The Origin of Man

By Alfred Acton, M.A., D.Th

[Reprinted from THE NEW PHILOSOPHY, Vol. XXIV, Nos. 2-4, April—July—October, 1921]

The subject of the creation of man, like the study of the human soul, requires of one who would penetrate its mysteries truly rational mind, a knowledge of all the sciences, and a philosophy of universals that can be derived only from such knowledge. Swedenborg undoubtedly realized this, for he did not propound, or even outline, his doctrine concerning the origin of man until that intermediate period which witnessed the close of his scientific and philosophic studies and the commencement of his work as revelator. The doctrine is set forth in the WORSHIP AND LOVE OF GOD, and where it is presented as the direct fruition and culmination of all those studies which ad been embodied in the preceding chemical, cosmological, anatomical, physiological and psychological works. It is with the object of setting this doctrine forth in this light, and especially of contrasting it with the prevailing theories as to the origin of man, that this paper is written.

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There are many theories as to man's creation, but they are all embraced in the four following heads, which also set forth the order in which we shall discuss the subject. These heads are:

1. The FIAT THEORY; that man was created by God’s direct command, according to the ordinary understanding of the story in Genesis.

2. The EVOLUTIONARY THEORY; that man has been gradually evolved from preceding forms of animal life by a series of natural variations, developments and selections.

3. The HOMININE ANIMAL THEORY; that man originated from seed directly created by God in the ovum of a brute animal.

4. Swedenborg's doctrine, which may be called the MOTHER NATURE THEORY; that man came into being by the creation of human seed in ova provided by the vegetable kingdom.