From The Doctrines For Spiritual Christianity
There are two things which while man lives in the world appear to be essential, because they are proper to nature, namely, space and time. Hence to live in space and time is to live in the world or in nature. But in the other life these two things are of no consequence. In the world of spirits indeed they do appear to be of some consequence, for the reason that spirits fresh from the body still retain the idea of natural things; yet it is not long before they perceive that there is no space and time there, but state instead; and that in the other life states correspond to spaces and times in nature; to spaces states as to Being [esse], and to times states as to Coming forth [existere]. From this anyone can see what kind of an idea a man may have, while in the world or in nature, respecting the things of the other life and many arcana of faith; namely, that he is not willing to believe them until he apprehends them by means of the things in the world, nay, by sensuous things; for he must needs suppose that if he were to put off the idea of space and time, and still more space and time themselves, he would become absolutely nothing; and thus that he would have nothing left from which he could feel and think, except something confused and incomprehensible; when yet the case is exactly the reverse. Angelic life is of such a nature as to be the wisest and happiest of all. (Arcana Coelestia 2625)
There are two universals through which the Divine is expressed, namely, the infinite and the eternal. The infinite is the Divine as to its being (esse); and the eternal is the Divine as to its existence (existere); each of which must be understood in a supereminent sense, namely, without space and without time. Anyone who thinks about the infinite and the eternal from space and time falls into errors; for space and time belong to nature, and man’s ideas are in these so long as he lives in the natural world, but are not in them when be leaves this world and comes into heaven. Spaces and times indeed appear in heaven exactly similar to those in the world; but they are only appearances of the states with angels, for the states of their affection and consequent thought are presented in appearance before their external senses as spaces and as times, and yet they are not spaces and times like those in the natural world. (Apocalypse Explained 870)
As state and change of state are so often mentioned, and as few know what is meant, it will be well to explain. Time and the succession of time, or space and the extension of space, cannot be predicated of man’s interiors, that is, of his affections and the thoughts therefrom; because these interiors are not in time nor in place although to the senses in the world it appears as if they were but are in interior things which correspond to time and place. These interior things which correspond we have to call states, because there is no other word by which these corresponding things can be expressed. (Arcana Coelestia 4850)
To think spiritually is to think apart from time and space, and to think naturally is to think with time and space; for something of time and space adheres to every idea of natural thought, but not to any spiritual idea. The reason is, because the spiritual world is not in space and time like the natural world, but in the appearance of space and time. (Conjugial Love 328)
How the case is with the doctrinal things of faith among men has been stated above, namely, that there are two principles from which they think, a negative and an affirmative; and that those think from the negative principle, who believe nothing unless they are convinced by what is of reason and memory-knowledge; nay, by what is of sense; but those think from the affirmative who believe that things are true because the Lord has said so in the Word, thus who have faith in the Lord. They who are in the negative in regard to a thing being true because it is in the Word, say at heart that they will believe when they are persuaded by things rational and memory-knowledges. But the fact is that they never believe; and indeed they would not believe if they were to be convinced by the bodily senses of sight, hearing, and touch; for they would always form new reasonings against such things, and would thus end by completely extinguishing all faith, and at the same time turning the light of the rational into darkness, because into falsities…truths should be known and believed; for man is enlightened by truths, but is made blind by falsities. By truths there is opened to the rational an immense and almost unbounded field; but by falsities comparatively none at all, although this does not appear to be so. It is because the angels are in truths that they enjoy wisdom so great; for truth is the very light of heaven. They who have blinded themselves by not being willing to believe anything which they do not apprehend by the senses, until at length they have come to believe nothing, were in old times called “serpents of the tree of knowledge;” for such reasoned much from sensuous things and their fallacies, which easily fall into man’s apprehension and belief, and thereby they seduced many. In the other life such are readily distinguished from other spirits by the fact that in regard to all things of faith they reason whether it be so; and if they are shown a thousand and a thousand times that it is so, still they advance negative doubts against every proof that is offered; and this they would go on doing to all eternity. So blind are they on this account that they have not common sense, that is, they cannot comprehend what good and truth are; and yet every one of them thinks himself wiser than all in the universe; making wisdom to consist in being able to invalidate what is Divine, and deduce it from what is natural. Many who in this world have been esteemed wise, are preeminently of this character; for the more anyone is endowed with talent and knowledge, and is in the negative, the more insane he is, beyond all others; whereas the more anyone is endowed with talent and knowledge, and is in the affirmative, the wiser he is able to be. It is by no means denied man to cultivate the rational faculty by means of memory-knowledges; but that which is forbidden is to harden ourselves against the truths of faith which belong to the Word. (Arcana Coelestia 2588 {2,8,9})
Key Points From The Video
Spiritual Understanding and the Nature of Reality: In the spiritual world, space and time are reflections of the state of will and intellect, not independent entities.
The Naturalist’s Perspective: Naturalistic thinking confines God within the limits of space and time, reducing the Divine to a material concept and leading to fragmented and flawed systems.
Two Modes of Thinking: There are two primary ways to approach understanding – thinking spiritually, as angels do, or thinking naturally, as humans typically do.
The Limits of Compromise: Embracing a spiritual perspective involves discerning truth beyond sensory perceptions and appearances, relying on Divine revelation and spiritual principles rather than trying to combine spiritual and naturalistic elements.
The Misuse of Science: We are called to adopt a mindset that focuses on spiritual realities rather than physical phenomena, recognising the limitations of a purely naturalistic perspective.
Multiple Choice Questions
1. What does Spiritual Christianity encourage us to transcend?
a) Materialistic thinking
b) Cultural biases
c) Technological advancements
d) Scientific inquiry
Answer: a)
2. According to the spiritual perspective, what do space and time represent?
a) Fixed and constant realities
b) Independent entities
c) States of will and intellect
d) Constructs of human imagination
Answer: c)
3. What is a consequence of adopting a purely naturalistic mindset?
a) Gaining a deeper understanding of spirituality
b) Reducing Divine qualities to physical concepts
c) Achieving enlightenment through meditation
d) Understanding the true nature of time and space
Answer: b)
4. Why is combining spiritual and naturalistic elements often unsuccessful?
a) It is too complex for most people to understand
b) It results in fragmented systems that collapse under scrutiny
c) It provides a balanced view of reality
d) It is unsupported by scientific evidence
Answer: b)
5. What does Spiritual Christianity suggest we rely on to understand the true nature of reality?
a) Sensory perceptions and appearances
b) Scientific reasoning
c) Philosophical debates
d) Divine revelation and spiritual principles
Answer: d)
Reflective Questions
1. How do your current beliefs about reality align or differ from the spiritual perspective described in the material?
2. What are some of the challenges you face in moving beyond a naturalistic view of space and time?
3. How does recognising the limitations of sensory perceptions change your understanding of the Divine or the nature of existence?
Experiential Integration
Contemplation on Transcendence: Spend 5-10 minutes contemplating the nature of space and time as spiritual rather than material concepts. Reflect on how your actions, thoughts, and emotions are influenced by the idea of them as mere representations of the state of your will and intellect. Write down insights or questions that arise during this contemplation.