Synopsis
From the Church in the Middle Ages to the people who prepare sucidide bombers, there is always someone promsing a better tomorrow, if only we do what they say. Although much is made of the clash between Islam and Christianity, here, Kevin Rushby argues that there is no clash — we all want the same paradise, Eden, perfection.Rushby sets out on two a physical one to the Mountain of the ASsassins in Iran, home of htemyth that "bright-eyed maidens of Paradise" await those who die serving Allah; and an intellectual one, back through the history of our ideas about Paradise in the Judaeo-Christian and Islamic traditions. Rushby reveals in an accessible mix of history, religion, and philosophy, the reasons why we have come to live in such a divided world by showing how rationalist thought stretches from Pythagoras to Jacobean England and how tales of the gods have brought destruction and terror, from the Book of Revelations to the London Underground bombing of 2005.
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About the Author
Kevin Rushby has lived and worked in the Sudan, Malaysia, Thailand and Yemen. A full-time writer, his other books are: Chasing the Mountain of Light: Across India on the Trail of the Koh-I-Noor Diamond (1 84119 882 X), Eating the Flowers of Paradise: A Journey through the Drug Fields of Ethiopia and Yemen (1 84119 679 7), Children of Kali: Through India in Search of Bandits, the Thug Culture and the British Raj (1 84119 568 5) and Hunting Pirate Heaven: In Search of the Lost Pirate Utopias of the Indian Ocean (1 84119 488 3).
Review
"'an outstanding book...exceptionally lucid, stimulating and thought-provoking' The Indpendent 'at his best evoking the sheer joy of travel', Literary Review 'a deft wit and a deep understanding of his territory', The Independent"
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Paradise
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Paradise : A History of the Idea that Rules the World
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Paradise: A history of the idea that rules the world (Signed Copy) 1st edition
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Paradise: A History of the Idea That Rules the World
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Little, Brown Book Group, United Kingdom, London, 2006
ISBN 10: 1845290011
ISBN 13: 9781845290016
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Seller: WorldofBooks, Goring-By-Sea, WS, United Kingdom
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Paperback. Condition: Very Good. This title offers the story of the human quest for perfection. The paradise myth has been one of the most powerful motivators in human history, influencing and energizing all kinds of individuals and groups. From the Assassins of twelfth-century Persia to the Pilgrim Fathers of America; from Pythagoras to modern-day downsizers, there have always been those who would seek perfection on earth. This hope for an earthly paradise drives humanity onwards, pressing for change and offering salvation. Yet, it also comes attached to religious beliefs such as Armageddon, original sin and martyrdom - all notions that influence modern life even when hidden beneath a veneer of secularism. Kevin Rushby traces the belief in paradise from its earliest origins down to the present day, taking in a vast array of characters, particularly from within Christian and Islamic cultures. The story carries us not only through the delights of the botanic gardens and utopian dreams of seventeenth-century Europe but also to terrible events such as the Holocaust and the atrocities of modern-day religious extremism. "Paradise" uncovers the history of an idea and in doing so reveals some of the key events and characters that have shaped our view of perfect happiness. The book has been read, but is in excellent condition. Pages are intact and not marred by notes or highlighting. The spine remains undamaged. Seller Inventory # GOR003074780
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Paradise
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ISBN 10: 1845290011
ISBN 13: 9781845290016
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Paradise: A History of the Idea that Rules the World
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Paradise
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Paradise: A History of the Idea that Rules the World
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ISBN 10: 1845290011
ISBN 13: 9781845290016
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