Dr. Dan Synnestvedt, Associate Professor of Philosophy at the College,
lent a brief philosophical perspective to the subject. And the Rev. Dr. Jonathan
Rose spoke much too briefly about what the Word and the Writings have to
say about the transition to the spiritual world – including the last words of
what the dying are seeing, perhaps with spiritual eyes. It was too brief because
this is what the College and the New Church have most to offer in making
“The Unintelligible Afterlife” intelligible.
You can get a lot more information on Lisa Smart’s website, www.
finalwordsproject.org, and follow along on the joint project with Dr. Hyatt and
Dr. Moody at www.brynathyn.edu/academics/research/RICD.
nobody dies
Donnette R. Alfelt, who has devoted much of her life as a widow to helping
other widows and widowers with comfort from the Lord, has written a
beautiful 24-page booklet: Nobody Dies – Reflections on Living.
Donnette has been a widow since her husband Lennart passed on to the
spiritual world in 1981. She looks forward to the day when she will be reunited
with him, and with their son, Sten. Meanwhile she has led a group for widows
and widowers in Bryn Athyn for many years. She has also written two books,
Comfort and Hope for Widows and Widowers and Journal for Grief and Healing,
both of which are available on Amazon.com.
She wrote the booklet primarily for people new to the Church and
Swedenborg, and says: “It came from conversations I’ve had with many people
outside the Church. I’ve found that these truths we know so well are new and
comforting to others.” She was pleased when she picked up the booklets from
the printer, who said he hoped she didn’t mind that he kept one to give to an
uncle whose wife had just died.
In the Introduction she writes: “For many years I had led a widows/
widowers group based on the teachings of the New Church (Swedenborgian).
In this group we share the difficulties of adjusting to the physical death of our
spouses from the perspective of life eternal. I have found over the years that
hearing other people’s stories made it easier to understand my own.
“Being part of this group has greatly enhanced my perspective and perhaps
this booklet will speak to others who have faced loss. I have expanded my focus
beyond the loss of a spouse, recognizing that all kinds of loving relationships
live after what is called death.
“In these pages I include direct quotes from Swedenborg’s books and have
also added views from other writers who are in harmony with the belief that
we are spiritual beings living only for a time in material bodies.”
Among the wealth of loving, caring insights is this: “My parents, my
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