem & Its Heavenly Doctrines" discussion

Join us for a discussion of this brief work that summarizes Swedenborg's theology. We will view a video presentation and discuss. Copies of the book are available from the Library. 

On Wednesdays, from 1:30 PM - 3 PM. 
Panel Presentation: Many Roads to the Kingdom of Heaven: Swedenborg's Cultural Legacy, with Del Rose and Dr. Devin Zuber
Scholar Dell Rose will be joining the Swedenborg Library in May as Associate Program Director.  

Dell J. Rose is an American Ph.D. student at the University of Amsterdam. Holding a bachelor’s degree with majors in English, History, and Religion and a master’s degree in Folklore, he is also a fellow of the Swedenborg Society in London.  
Mini-courses from the 2023 Swedenborgian convention in Bridgewater, Massachusetts that concluded July 4th may now be viewed on YouTube. Mini-Courses from the 2023 Annual Convention
To join online discussions of others who are reading Swedenborg's work, or to view video presentations, visit one of the sites below:

The Swedenborg Community online: Click Here.

Off The Left Eye videos (organized by topic area:) Click Here.
For blog discussions of Swedenborgian and contemporary topics, or to download books: 
Welcome to the Swedenborg Library in Chicago
Above: Common Ground lecturer Jerry Leitner addresses a group during a Swedenborg Library program taking place in James Parlor at 77 W. Washington St., Chicago. 


Here you'll find information on upcoming events and programs on a wide range of topics, from spiritual practices, the world's religions, spirituality in America among others. 

Our circulating book collection offers a range of contemporary books on spiritual topics, as well as the work of the 18C Swedish scientist and theologian Emanuel Swedenborg. 

One of the insights that Swedenborg had about the heavenly realm was that people who lived the good of their religion of all religions were found there. The Swedenborg Library embraces that idea, and is an ecumenical center. People of all faiths, and those who aren't sure what they believe are welcomed here. 

See Events & Programs for information on our upcoming programs. We look forward to seeing you then. Use the Contact Us form for information on our collection.
  
If you will be in downtown Chicago and would like to visit the Swedenborg Library, we are open Wednesday and Friday afternoons from 1:00-5:00 pm, Thursday afternoons prior to programs, and by appointment. Click on the Calendar link in the top left column for our hours and schedule. 

For more info on upcoming programs, click on the "upcoming events" bar in the left-hand column.

  

PAST SPEAKERS AT THE SWEDENBORG LIBRARY INCLUDE: 
Rebecca Armstrong, Julia Bachrach, Marc Ian Barasch, Rev. Kit Billings, Denise Breton, Herbert Bronstein, Sophy Burnham, Rabbi Menachem Cohen, Phil Cousineau, John DeBerry, Rev. Dr. George Dole, Rev. Dr. David Fekete, Barbara Geiger, Mercy Gilpatric, Jack Gilroy, John Haller Jr., Fatima Imam, Kenneth James, Sunny Dawn Johnston, Jim Kenney, Christopher Largent, Stephen & Robin Larsen, Erik Larson, Rev. Dr. James Lawrence, Jerrol Leitner, Dr. Wayne Martindale, Russell Lewis, Ron Miller, Dr. Raymond Moody, John Moulder, Sarah Odishoo, Paul Quinn, Rev. Dr. Jonathan Rose, Ahmad Sadri, Kristen Schaffer, Ann McNamara Smith, Richard Smoley, John Stolfo,Edward Sylvia, Brother Wayne Teasdale, Dr. Alfred Thomas, Pauline Viviano, Rev. Wilma Wake, John Wasik...