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The Christmas season is upon us and we find ourselves surrounded by symbols of light, love, and joy. Colored and twinkling lights illuminate our homes, hang from our roofs, and adorn our trees. And, in that light, we gather with our communities and our loved ones. While this is, in many ways, the...

For many of us, just being in nature is a spiritual experience, regardless of the landscape we feel called to. We can be standing in a forest, a blanket of pine needles beneath our feet; gazing at the reflection of a mountain peak in a lake; listening to the sound of waves crashing or standing in...

Abraham Lincoln is quoted as saying, “When I do good, I feel good. When I do bad, I feel bad. That's my religion.” And, for many, our religion and spirituality are based on the foundation of us wanting to be good people and do good deeds. It makes sense then that one of the most repeated words in...

One of the goals of the NewChurch Live blog is to provide visitors with information about Swedenborgian theology to build understanding and prompt conversation. This is the first in a series called “The Nature of…” where we’ll explore different Swedenborgian concepts.

Every person is created with a purpose and discovering that purpose is, for many, a significant aspect of life. It's not simply about finding a job you enjoy; it's about recognizing how your work serves a larger purpose and contributes to the world around you. And, in many cases, that work may not...

What happens after we die? The question of life after death is one that many of us ask as we start to explore our spiritual lives. It’s a question that, along with the meaning of life, we often turn to religion to answer. It was also one of the primary catalysts for Swedenborg’s own exploration of...

We’re fond of simplifying the act of forgiveness. Forgive and forget, we say. But is it really that simple? What is it to forgive? And does the act of forgiveness actually mean we can simply forget the transgression, whether our own or one against us?The hard truth is, it takes active work to truly...

Summer can be an amazing time, but it can also be pretty hectic. Kids may be home from school and needing more time and attention, friends are visiting, vacations are being planned and taken, and there’s yard work, barbecues, and holidays. With all of that comes more traffic in the house and more...

As we head towards the 4th of July, our thoughts inevitably turn to freedom and not only what it means for us, but how we achieve or celebrate it.For many people, religion and freedom are seen as oppositional with religion often seen as restricting freedom. But the relationship between the two...

While going into the light became a catchphrase from the 1982 movie Poltergeist, the reality is that the light, the tunnel, and the concept of moving forward isn’t about horror, but love. From individuals who have had near death experiences, we have learned quite a bit about the feelings associated...

A breeze through the window. The smell of lemon, pine, lavender, or fresh linen. A freshly mulched garden bed. Crystal clear windows. Sun reflecting off a freshly cleaned floor. These are all signs of spring cleaning. For many of us, they likely elicited a very specific feeling. Whether it’s the...

Even in our modern world, we have a lot of questions about the role of religion. As Christians, we often find ourselves questioning how our faith shapes us, our world, and the interactions between the two. It’s no secret that many of us are struggling with this. The modern world is, in many ways,...

Have you been going through the motions of spirituality? For many of us, spirituality and religion are deeply intertwined, but spirituality is much harder to define and build, especially when it comes to connection. Building spiritual connection and growing closer to God doesn’t have to be a...

Hallmark would have us believe that love is only a feeling, something we express and experience. Swedenborgian theology, however, suggests that love is, instead, a state of being, a way to exist, energetically. The purest manifestation of that, and the best way to understand it, is through the core...