The atmospheres, which are called aethers and airs, are alike in both the spiritual and natural worlds, only that those in the spiritual world are spiritual, and those in the natural world are natural. The former are spiritual because they exist from the sun, which is the first proceeding of the divine love and divine wisdom of the Lord, and from Him receive in them divine fire which is love, and divine light which is wisdom... -from "Part III" Emanuel Swedenborg, an 18th-century inventor and man of science, experienced a spiritual epiphany at the age of 56, when he began to explore Christianity from a mystic standpoint, a stunning change of heart that has since intrigued and fascinated generations of rationalists and philosophers, from Immanuel Kant to Arthur Conan Doyle to C.G. Jung. Did Swedenborg go mad, or is he a genuine prophet? Divine Love and Wisdom, first published in 1763, remains one of Swedenborg's most popular works, his discussion of the Creation of the universe and humanity; it forms the basis of his metaphysics and is an essential foundation for appreciating his other works. Also available from Cosimo Classics: Swedenborg's The Spiritual Life and The Word of God. Swedish scientist and philosopher EMANUEL SWEDENBORG (1688-1772) made notable contributions in the fields of biology, geology, and astronomy before embarking upon his theological commentary. His religious writings include The Apocalypse Revealed, The True Christian Religion, and The Last Judgment.