# Pardes / Paradise **URL:** \ **Category:** Cecil's Columns/Staff Reports\ **Created:** [August 22, 2015, 12:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pardes-paradise/728520 "2015-08-22T12:40:56Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 14\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Grigalem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/9de0a6/32.png) [@Grigalem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grigalem)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2015, 12:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pardes-paradise/728520/1 "2015-08-22T12:40:56Z")
In Jewish writings, the word pardes, borrowed from the Old Persian, occurs in the Song of Songs, Ecclesiastes, and Nehemiah, in each case meaning “park” or “garden”- the original Persian meaning of the word, where it describes the royal parks of Cyrus the Great (by Xenophon in Anabasis). Later, in Second Temple-era Judaism, “paradise” came to be associated with the Garden of Eden and prophesies of restoration of Eden. The Septuagint uses the word around 30 times, both of Eden, (Genesis) and of Eden restored (Ezekiel 28:13, 36:35 etc.). In the Apocalypse of Moses, Adam and Eve are expelled from paradise (instead of Eden) after having been tricked by the serpent. Later after the death of Adam, the Archangel Michael carries the body of Adam to be buried in Paradise, which is in the Third Heaven. As to “Christianity didn’t invent paradise, but it did offer a formula for obtaining it that seemed to offer a high degree of certainty”, the rest of that is their Hell, where God delights in punishing unsaved human souls FOREVER, including new-born babies, Jews, atheists, Jains, Buddhists, etc. etc. etc. etc. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2015, 1:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pardes-paradise/728520/2 "2015-08-22T13:01:54Z")
Is this in reply to a column? ---
**Author:** ![RaffArundel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/87869e/32.png) [@RaffArundel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RaffArundel)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2015, 1:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pardes-paradise/728520/3 "2015-08-22T13:19:18Z")
This one I assume: > **[Who invented paradise?](https://www.straightdope.com/21343474/who-invented-paradise)** It was in my weekly newsletter, but I don’t see it linked in the home page or sidebar. ---
**Author:** ![Grigalem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/9de0a6/32.png) [@Grigalem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grigalem)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2015, 1:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pardes-paradise/728520/4 "2015-08-22T13:52:17Z")
I am new to this. Please show me how I create that link. Thanks in advance! ---
**Author:** ![andros](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e480ec/32.png) [@andros](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/andros)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2015, 4:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pardes-paradise/728520/5 "2015-08-22T16:10:52Z")
> [@Grigalem](#): > > I am new to this. Please show me how I create that link. Thanks in advance! The easiest way is just to copy and paste the URL; the message board will automatically convert it to a working link. Welcome to the Straight Dope! . ---
**Author:** ![Grigalem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/9de0a6/32.png) [@Grigalem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grigalem)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2015, 4:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pardes-paradise/728520/6 "2015-08-22T16:30:13Z")
Um, sorry for my dumbth, but where do I paste it to? ---
**Author:** ![RaffArundel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/87869e/32.png) [@RaffArundel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RaffArundel)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2015, 4:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pardes-paradise/728520/7 "2015-08-22T16:33:51Z")
> [@Grigalem](#): > > Um, sorry for my dumbth, but where do I paste it to? Directly into the text box. That is all I did above. ---
**Author:** ![Grigalem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/9de0a6/32.png) [@Grigalem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grigalem)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2015, 7:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pardes-paradise/728520/8 "2015-08-22T19:26:21Z")
> **[Who invented paradise?](https://www.straightdope.com/21343474/who-invented-paradise)** ---
**Author:** ![Grigalem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/9de0a6/32.png) [@Grigalem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grigalem)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2015, 7:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pardes-paradise/728520/9 "2015-08-22T19:28:23Z")
Thanks!! ---
**Author:** ![Find\_Friends](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/c37758/32.png) [@Find\_Friends](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Find_Friends)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2015, 2:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pardes-paradise/728520/10 "2015-08-27T14:00:46Z")
Pardon my possible ignorance here, but does not the threat of eternal damnation for rebellious slaves promoted by their Egyptian masters \* pre-date Zoroastianism with its damnation/paradise paradigm? - And they of course would have no reason to make it up. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Grigalem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/9de0a6/32.png) [@Grigalem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grigalem)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2015, 9:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pardes-paradise/728520/11 "2015-08-27T21:05:16Z")
There was no threat of eternal damnation for rebellious slaves promoted by their Egyptian masters. Do you have an authentic source? ---
**Author:** ![Find\_Friends](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/c37758/32.png) [@Find\_Friends](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Find_Friends)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2015, 3:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pardes-paradise/728520/12 "2015-08-28T15:06:46Z")
Gosh, I was sure I had come across something fairly recently. I really should make notes on things of interest to me. It’s possible that I misread something, or that it was in error. For the time being, at least, everyone should consider what I posed to be untrue. ---
**Author:** ![Grigalem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/9de0a6/32.png) [@Grigalem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grigalem)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2015, 8:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pardes-paradise/728520/13 "2015-08-28T20:37:21Z")
If you don’t have an authentic source for your assertions DON’T POST IT. If it is an unsourced opinion, then label it as an unsourced opinion. ---
**Author:** ![Find\_Friends](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/c37758/32.png) [@Find\_Friends](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Find_Friends)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2015, 1:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pardes-paradise/728520/14 "2015-08-29T01:39:27Z")
Okay, I’ll try to be more coffee-- I mean _ **careful,** _ in the future!