Swedenborg, Emanuel

Emanuel Swedenborg, original name (until 1719) Emanuel Swedberg, or Svedberg, (born January 29, 1688, Stockholm, Sweden—died March 29, 1772, London, England), Swedish scientist, Christian mystic, philosopher, and theologian who wrote voluminously in interpreting the Scriptures as the immediate word of God. Soon after his death, devoted followers created Swedenborgian societies dedicated to the study of his thought. These societies formed the nucleus of the Church of the New Jerusalem, or New Church, also called the Swedenborgians.