Paradise
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2008-07-16T00:11:45Z
Barticus88
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[[Persian]]→[[Persian language]] in the holy name of [[WP:DPL|WikiProject Disambiguation]] using [[WP:POP|Popups]]
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[[Image:Jan Bruegel d. Ä. 003.jpg|thumb|300px|right|Paradise by [[Jan Bruegel]].]]
'''Paradise''' ([[Persian language|Persian]]: پردیس, ''Pardìs'') is a Persian word that is generally identified with the [[Garden of Eden]] or with [[Heaven]]. Originally meaning a walled garden or royal hunting grounds, the term entered [[Jewish]] (and eventually [[Christian]]) beliefs as a [[Greek (language)|Greek]] translation for the Garden of Eden in the [[Septuagint]]. It is sometimes also identified with the [[bosom of Abraham]], the abode of the righteous dead awaiting [[Judgment Day]]. In the [[Gospel of Luke]], [[Jesus]] tells a penitent criminal crucified alongside him that they will be together in paradise that day.
==Etymology==
[[Image:Glimpse_of_Paradise.jpg|left|thumb|"A Glimpse of Paradise", [[Ceramic art]] work by [[Armenians|Armenian]] artist [[Marie Balian]], [[Jerusalem]]]]
The word "paradise" entered English from the [[French language|French]] "paradis", inherited from the [[Latin language|Latin]] "paradisus", which came from [[Greek language|Greek]] ''παραδεισος'' (royal garden).<ref>New Oxford American dictionary</ref> The Greek word came from the Persian [[Avestan]] word "''pairidaêza-''" (an Eastern Old Iranian language) = "walled enclosure",<ref>New Oxford American dictionary</ref> which is a compound of ''pairi-'' (= "around") (a cognate of Greek ''{{polytonic|περί}}'' ''peri-'') and ''-diz'' (= "to create, make"), a cognate of English "[[dough]]".
An associated word is the [[Sanskrit]] word ''paradēsha'' = "foreign country" or "supreme country" from Sanskrit ''para'' = "beyond" (Greek περα ''perā'') and ''dēsha'' = "land, country".
The word also entered [[Semitic languages]]: [[Akkadian language|Akkadian]] ''pardesu'', [[Arabic language|Arabic]] ''firdaws'' (فردوس), [[Aramaic language|Aramaic]] ''pardaysa'' (ܦܪܕܝܣܐ), and [[Hebrew language|Hebrew]] ''[[Pardes (legend)|pardes]]''.
==Paradise gardens==
Sources as early as [[Xenophon]] in his [[Anabasis]] report the famed [[Persian garden|Persian "paradise" garden]].
In [[Achaemenid dynasty|Achaemenid Persia]], possibly earlier (in Mesopotamia?), the term was not just applied to 'landscaped' gardens but especially to royal hunting grounds, the earliest form of wildlife reserve, destined for [[hunting]] as a sport; in various cultures in contact with nature, paradise is portrayed as eternal hunting ground, not just in relatively primitive cultures (e.g. native American) but also in more advanced, essentially agricultural civilisations, e.g. the Egyptian [[Reed fields]] and the Greek [[Elysium|Elysian fields]].
==Religious use==
===Christianity===
The form of the word that is now understood as "heaven or any environment that is ultimately pleasurable" is derived from the Greek ''{{polytonic|παράδεισος}}'' ''paradeisos'' Persian loanword used in the [[Septuagint]] (LXX) Bible translation to mean the [[Garden of Eden]]. In the New Testament, ''paradise'' meant a paradise restored on Earth (Matthew chapter 5, verse 5 - ''the meek shall inherit the earth''), similar to what the Garden of Eden was meant to be. However, certain sects actually attempted to recreate the garden of Eden, e.g. the nudist [[Adamites]]. On the cross, Jesus told [[Dismas]] that he would be with him in ''paradeisos'' (Luke 23:43). There are two other references to Paradise in NT: 2 Cor. 12:4 (there are things beyond human expression), and Rev. 2:7 (there is a [[Tree of life#Hebraic monotheism|tree of life]]).
