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| − | '''Paradise''' means a place of splendor, [[infinite]] happiness, and no want; it can be used synonymously for [[Heaven]]. The existence of [[God]] implies the existence of paradise for those who earnestly seek it in God. | + | '''Paradise''' means an existence of splendor, [[infinite]] happiness, and lack of want. It can be synonymous for [[Heaven]]. The existence of [[God]] implies paradise for those who earnestly seek God. Popular music and [[poetry]] invoke "paradise" frequently, including [[Shakespeare]]'s ''A Lovers Complaint''. [[Bible]] translations should use this term more, as in replacing the monarchical, archaic "[[kingdom of God]]" phrase with the stronger phrase "[[God]]'s paradise." |
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| − | The word comes from {{bible ref|Luke|23|43}}, where [[Jesus]] promised after-death deliverance to "παράδεισος" (paradeisos) to the so-called [[Good Thief]] who was [[Crucifixion|crucified]] next to him.<ref>Some claim the word originates from a [[Persian]] word that roughly equates to the "heaven" side of the Heaven/Hell duality in [[Zoroastrianism]]. When the ancient Tribe of the Upper Kingdom was freed from [[Babylonian Exile]], they adopted many cultural traits and parts of the language from the Zoroastrians, including the word "paradise". The English usage of paradise for Heaven comes through [[French]], which takes its form "paradis" from the [[Latin]]. Latin borrowed from the [[Greek]], which took the word more directly from the Persian word.</ref> | + | The word comes from {{bible ref|Luke|23|43}}, where [[Jesus]] promised after-death deliverance to "παράδεισος" (paradeisos) to the so-called [[Good Thief]] who was [[Crucifixion|crucified]] next to him.<ref>Some claim the word originates from a [[Persian]] word that roughly equates to the "heaven" side of the Heaven/Hell duality in [[Zoroastrianism]]. When the ancient Tribe of the Upper Kingdom was freed from [[Babylonian Exile]], they adopted many cultural traits and parts of the language from the Zoroastrians, including the word "paradise". The English usage of paradise for Heaven comes through [[French]], which takes its form "paradis" from the [[Latin]]. Latin borrowed from the [[Greek]], which took the word more directly from the Persian word.</ref> The term for paradise is also mentioned at {{bibleref|2Corinthians|12|3}} and {{bibleref|Revelation|2|7}}, and nowhere in the [[Old Testament]]. [[The Message]] translation uses the word two more times than most other English translations do. |
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| | The meaning of paradise varies from the self-centered concept associated with [[Islam]] (especially as promoted by Muslim terrorist groups) to the [[Christian]] ideal of a mutual sharing of love with God and other saved believers. | | The meaning of paradise varies from the self-centered concept associated with [[Islam]] (especially as promoted by Muslim terrorist groups) to the [[Christian]] ideal of a mutual sharing of love with God and other saved believers. |
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| | [[Fyodor Dostoevsky]]: | | [[Fyodor Dostoevsky]]: |
| | {{cquote|Life is paradise, and we are all in paradise, but we refuse to see it.<ref>https://www.azquotes.com/author/4085-Fyodor_Dostoevsky</ref>}} | | {{cquote|Life is paradise, and we are all in paradise, but we refuse to see it.<ref>https://www.azquotes.com/author/4085-Fyodor_Dostoevsky</ref>}} |
| | + | ==Paradise in literature== |
| | + | From [[John Milton]] to [[F. Scott Fitzgerald]], much of great literature is about paradise.<ref>https://openlibrary.org/search?subject=Paradise%20in%20literature</ref> |
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| | + | [[Paradise Lost]], by Milton in 1667, is an epic poem about paradise that contains 10,500 lines filling 12 books. One interpretation of this poem is that [[Adam]] chooses to sin to live with [[Eve]] rather than to be good and live without her. |
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| | + | ==Etymology== |
| | + | The etymology of "paradise" is quite old, as explained by the Etymology dictionary:<ref>https://etymology.en-academic.com/26595/paradise</ref> |
| | + | {{cquote|The Greek word, originally used for an orchard or hunting park in Persia, was used in Septuagint to mean "Garden of Eden," and in New Testament translations of Luke xxiii:43 to mean "heaven" (a sense attested in English from c.1200). Meaning "place like or compared to Paradise" is from c.1300.}} |
| | ==See also== | | ==See also== |
| | *[[Christianity]] | | *[[Christianity]] |