The notion of paradise as a state of perfect bliss is often contrasted with the idea of eternal torment for sinners, which generates deep religious and ethical tension.

Paradise and Perdition: Ethical Reflections on the Soul

The notion of paradise as a state of perfect bliss is often contrasted with the idea of eternal torment for sinners, which generates deep religious and ethical tension. On one hand, paradise is understood not so much as a specific place but as an inner state of the soul based on union with the Divine light and an abundance of love. On the other hand, hell is described as a state of torment arising from a detachment from the Divine light and uncontrolled passions, thereby questioning the justice and ethics of eternal punishment.

For example, one source emphasizes that paradise is, first and foremost, a state of the soul:"Some ask: is it not unjust and cruel to condemn a rich man to eternal torment, since his physical pleasures were only transient?

To find an answer to this question, one must understand that future bliss or suffering cannot be regarded solely as a matter of being in paradise or hell. Paradise and hell are primarily states of the soul!" (source: link txt).

This view reveals a contradiction: if paradise and hell are states of the soul, then the question of why sinners should endure eternal torment becomes a matter of ethical justice. It is particularly significant that these soul states depend on a person's inner condition and their attitude toward love and light, rather than on external places of dwelling. This raises further questions about how freedom and responsibility interrelate in the context of eternal salvation or condemnation.

It is also noted that the idea of paradise as a state of soulful union with Christ is set in opposition to the suffering experienced in a state of separation from the Divine:
"The heart of a Christian burns with love for all of humanity, for every creation of God. And he will pray for the perishing and the perished... then he suffers no less than sinners in hell." (source: link txt).
Here, it is emphasized that even within a shared etiological view of life, the difference between paradisiacal bliss and hellish torment comes down to the inner state of the soul, rather than simply to geographical or external conditions.

In addition, an ethical problem is raised: the concept of perfection connected with paradisiacal bliss must include not only joy but also the possibility of self-sacrifice, which is necessary to overcome evil:
"The mystery of the cross is the overcoming of the fundamental contradiction of paradisiacal bliss, generated by freedom. For evil to be defeated, good must crucify itself. This is the core ethical problem in the eschatological context." (source: link txt).
This idea underlines that the incorporation of freedom and self-sacrifice inevitably leads to tension between the concepts of absolute bliss and suffering, as achieving the highest perfection requires self-denial and the capacity to accept suffering as part of the path to bliss.

On the other hand, Berdyaev’s approach emphasizes that the idea of returning humanity to the original paradise contradicts widely accepted ethical norms, since the primordial paradise was merely a natural phenomenon, while the future paradise must be understood as a kingdom of the spirit:
"The notion—even the desire—to return humanity to its original paradise, is considered by Berdyaev not only impossible but directly contrary to ethics, as the paradise of the beginning was merely a natural phenomenon, whereas the paradise of the future must be a kingdom of the spirit." (source: link txt).

Thus, the concept of paradise as a state of absolute spiritual joy comes into conflict with the idea of sinners' suffering when these notions are seen as mutually exclusive. This raises a series of religious and ethical questions: Is it just to punish sinners infinitely if the state of the soul is determined by inner qualities and the capacity for love? Should condemnation be eternal if the path to salvation and transformation of the soul remains open even to those who have experienced profound suffering? Is it possible within an ethical framework to transform suffering into a spiritual purification that ultimately leads to union with the Divine light?

These questions continue to invite deep reflection, prompting a search for harmony between the ideas of divine justice and compassion, based on the understanding that paradise and hell are not places but reflections of the inner state of the soul.