The Quest for Paradise

by Ashton, John

• ISBN13: 9780062517357
• ISBN10: 006251735X
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2001-10-12
• Publisher: HarperCollins Publications

Summary

In every culture, in every epoch, human beings have yearned for heaven -- the dwelling place of the gods, mirror of our hopes and desires. Now, in The Quest for Paradise, renowned scholar John Ashton and his colleague Tom Whyte offer an intriguing look at how we have thought of and envisioned heaven and the afterlife, from the ancient cultures of Egypt, Greece, and Rome, to the Christians, Jews, Buddhists, Hindus, and Muslims, as well as the indigenous peoples of the Americas, Australia, and Africa. Lavishly illustrated with extensive depictions of heaven in art from around the world, and drawing on scriptures, myths, epics, poems, novels, philosophy, and other writings from many cultures, The Quest for Paradise illuminates the vast spectrum of beliefs about the world beyond. The book also explores the concept of utopia, or paradise on earth, from the perspective of such diverse thinkers as H.G. Wells, D.H. Lawrence, Margaret Mead, and Aldous Huxley. Ashton and Whyte present a fascinating array of ancient and modern views of heaven. Included are extraordinary inhabitants and geographical features, representing scenes from works such as The Odyssey, the Bible, the Quran, and the Sukhavativyuha Sutras, and from the works of writers such as Hesiod, Ovid, Virgil, Dante, Milton, and Yeats, highlighting both the diversity and the universality of reflection on heaven.

Author Biography

John Ashton D.Litt., Fellow of Wolfson College and former lecturer in theology at Oxford University, is one of the foremost biblical scholars of his generation. He has also taught in the universities of London, St. Andrews, and Edinburgh and is the author of numerous books on religion and theology Tom Whyte, a former BBC journalist, studied theology and philosophy at Oxford and received his master's degree in comparative religion at London's world-renowned School of Oriental and African Studies

Table of Contents

Introduction	6	(8)
IMMORAL LONGINGS
The Living Dead
The Dawn of Human History	14	(140)
Ancient Egypt	16	(6)
The Aztecs	22	(2)
The Celtic Paradise	24	(4)
Valhalla	28	(4)
Classical Myth
Greek Paradise	32	(14)
Temporary Stopovers
Buddhist Paradise	46	(6)
Hinduism	52	(4)
THE EDEN STORY
Adam and eve
The Garden Eden	56	(18)
Jewish Paradise
Paradise Lost	74	(16)
Angels of Islam
The Gardens of Delight	90	(14)
Above and Below
The Early Church	104	(14)
Down to Earth
Medieval Gardens	118	(8)
OTHER WORLDS
Utopias
Utopian Paradise	126	(14)
Close to Nature
Australian' Aborgines	140	(2)
African Religious	142	(4)
Rastafarian Paradise	146	(2)
The American Eden	148	(4)
Earth the Global Garden	152	(2)
Glossary	154	(3)
Index	157	(3)
Bibliography and Credits	160