Question to Consider:
This paragraph can give us pause next time we are feeling indignant about having our "freedom" restricted. Does this paragraph leave you feeling somewhat unsure about whether you know what is genuinely good and evil?
Av Emanuel Swedenborg
Steg _9713: In a state of evil, goodness seems like slavery and evil like freedom
Divine Love and Wisdom #271
Se bibliografiska uppgifterAv Emanuel Swedenborg
271. Evils and falsities stand in complete opposition to goods and truths, because evils and falsities are diabolical and hellish, while goods and truths are Divine and heavenly. Everyone on hearing it acknowledges that evil and good are opposites, and likewise the falsity accompanying evil and the truth accompanying good. But because people who are caught up in evil have no other sensation and so no other perception than that evil is good - for evil delights their senses, especially the senses of sight and hearing, and consequently delights their thoughts and so perceptions as well - therefore, even though they acknowledge that evil and good are opposites, still when they are caught up in evil, they are moved by the delight of it to say that evil is good, and good evil.
Take for example the following. A person who abuses his freedom to think and do evil calls that freedom, and calls its opposite, which is to think and do good that is in itself good, enslavement, when in fact to do the latter is to be truly free, while to do the former is to be enslaved.
[2] One who loves adulterous affairs calls the commission of adultery freedom, and to be prohibited from committing adultery he calls enslavement, for he finds delight in lasciviousness, and a lack of delight in chastity. One who is caught up in a love of ruling from a love of self feels in that love his life's delight, surpassing any other kinds of delight. Consequently he calls everything connected with that love good, and declares evil everything that opposes it, when in fact the converse is the case.
It is the same with every other evil. Consequently, even though everyone acknowledges that evil and good are opposites, still people who are caught up in evils harbor a contrary idea of that opposition, and a right idea is held only by people who are prompted by goods.
No one can see good when he is caught up in evil, but a person prompted by good can see evil. Evil lies below as though in a cave. Good sits above as though on a mountain.
