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Why has the idea of a future earthly paradise appealed to people in many religions?
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millennialism
Vision of the New Jerusalem coming down from heaven, from the Bamberg Apocalypse, c. 1000–20; in the Bamberg State Library, Germany (MS. 140).
The appeal of a future earthly paradise across many religions is rooted in the human desire for divine justice, solace, and the restoration of a perfect state of existence. Millennialism, which centers on the expectation of a supernatural era of peace and abundance on earth, provides a framework for theodicy—reconciling the existence of evil with a benevolent God.12
This belief system offers several compelling rewards:
- Cosmic Significance: Believers often feel they are at the center of a universal drama, where their actions hold cosmic importance.1
- Liberation: The promise of a new world can liberate individuals from earthly inhibitions and fears of human authority.1
- Hope for the Commoner: Many traditions, such as those found in Judaism, envision a future where war and domination cease, offering a vision of peace and prosperity for the common person.1
- Psychological Comfort: It serves as a source of solace for those suffering under existing social or political institutions, providing a rationale for patience or, in some cases, revolutionary action to bring about the promised kingdom.1
Ultimately, these visions reflect a deep-seated human longing to recapture a lost intimacy with the divine and to establish a world characterized by order, justice, and the absence of suffering.13