The Quest For Paradise: Visions of Heaven and Eternity in the World's Myths and Religions

by John Ashton (Co-author), Tom Whyte (Co-author)

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.

160 pages, Hardcover

First published November 1, 2001

About the author

Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.

John Ashton, M.A., D.Litt. (1931-2016) was one of the foremost biblical scholars of his generation. He was a Fellow of Wolfson College and former lecturer in theology at Oxford University. He also taught in the Universities of London, St. Andrews, and Edinburgh. He authored numerous books and essays on religion and theology, writing extensively on the Gospel of John.

Reviews

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Glossy and gorgeous inside, this book is a visual paradise. The text is informative and the authors delve deeply enough into each topic to make the subject matter clear but not congested. An excellent and truly beautiful introduction to the various paradises imagined by the world's cultures and religions, past and present.