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There's a Helen Keller documentary coming out in a few months, that focuses on her New Christian beliefs and their role in her remarkable life:
A documentary, "Shining Soul: Helen Keller's Spiritual Life and Legacy" will show the role played by Emanuel Swedenborg's spiritual theology in her life.
For more information, read the short United Press International article, Helen Keller documentary out in Dec..
From the official UNESCO website:
Twenty-nine documentary collections in 24 countries have been inscribed on UNESCO’s Memory of the World Register. These additions bring to 120 the total number of inscriptions on the Register to date. They include, for the first time, collections from Albania, Azerbaijan, Colombia, Cuba, Italy, Lebanon, Namibia, Portugal, Sweden, Ukraine, United Kingdom and United States of America. The Director-General of UNESCO, Koiro Matsuura, approved the inscriptions, which were recommended by the 14-member International Advisory Committee of UNESCO’s Memory of the World Programme.At its most recent meeting in Lijiang (China), from June 13 to 16, the Committee also recommended that the first UNESCO Jijki Memory of the World Prize be awarded to the Czech National Library. The US$30,000 Prize is given biennially to individuals or organizations who have made a significant contribution to the preservation and accessibility of documentary heritage
UNESCO’s Memory of the World Programme, and Register, were established to preserve and raise awareness of documentary heritage, the memory of the world, which reflects the diversity of languages, peoples and cultures. The programme was born of the realization that this memory is fragile and that important documentary material is lost every day. The International Advisory Committee is made up of international experts appointed by the Director-General in their personal capacity, and meets every two years to study nominations by UNESCO Member States.
Among the collections added most recently is the Swedenborg Collection in possession of the Swedish Royal Academy of Sciences:
Sweden – Emmanuel Swedenborg Collection. The collection of approximately 20,000 pages, was given to Sweden’s Royal Academy of Sciences after the death of Emmanuel Swedenborg (1688-1772), a scientist-turned religious writer, who had been a member of the Academy. It is one of the biggest existing collections of manuscripts from the 18th century, and besides one of the very few in modern times that has served as the basis for a new Christian church. Swedenborg's message has found many receivers all over the world, and at least some of them look upon his manuscripts as relics. The collection covers Swedenborg’s years as a scientist and a technician as well as his life after the religious crisis he went through in the 1740s. The collection is still kept at the Royal Academy.
For more on the Swedenborg Collection, see the Center for History of Science at the Royal Academy.
The Associated Press and Ipsos have recently released poll data on the religious opinions of the populations of ten nations.
I'd love to do my own analysis of the data, but am a little strapped for time right now. One highlight:
Q: "How important would you say religion is in your life?"
A: From most to least religious...
United States
Very = 62%
Somewhat = 23
IMPORTANT subtotal = 86
Not too = 8
Not at all = 7
UNIMPORTANT subtotal = 14
Not sure = -
Mexico
Very important = 60
Somewhat = 25
IMPORTANT subtotal = 84
Not too = 11
Not at all = 4
UNIMPORTANT subtotal = 14
Not sure = -
Italy
Very important = 38
Somewhat = 41
IMPORTANT subtotal = 80
Not too = 14
Not at all = 6
UNIMPORTANT subtotal = 19
Not sure = 1
Canada
Very important = 34
Somewhat = 30
IMPORTANT subtotal = 64
Not too = 18
Not at all = 17
UNIMPORTANT subtotal = 35
Not sure = 1
South Korea
Very important = 22
Somewhat = 41
IMPORTANT subtotal = 63
Not too = 30
Not at all = 4
UNIMPORTANT subtotal = 34
Not sure = 3
Australia
Very important = 26
Somewhat = 29
IMPORTANT subtotal = 55
Not too = 20
Not at all = 25
UNIMPORTANT subtotal = 45
Not sure = -
Germany
Very important = 18
Somewhat = 36
IMPORTANT subtotal = 54
Not too = 26
Not at all = 20
UNIMPORTANT subtotal = 46
Not sure = -
Spain
Very important = 19
Somewhat = 27
IMPORTANT subtotal = 46
Not too = 28
Not at all = 24
UNIMPORTANT subtotal = 52
Not sure = 2
United Kingdom
Very important = 18
Somewhat = 25
IMPORTANT subtotal = 43
Not too = 31
Not at all = 25
UNIMPORTANT subtotal = 57
Not sure = 1
France
Very important = 14
Somewhat = 23
IMPORTANT subtotal = 37
Not too = 31
Not at all = 32
UNIMPORTANT subtotal = 63
Not sure = -
There's more fascinating information to be mined here, for anyone who takes the time. The poll, taken in the ten nations from May 13th to May 26th, can be found at the Ipsos News Center and (with less detail but prettier pictures) at the Associated Press site.
Other people's reporting and analysis of the data includes:
"God-Lite Doesn’t Cut It: Americans like a stouter brand"
2005.06.07 0747
Dave Shiflett
National Review
"AP Poll: Religion Key in American Lives"
2005.06.06 1356
Will Lester
Associated Press
"Religious zeal sets U.S. apart from allies"
2005.06.06 1043
Rachel Zoll
Associated Press
Each of these articles has an interesting take on the poll. The poll data itself at the Ipsos site gives pretty detailed breakdown by nation, denomination, education, employment, gender, age, etc.
Anyone concerned with serving or changing the religious attitudes of the world or their community ought to take a little time and dig into this information. Let us know what you come up with.
Have you heard? The 2005 General Assembly is going on right now!
The what? The Assembly. It is basically a big international convention of Swedenborgians, New Christians, New Churchpeople, etc., put on by and for the largest New Christian denomination, the General Church of the New Jerusalem.
The event is really for members of the organization, but if you're interested in Swedenborgianism at all, it's an opportunity to talk to a thousand or two enthusiastic New Christians from all over the globe, gathered all in one place. So if you find yourself in the Philadelphia area between now and Wednesday, you might want to "crash" the festivities. Just let someone know you're curious and would like to talk to someone "in the know". Tell them Mac Frazier sent you.
Especially if you are in the press and want an excellent opportunity to interview an ecclectic group of folks from all over the country, from all over the globe, of a multitude of ethnic, economic, and cultural backgrounds, then Bryn Athyn Pennsylvania is currently a target rich environment for you.
This year's Assembly is an especially interesting one, as we have recently raised a new Executive Bishop of the General Church, and this is his first opportunity to really address the body as a whole.
So if you're curious, come on and visit us at the 2005 Assembly, in Bryn Athyn, Pennnsylvania, from June 5th to June 8th.