Heaven (redirected from smelt to high heaven)

heaven, blissful upper realm or state entered after death; in Western monotheistic religions it is the place where the just see God face to face (sometimes called the beatific vision). In Judaism, heaven is pictured as the abode of God to which he ultimately welcomes the righteous and faithful. Many Christians believe that after the general resurrection the body of a Christian will be glorified and reunited forever with the soul in heaven. The Roman Catholic church teaches that before entering heaven many souls must pass through purgatory to be made ready. Much of the conventional imagery of the Christian heaven—e.g., golden streets—is based on the Book of Revelation. In Islam, the Qur'an describes heaven in graphically idyllic terms, replete with fleshly delights; but Islam also has a strong mystical tradition which places these heavenly delights in the context of the ecstatic awareness of God. In Zoroastrianism, the souls of the deceased must pass over the Bridge of the Requiter, which widens to allow easy passage for the good, who enter a kingdom of joy and light. In both Hinduism and Buddhism, existence is considered cyclical, making the rewards and pleasures of heaven a desirable but temporary experience; the higher objective is often conceived as a release from any form of rebirth, whether in heaven or on earth. For comparable ideas see Elysian fields; Fortunate Isles; Valhalla.

Bibliography

See P. Toon, Heaven and Hell (1986); C. McDannell, Heaven (1988).

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heaven

“The Angel Shows John the Heavenly Jerusalem,” from the Apocalypse of St. John, …

(credit: Courtesy of the Staatsbibliothek Bamberg, Germany)

Dwelling place of God or the gods and the abode of the blessed dead. The term also refers to the celestial sphere, the place of the sun, moon, planets, and stars and the source of light, which symbolizes good. For later Judaism and Christianity, heaven is the destination of the faithful after a general resurrection of the dead, in contrast to hell, the place of punishment for the wicked. Islam has a similar belief. In Chinese religion, heaven is equated with the divine will, which guides the operation of all physical and moral laws. In some Mahayana Buddhist sects, heaven is a paradise for those who have received the saving grace of Amitabha.

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Heaven

See also Paradise.

Height (See GIANTISM, TALLNESS.)

Aaru

abode of blessed dead and gods. [Egyptian Myth.: Benét, 1]

Abraham’s bosom

reward for the righteous. [N.T.: Luke 16:23]

animals in heaven

Jonah’s whale and Balaam’s ass are among the ten animals allowed to enter paradise. [Muslim Legend: Benét, 37]

Anu

(An) Babylonian god of heaven. [Babyl. Myth.: Benét, 41]

Asgard

abode of the gods. [Norse Myth.: Walsh Classical, 34]

Avalon

the blissful otherworld of the dead. [Celtic Myth.: NCE, 194]

Beulah

allegorical name for Israel. [O.T.: Isaiah 62:4–5]

Dilmun

dwelling of gods where sun rose. [Sumerian Myth.: Gaster, 24]

Elysian Fields

home of the blessed after death. [Gk. Myth.: Kravitz, 88]

Elysium

abode of the blessed after death. [Gk. Myth.: Zimmer-man, 94; Gk. Lit.: Odyssey]

Fortunate Isles

(Happy Isles) otherworld for heroes favored by gods. [Gk. Myth.: NCE, 861]

garden of the Hesperides

in this garden grew a tree with golden apples. [Gk. Myth.: Zimmerman, 109]

Happy Hunting Ground

translation of Indian name for heaven. [North Am. Indian Myth.: Misc.]

Holy City

poetical name for heaven. [World Rel.: NCE, 1213]

Land of the Leal

abode of the blessed dead. [Scot. Myth.: Misc.]

Mount Zion

celestial city. [Br. Lit.: Pilgrim’s Progress]

New Jerusalem

new paradise; dwelling of God among men. [N.T.: Revelation 21:2]

Olympus

abode of the chief gods. [Gk. Myth.: Espy, 22]

Paradise

poetic name for heaven. [World Rel.: NCE, 1213]

seventh heaven

formed of indescribable divine light; inhabitants are supremely happy, all chanting of God. [Islamic Religion: Benét, 449]

Valhalla

celestial banquet hall for departed war heroes. [Norse Myth.: Brewer Dictionary, 1122]