Paradise vs. heaven

Essentially, these are the same.


Main Entry: heav·en
Pronunciation: \ˈhe-vən\
Function: noun
Etymology: Middle English heven, from Old English heofon; akin to Old High German himil heaven
Date: before 12th century
1 : the expanse of space that seems to be over the earth like a dome : firmament —usually used in plural
2 a often capitalized : the dwelling place of the Deity and the blessed dead b : a spiritual state of everlasting communion with God
3 capitalized : god 1
4 : a place or condition of utmost happiness
5 Christian Science : a state of thought in which sin is absent and the harmony of divine Mind is manifest
http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/heaven

Main Entry: par·a·dise
Pronunciation: \ˈper-ə-ˌdīs, -ˌdīz, ˈpa-rə-\
Function: noun
Etymology: Middle English paradis, from Anglo-French, from Late Latin paradisus, from Greek paradeisos, literally, enclosed park, of Iranian origin; akin to Avestan pairi-daēza- enclosure; akin to Greek peri around and to Greek teichos wall — more at peri-, dough
Date: 12th century
1 a : eden 2 b : an intermediate place or state where the souls of the righteous await resurrection and the final judgment c : heaven
2 : a place or state of bliss, felicity, or delight

— par·a·dis·ial \ˌper-ə-ˈdi-sē-əl, -zē-, ˌpa-rə-\ also par·a·dis·i·cal \-si-kəl, -zi-\ adjective
http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/paradise
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For discussions on this, check out the following links below. Please note that a lot of discussion around these terms leads to religious references.
http://www.english-test.net/forum/ftopic37819.html

http://www.scribd.com/doc/19784728/Whats-the-Difference-Between-Paradise-and-Heaven

http://www.gotquestions.org/paradise.html

http://www.islamicbookstore.com/b7210.html