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

"The Egyptian afterlife, like many Egyptian conceptions, was characterized by a contrasting duality: a dark and mysterious netherworld presided over by Osiris, Lord of Resurrection, and an astral dominance, in which sun god Re was supreme." Dr. Ogden Goelet, NYU Origins and Eternity: Almost all religions pose the question; "From where did we come, and where are we having our ultimate destination?" with Different answers to these eternal questions. In Visions of Heaven and Eternity in the World's Myths and Religions, John Ashton, a Biblical scholar, and Tom Whyte, a comparative religion expert, take the reader of "The Quest for Paradise:" in a visual utopian journey that explores the afterlife of the Ancient Egyptians and all who followed the mystical quest for eternity since ancient times, from all around the globe. Visions of Heaven: Belief systems of Buddhists, Christians, Hindus, Jews, and Muslims, are probed while ancient cultures of Egypt, Greece, Rome are explored to compare the similarities and contrast the differences on the afterlife myth and religious folklore. Greek to Celtic Paradise are linked to the Garden of Delights. The comparative treatment of Adam, Eve and the Tree of Life, is particularly intriguing to those who are exposed only to the Genesis story, while the Heliopolitan Cosmology stands clearly as the origin of the creation drama. Exploring the common historical roots and discovering the mythical fables of Alexander the Great, Gilgamesh, to the ride on Buraq are fascinating. Beautifully embedded with spectacular visual arts in drawings and photos, the book pages look real for the young and challenging for all readers.

"Paradise has inspired the human imagination for millennia, and the full-color artistic renditions of life in the hereafter enhance the ambitious narrative. While readers will discover many intriguing similarities, there is also a satisfying diversity of stories and beliefs." Gail Hudson Afterlife Paradise: How did traditions develop on various Paradise doctrines and beliefs, sometimes similar and in many ways different? The answer you could enjoy the richly illustrated book that explores these questions about various beliefs in the "afterlife," and its expected location: Paradise, and the journey in between. Every paradise seems to have a sort of entry requirements, but they are different in nature. While some are limited to brave warriors, other paradises are restricted to the righteous and pious adherents to religious virtues. Although the monotheist conception of paradise, involves a blissful garden with different dwellings, where one might relax peacefully some other human cultures would not figure it that way. The Historical Quest: Based on Oriental beliefs, of which I acquired some knowledge it is clear that the authors presentation of Ancient Egyptian beliefs in the after life, their variety, and their development is far from superficial. Paradise lost and regained narrates the Judeo- Christian, history of Salvation from Genesis to John's Revelation. The Islamic concepts of Eden, Hell and Satan is well rounded in less than ten pages. The early Church, of Apostles and desert Fathers is extended into middle ages. The book is concluded with the global Garden: Earth. The Quest in Word & Color: John Ashton, a Religions expert and Gardens authority, with Tom Whyte, a comparative religions scholar inform you in word and picture on a multitude of religions and mythical concepts in a legible and entertaing rich tour, integrating information about particular religious traditions with myths and practices from all around the world and through the ages. The pictorial Quest flows throughout the book without any boundaries, while the subject is developed in three parts: "Immortal Longings," from the dawn of human history covering with Ancient Egypt other ancient cultures, which emphasized the concept of paradise in their search for eternal happiness; "The Eden Story," focuses on the traditional Semitic visions of paradise emerging from Judaism: Christianity and Islam. Thirdly, "Other Worlds," explores ideas; from Utopia to primitive and ultimate traditions of New Age. Fables, lesser circulating stories and myths, are blended with major faiths expositions, and analysis, adorned with beautifully designed insets and vivid illustrations rich in content and colorful in essence. Although proposed as a good coffee table book, due to its vivid presentation, it brings to the table a scholarly content in a non-academic rendering accessible to all readers. Editorial Review: "From carvings and sculptures to paintings and frescoes, the visual tour of aft