In the 2nd century AD, [[Irenaeus]] distinguished paradise from heaven. In ''[[On the Detection and Overthrow of the So-Called Gnosis|Against Heresies]]'', he wrote that only those deemed worthy would inherit a home in heaven, while others would enjoy paradise, and the rest live in the restored Jerusalem. [[Origen]] likewise distinguished paradise from heaven, describing paradise as the earthly "school" for souls of the righteous dead, preparing them for their ascent through the celestial spheres to heaven.<ref>[http://www.newadvent.org/fathers/04122.htm Church fathers: De Principiis (Book II) Origen]</ref>
[[Fra Angelico]]'s ''Last Judgement'' painting shows Paradise on its left side. There is a tree of life (and another tree) and a [[circle dance]] of liberated [[soul]]s. In the middle is a hole. In Muslim art it similarly indicates the presence of the Prophet or divine beings. It visually says, 'Those here cannot be depicted.'
===Islam===
{{main|Jannah}}
In the [[Quran|Qur'an]], Paradise is denoted as "Firdous", the etymologically equivalent word derived from the original Avistan counterpart, and used instead of Heaven to describe the ultimate pleasurable place after death, accessible by those who pray, donate to charity and read the Qur’an. Heaven in Islam is used to describe the [[Universe]]. It is also used in the Qur'an to describe skies in the literal sense, i.e., above earth.
===Jehovah's Witnesses===
[[Jehovah's Witnesses]] believe that wicked people will be destroyed at [[Armageddon]] and that the righteous (those faithful and obedient to Jehovah) will live eternally in an earthly Paradise. (Psalms 37:9, 10, 29; Prov. 2:21, 22). Joining the survivors will be resurrected righteous and unrighteous people who died prior to Armageddon (John 5:28, 29; Acts 24:15). The latter are brought back because they paid for their sins by their death, and/or also because they lacked opportunity to learn of Jehovah's requirements prior to dying (Rom. 6:23). These will be judged on the basis of their post-resurrection obedience to instructions revealed in new "scrolls" (Rev. 20:12). This provision does not apply to those that Jehovah deems to have sinned against his holy spirit (Matt. 12:31, Luke 12:5). <ref>''What Does the Bible Really Teach?'' (Watchtower Bible & Tract Society, 2005), Chapter 7</ref><ref>''Insight on the Scriptures'' (Watchtower Bible & Tract Society, 1988), 783-92</ref>
===Mormonism===
In [[Latter Day Saint]] theology, paradise usually refers to the [[Spirit world %28Latter_Day_Saints%29| spirit world]]. That is, the place where spirits dwell following death and awaiting the resurrection. In that context, "paradise" is the state of the righteous after death. In contrast, the wicked and those who have not yet learned the gospel of Jesus Christ await the resurrection in [[spirit prison]]. After the universal resurrection, all persons will be assigned to a particular [[degrees of glory|kingdom or degree of glory]]. This may also be termed "paradise".
==References==
{{reflist}}
==See also==
*[[Elysium]]
*[[Enlightenment (concept)|Enlightenment]]
*[[Goloka]]
*[[Heaven]]
*[[Third Heaven]]
*[[Jannah]] Muslim concept of paradise
*[[Nature]]
*[[Nirvana]]
*[[Paradise garden]]
*[[Paradise Lost]] epic poem by [[John Milton]]
*[[Spirit World]] (Mormonism)
*[[Utopia]]
*[[Willow Grove Park#Willow Grove Park, named Paradise|Willow Grove Park, named Paradise]]
*[[72 Virgins]]
*[[Paradise, Newfoundland and Labrador]]
*[[Fiddler's Green]]
*[[Valhalla]]
==External links ==
* [http://www.balashon.com/2007/12/pardes-and-paradise.html Etymology of "paradise"]
* [http://www.wga.hu/frames-e.html?/html/a/angelico/03/index.html Fra Angelico's Last Judgement]
* [http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?search=paradise&searchmode=none Etymology OnLine]
* [http://kashmirparadise.blogspot.com/ Kashmir paradise]
* [http://vKashmir.com/ Kashmir The Paradise on earth]
* [http://www.paradisephilippines.morofocus.com/ Home - Paradise Philippines]
* [http://uk.geocities.com/frege@btinternet.com/afterlife/afterlife.htm Aquinas on Paradise (parallel Latin English text)]
{{Heaven}}
[[Category:Christian eschatology]]
[[Category:Christian cosmology]]
[[Category:Life after death]]
[[Category:Latter Day Saint concepts of the afterlife]]
[[Category:Concepts of Heaven]]
[[ar:جنة]]
[[de:Himmel (religiös)]]
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[[ro:Rai]]
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