January 9, 2012 - submitted by Olivia, Canada

Q. Paradise is absolutely one of my favorite songs, but lately I've started to ponder over the meaning. The dictionary says paradise is a place of extreme beauty, delight, or happiness. I think that paradise is different for everyone and that it is always beautiful, but somewhat unattainable. O mighty oracle, what is your definition of paradise?
From a Candian Coldplayer,
Olivia

The Oracle replies:

Paradise does represent different thing to different people but you can't re-write its dictionary definition. You're right in some ways as a place of extreme beauty, delight or happiness may not always be achievable.
The first meaning of paradise I encountered was at church when at primary school. Heaven was commonly referred to as paradise - I suppose it fits - though these days that's the last thing I would think of when thinking of my own paradise. The Maldives is the closest I came to feeling I was in a real paradise but then I also visited a local island where locals lived and it was anything but in comparison. It opened to my eyes to how man-made and false paradise can be too.