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Swedenborg Foundation Publishers Seeks Scholars for The New Century Edition (NCE) of the Works of Emanuel Swedenborg In 2000, its 150th year of publishing, the Swedenborg Foundation undertook the largest publishing project of its history: The New Century Edition of the Works of Emanuel Swedenborg (NCE), a completely new, contemporary translation with scholarly introductions and annotations. The first phase of the project covers the theological works that Swedenborg himself saw through publication and is projected to comprise 25 volumes. Spearheaded by series editor Dr. Jonathan Rose and managing editor Dr. Stuart Shotwell, publication began in 2000 and will continue through 2010. The NCE is a deluxe edition-high-quality, hardbound volumes in a large (7-inch by 10-inch) trim size. Design features include a classic typeface in two colors and Swedenborg's original ornaments. The first volumes to appear are George Dole's translations of Heaven and Hell, Divine Love and Wisdom, and Divine Providence. The NCE team is actively seeking qualified scholars, especially from, but not limited to, the disciplines of history of religion and/or philosophy, to write prefaces and annotations to individual volumes of Swedenborg's works. Those with backgrounds in the history of science and anatomy will be equally welcome. Scholars who contract to write prefaces and annotations will be remunerated for their efforts. Each volume of the NCE will require the following:
The editorial board has issued the following policy statement about contributions to the project. In welcoming contributions from scholars of all ethnic, racial, and religious backgrounds, the New Century Edition strives to be true to the ecumenical vision of Emanuel Swedenborg. Swedenborg wrote that "although there are many variations and differences in matters of religious teaching-many directions in which it develops-nevertheless all these variations and differences form a single religious culture if people acknowledge thoughtfulness toward others to be the essence of such a culture; or, to put it differently, if they look upon living as the purpose behind religious teaching-that is, when they ask about how a given member of the religious whole lives, rather than about what he or she happens to think." (Secrets of Heaven 3241). In the same way, the editorial board asks of its contributors only that their intent be to assist others by sharing their knowledge of Swedenborg. We do not require of them that they have a particular view of Swedenborg or ascribe to any other particular belief, only that they treat the viewpoints and beliefs of others with thoughtfulness. We believe, as did Swedenborg, that the human family thrives on the different views inherent in it. In illustrating the value of variety in human worship, Swedenborg noted that "every perfect whole arises from a variety of elements, for a whole that is not composed of a variety of elements is not really anything. . . . However, when a whole does arise from a variety of elements, and the elements are in perfected form in which each associates with the next in the series like a sympathetic friend, then it has a perfect quality" (Heaven and Hell 56). Thus we view all our contributors as friends working in sympathy with us, no matter what their background. The editorial board invites all scholars who wish to contribute to the New Century Edition project to contact one of the following. Dr. Jonathan S. Rose, Series Editor Dr. Stuart Shotwell, Managing Editor |