new church life: march / april 2014
Swedenborg at the 1996 Conference of the Society for Buddhist Christian Studies
held at DePaul University in Chicago, Illinois. There was a good discussion
about using Swedenborg as a bridge between Christian and Buddhist thought.
The Dalai Lama was at the conference to give the keynote address. Seeing and
hearing his talk was “an important and powerful experience.” (“Unfortunately,”
Barry adds, “he did not come to our presentation. I guess the world is not ready
yet for a New Church-Buddhist Dalai Lama.”)
Barry and Anita have four children, Erik, Kendra, Eden and Blake – all
involved in New Church education. He still loves sports – watching, playing and
coaching. And he loves hiking and bird watching with his family.
Some of his favorite passages from the Sacred Scriptures and the Heavenly
Doctrines “are those that help me see the big picture and show how the Lord is
leading all types of people. I think it is important to see what the Lord is giving
to others so we can better see what the Lord has given us through the teachings
of the New Church, and how we can use them to help us all fit together in the
Lord.”
Some of his favorites are:
“He who is not against us is on our side.” (Luke 9:50)
“People who are not Christian but accept one God and live by some type of
kindness toward other people according to their religion share a common bond
with Christians. No one who believes in God and lives a good life is condemned.
So you can see that the Lord’s religion is everywhere in the whole world.” (New
Jerusalem and its Heavenly Doctrine 244)
Barry feels that another particularly interesting one in terms of comparative
religions is:
“When a religion has been implanted in a nation, the Lord leads that nation
according to the precepts and dogmas of its own religion.” (Divine Providence
254)
“It is fascinating to me to learn what is out there in others faiths,” he notes,
“and to see more specifically how the Lord leads all people, not just Christians,
to heaven.”
Barry says he “especially enjoys the Academy’s focus on reaching out to
potential students and families who might be interested in being part of the ANC
educational experience. I have also enjoyed ANC’s developing partnership with
NewChurch LIVE and the Rev. Chuck Blair, and with our long-time partner –
the Bryn Athyn Church – in working to bring our new students and families
into our schools, and into the greater life of the New Church.
“We know we have so much to offer people through ANC and all the
various facets of the Bryn Athyn community, and we are greatly strengthened
by what they add to our community. This is a great place to be right now. The
future is bright if we keep moving forward.”
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