Paradise

In religion and folklore, paradise is a place of everlasting happiness, delight, and bliss. It is often pictured with peaceful, beautiful natural scenes and is a contrast to the troubles and difficulties of everyday human life. In paradise, there is only peace, prosperity, and happiness. It is a place of contentment and luxury where everyone feels joyful and fulfilled.

The word 'paradise' comes from old translations of the Bible. It started with the Latin word paradisus, which was used in the Vulgate translation of the book of Genesis. This Latin word came from the Greek word παράδεισος (paradeisos), meaning 'garden' or 'orchard'. The idea of paradise appears in many religions and cultures. In Judaism, Christianity, and Islam, heaven is seen as a paradise. In Hinduism and Buddhism, paradise is also linked with heaven, where people who live good lives may go.

Older beliefs also have ideas of paradise. In ancient Egypt, the place for the dead after judgment was called Aaru, a wonderful place with plenty of food and fun activities. The Celts imagined a Fortunate Isle called Mag Mell. The ancient Greeks believed in the Elysian fields, a lovely land where good and brave people could spend eternity. The concept of paradise has inspired many artists and writers, especially before the Enlightenment era. One famous example is John Milton’s book Paradise Lost.

Etymology and concept history

The word "paradise" came into English from the French, which got it from the Latin. Latin borrowed it from Greek, where it was parádeisos. This Greek word came from an old Iranian word meaning "walled enclosure." Over time, this idea of a special, protected space spread to many languages and cultures.

By around the 6th to 5th century BCE, this word moved into Assyrian and then into the big gardens of the early Persian Empire. It was later used in Greek writings to describe places for animals, in Aramaic for royal parks, and in Hebrew for beautiful gardens or orchards. This idea of a special garden or place of beauty became linked to peaceful and happy places in many stories and beliefs.

Biblical

Hebrew Bible

The Hebrew word pardes comes from an old Persian word meaning "park" or "garden". It is used in the Song of Songs, Ecclesiastes, and Nehemiah to describe beautiful royal parks.

Later, Jewish thinkers began to connect the idea of paradise with the Garden of Eden and hopes of returning to a peaceful, beautiful place like Eden.

New Testament

The Greek word παράδεισος appears three times in the New Testament:

• In Luke 23:43 – when Jesus spoke to someone while on the cross.
• In 2 Cor. 12:4 – where Paul talks about a wonderful place above Earth.
• In Rev. 2:7 – referring to a special tree of life mentioned in the Bible.

Judaism

See also: Paradise in Judaism

In Jewish beliefs, there is a special place called the "Garden of Righteousness," known as Gan Eden. This beautiful garden has existed since the world began and will appear in its full glory at the end of time. Good people who live there will see wonderful sights, such as heavenly beings carrying God's throne. They will walk with God, who will lead them in a joyful dance. These good people, both Jewish and non-Jewish, will wear shining clothes and live forever. They will enjoy the fruits of the tree of life near God and His chosen ones. This idea of Gan Eden is different from places like gehinnom or sheol, which are thought of as places where bad people go after they die.

In modern Jewish beliefs, people think that history will finally finish, and everyone will return to the Garden of Eden. Jewish teachers talk about two kinds of gardens called Eden. One is a peaceful, green place full of plants and trees, called the "lower Gan Eden." The other is a heavenly home for good people who live forever, called the "higher Gan Eden." Jewish leaders explain that Adam lived only in the Gan, but no one has ever seen Eden. The word "Pardes" is used sometimes, especially in stories about deep understanding of religious teachings. The Zohar, a Jewish book, gives this word a special meaning, linking it to different ways of understanding the Torah, the Jewish holy book.

Christianity

See also: World to Come, Kingship and kingdom of God, and Hades in Christianity

In the second century, a Christian teacher named Irenaeus talked about paradise differently from heaven. He thought only some people would go to heaven, while others would live in paradise. Another teacher, Origen, saw paradise as a place where good souls learn and grow before moving closer to heaven.

Early Christians sometimes thought of a place called Abraham's bosom as paradise, where good people rested until they would come back to life. In one story from the Bible, Jesus spoke to a person being crucified with him, promising, "Today you will be with me in paradise." Artists sometimes show paradise with a tree of life and happy souls dancing.

Jehovah's Witnesses

See also: Jehovah's Witnesses and salvation

Jehovah's Witnesses believe God wanted the world to be a beautiful home for everyone. But Adam and Eve made a mistake and were sent away from this special garden. They teach that after a big battle called Armageddon, good people will live forever in a peaceful world without any pain or sadness. Even people who had passed away will come back to life and live in this wonderful place.

Mormonism

In the beliefs of Latter Day Saints, paradise is a place where spirits stay after they die but before they come back to life. Good people rest there, while others wait to learn more about Jesus's teachings. After everyone comes back to life, they will all go to a place that matches how they lived.

Islam

Main article: Jannah

In the Quran, Heaven is called Jannah, meaning "garden." The highest level is called Firdaus, or Paradise. This is the most joyful place after death for those who believe in Allah, angels, his revealed books, his prophets and messengers, the Day of Judgement, and follow God's will. In Islam, Heaven also means the skies and the whole universe. The beauty and gifts of Heaven are so great that they are hard for us to imagine.

There are eight special places in Jannah, each with its own name and place. Jannah al-Mawa is the lowest, Jannah al-Adn is in the middle, and Jannah al-Firdaus is the highest. A tradition from the Prophet says that when asking Allah for something, ask for Al-Firdaus because it is the center of Paradise and the highest place, and all the rivers of Paradise flow from it.

The Qur'an also warns that not everyone will enter Jannah easily. Only those who face hard times and stay strong in their faith will reach it. The Qur'an describes Paradise with beautiful springs, nice clothes, soft carpets, and lovely fruits, promising peace and forgiveness to those who are faithful.

Gnosticism

On the Origin of the World, a text from the Nag Hammadi library held in ancient Gnosticism, talks about Paradise. It says Paradise is far away from the Sun and Moon, in a beautiful place on Earth to the east, surrounded by stones. In Paradise, there is a special Tree of Life in the north. This tree will help the souls of good people after they leave their bodies. Next to it is the Tree of Knowledge, which has great power from God.