Paradise: could desire be redirected toward the restoration of paradise promised in the Bible? Along the lines of Hebrews, inviting the reader to imitate Abraham in a quest for a better (that is, “heavenly”) country. (I explore Hebrews further in chapter 23 of this book.) Ascent: instead of increased social status, could our ambition for ascent be channeled into growth in virtue, culminating in what 2 Peter 1:4 boldly asserts: “participation in the divine nature,” no less. (For further exploration of 2 Peter 1, I invite you to turn back to the end of chapter 2 of this book.)
