Upcoming Events & Programs
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View the Autumn 2024 Brochure here:
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Autumn 2024 Brochure in PDF form, above.
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Thursday, October 24, 5 PM: Gnostics Reborn?A special presentation by Archbishop William Behun, primate of the Johannite Gnostic Church of North America.
Archbiship Behun will be presenting on the Johannite tradition of modern gnosticism, a descendant of the Gnostic revival movements begun in France in the latter part of the 20th century. Archbishop Behun will introduce us to the specifics of the Johannite path, and what gnosticism means for interested parties today.
Location: Swedenborg Library 77 W. Washington St., Suite 1700 Chicago, IL (at Clark St & Washington)
When: Thursday, October 24, 5–7 PM
Fee: $10. Refreshments provided.
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Ofrenda Set-Up Party: Friday, November 1, 3–6 PM
You are warmly invited to join the Swedenborg Society in setting up an ofrenda for All Soul's Day a meaningful tradition that honors the lives and spirits of those who have passed on. This year, our focus will be on celebrating individuals from the past who were inspired by the works of Emanuel Swedenborg, whose visionary writings have touched countless lives.
The ofrenda will feature figures such as William Blake, Helen Keller, and others who were deeply influenced by Swedenborg's ideas on the afterlife, spiritual growth, and the connection between heaven and earch.
Whether you are familiar with these figures or new to Swedenborg's thought, we welcome you to contribute with photos, mementos, or simply your presence. Let's come together to reflect, remember, and celebrate the enduring connection between the spiritual and physical worlds.
Location: Swedenborg Library 77 W. Washington St., Suite 1700 Chicago, IL (at Clark St & Washington)
When: Friday, November 1, 3–6 PM
Fee: None. Donations accepted.
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Zoom Program: Tuesday, November 19, 7–8:30 PM. Swedenborg and the Inward Turn, with Rev. Robert McCluskey
Rev. Robert McCluskey
In the mid 1700's, Swedenborg offered to the world a remarkable and profound gift: the internal sense of the Word. Not the objective, historical, literal sense re: events from long ago and far away. Instead, it was a turn to the subjective, personal, spiritual sense re: the inner life of the reader. His gift, and the means of attaining it, remains unique among the history of ideas.
But he also wrote that the Lord was effecting a sweeping renewal of religion in general, and the Christian Church in particular. He called it the Second Coming, in which the Lord is everywhere at work, moving to the re-establishment of his kingdom. In this way, we can say that Swedenborg was himself part of a larger, unfolding worldview known as the "inward turn." A worldview which sees human life not as a historical event, but as a psychological experience. A counterbalance to the world of scientists, which sees the world as "outside": external, mechanical, and materialistic.
We will briefly trace the history of this “inward turn,” Swedenborg’s contribution to it, and how it continues to inform modern consciousness. We are each called to turn inward, to find ourselves in the Bible and in the world, so that we might truly heed the advice of Socrates: know thyself!
Contact us as Info@SwedLib.org for the Zoom link.
Rev. Robert McCluskey has served the New York Swedenborgian Church and the Wayfarer's Chapel in Rancho Palos Verdes, California.
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Zoom: Wednesday, December 4, 5–6:30 PM CentralPrimitive Baptist Universalism, with Elder Jonathan Buttry
The Appalachian tradition of Primitive Baptist Universalism is one of the most fascinating American theological movements. Originating in the late 19th Century, the PBU's teach a highly original theology built on Biblical literalism, a unique reading of Calvinism, and the belief that God will eventually reconcile all beings back to himself. The "No-Hellers" as they are often called pejoratively, due to their belief that Hell is not an eternal place of torment but rather a state of being experienced in this life, are one part of the unknown religious tapestry that is Appalachia.
In the United States, Appalachia is often pigeonholed as an area without intellectual complexity and diversity, where grinding poverty mutes intellectual concerns. However, this could not be further from the truth. Few recognize that Appalachia is the most religiously diverse area of the U.S., and that theological discussion and debates are part of the very fabric of people's daily lives.
By looking at the PBU tradition, we hope to add understanding to one of the United States' most misunderstood areas.
Jonathan Buttry is an Elder at the Holston Valley Church in Rogersville, Tennessee.
To RSVP and obtain the Zoom link, contact us at Info@SwedLib.org.
Time: Wednesday, December 4, 5–6:30 PM Central
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ZOOM: Thursday, December 12; 5–6:30 PM CentralVölspa Saga: The End of the Gods, with Terry Gunnell
Join Terry Gunnell for a discussion of the Völuspa Saga, the speech of the prophetess, and perhaps Ragnarök, the end of the gods. Völuspa is a central poem in Norse mythology, found in the Poetic Edda. It is narrated by a völva, a seeress, who recounts the creation of the world, its eventual destruction, and rebirth. Addressing Odin, she describes the primodial void Ginnungagap, the rise of the gods, and the golden age that follows. The poem also foretells Ragnarok, the apocalyptic battle leading to the world's end and its subsequent renewal.
To RSVP and obtain the Zoom link, contact us at Info@SwedLib.org or use the Contact Us link in the lefthand column.
Terry Gunnell is a distinguished folklorist and Professor Emeritus at the University of Iceland. He is one Iceland's most respected public intellectuals. Renowned for his extensive research in the Old Norse literature, folk beliefs, and performance studies, Gunnell has significantly contributed to the understanding of Nordic folklore and medieval Scandinavian culture. His work often explores the intersections of folklore, drama, and cultural history, with notable publications such as "The Origins of Drama in Scandinavia" and "Masks and Mumming in the Nordic Area." Gunnell's scholarship is characterized by a deep engagement with both historical texts and contemporary folk practices, making him a "rock star" figure in the field of folklore.
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