For me, I think the Promised Land is sort of like a heaven, because when a Cetra fufills its duties, it can then go. Well, didn't all of the Cetra die, protecting the planet from the meteor long ago, with Jenova on it? Well, Aeris is probably there right now, and I think Cloud can go as well. I think The Promised Land, and Heaven, in the game, are the same place, but it's just a different religion/belief, so therefore, a different name. Aeris already fufilled her duty, one being to open uo Cloud ;) and the other, to pray for holy, by speaking with the planet.

I've heard a theory, that The Promised Land was the lifestream itself, because lifestream is flowing spirits. I don't really agree with this, but it could be right.

What do you all think the Promised Land is?

Mmmm, this's a toughy. I don't think the Promised Land is so much a place, as a state of being. Everyone in the game presents different theories, but Aeris' is unique. She says the Promised Land isn't a real place. You just search until you feel it, and you just know. I'm going to have to believe Aeris since she's the one that would know best. I think it's when you find where you belong in life, and then you can be supremely happy.

There's nothing official about the Promised Land apart from what we learn in the game, but I think I recall Nomura himself saying in some interview that the Promised Land is different to everyone, it is something we want the most from life. So when Shinra was looking for the Promised Land in the game they infact had already found it and had built their city on top of it. They only wanted as much of Mako energy as possible, but what they didn't know that they had built their city on top of the very place they were looking for. The land there was so rich with Mako energy that it could very well be considered to be their Promised Land. But knowing the people who were in charge of Shinra corporation it wasn't enough for them. It was their greed that made them blind, they never understood that they already had what they wanted.

Of course as always, that is only just another theory. :)

Hmm... I know what you are saying, and it's a good theory. Instead of a place, to could just be where you are happy. What I remember, is when Aeris is talking to Cloud through the wall at the Shinra Building, she talks about her mother, and how Ifalna had told her about the promised land. Well, afterward, Aeris says, "Some day, I'll get out of Midgar, speak with the planet, and find my promised land." Notice how she says "my" instead of "the?" That could be proof that it's different for everyone. I don't know, just a thought.

The Promised Land could very easily be a place that brings you personal happiness. It's never stated in the game whether it is a state of mind, or whether it has an actual physical location. The quote Aeris gave does imply that it's a state of mind. If that's what it is, then Cloud's statement about meeting Aerith in the Promised Land at the end of the game can be interpreted to mean that it's with Aerith that he is truly happy.

Nomura is cited at one site as stating that he believed Midgar to be the Promised Land. I've always questioned whether Nomura actually said that because it contradicts the game he helped to write. Why would Ifalna tell Aerith that she would someday leave Midgar to find her Promised Land if Midgar IS the Promised Land? :lol: (BTW, there's other questionable statements attributed to Nomura at the same site)

I've never thought that the Lifestream was the Promised Land. Aerith defined it as a land of supreme happiness, an area containing great spiritual energy, and said that you have to search and travel until you find it. The Lifestream is not an area of supreme happiness because there are cries of suffering coming from it. In the second place, you don't have to search and travel to find the Lifestream. Mako reactors feed off of the Lifestream... so if you want to find the Lifestream, all you have to do is find a Mako reactor. Besides that, we see the Lifestream erupting from all parts of the Planet at the end of FFVII... so how hard can it be to find? :lol:

Now... if Aerith is in the Promised Land, is it where Aerith is shown in the flower field? :unsure:

The Promised Land isn't like a place. It seems to me that when Cloud or Aeris or any Ancient might get there, it's not like a different place, it's like a spiritual awakening almost. When a soul is seperated from the body, it remains intact, but for humans, who are weaker spiritually, they tend to remain dormant. But for Aeris, being an Ancient she was strong enough to guide to Lifestream, and appear to Cloud in the handreach scene. We see in AC that she can also reach Cloud mentally when the need is desperate (she always shows up to save him :wub:) And for Sephiroth, who had been tainted by Jenova, he was powerful enough to live on, and anger would not let him remain dormant either, because in AC, he makes it perfectly clear that he will not be forgotten. I believe Cloud can find the "Promised Land," because he is of a different class of soul almost. It's like in Norse mythology, the great heroes go to Valhala, and after all, Cloud grew up in Nibleheim right?? Aeris can be the shining valkyrie who releases him and brings his soul to heaven... ah... *fwuff* Cloud, although human, saved the world, and he possesses the strength to find the Promised Land. Not to mention that he too was injected with mako and Jenova...

In the game, it is said that the Promised Land is a land of supreme happiness for the Ancients who have completed their journey.

But there was a part where the Shinra said it was at the crater and that it was full of Mako energy. Then Aerith said something of finding 'her' Promised Land like it was a thing or someone but not a place. :ph43r:

From what I have seen and heard in different situations (mostly in the game), I'd say that the Promised is what the characters themselves create to gain their true happiness, whether in life or death. Well, that's what I think anyway :unsure: .

I don't think Sefie, Andina, and Enigma's interpretations and Nomura's (supposed) statement about the promised land being in Midgar are necessarily contradictory. I personally agree with the idea that the Promised Land is something special and unique to each person, since evidence from the game seems to largely suggest that, but because it's an open-ended idea, if Midgar has meaning for a lot of people... why not have it be the Promised Land in this circumstance?

Just a thought: has Aeris found the/her Promised Land? Can we determine that (or guess) from what we know so far from Advent Children? Anyone else think that her Promised Land is to be ultimately found... with Cloud? and vice versa?

From what I've seen in the game and trailers of Advent Children, I don't think Aerith had found her Promised Land , yet, but was looking for it.

Other than that, I dunno about everyone here, but I could've sworn that in certain parts of the game, that she sort off hinted that she could've found it with or it 'may' have been even Cloud :unsure: .

It may be a possibility that Cloud feels the same way as his true happiness was with Aerith.

My opinion is that the Promised Land is a person, place or thing that makes you happy. Cloud made Aeris happy so I think Cloud was Aeris's "Promised Land"
^_^

I'm definitely inclined to agree with both of you. Let's hope AC sheds some more light on this, if not answer this question altogether. :ph43r:

Yup, let's hope so. It's still somewhat a mystery on what or where the Promised Land is.
And if Cloud manages to find it, he would want to meet Aerith there.

Ahh, not yet, at least I hope not yet. It's such a big question that I really wish they would save it for whatever FFVII related games they are releasing in the future, and I'm not talking about BC, CC or DC. I know they have something else in development. :P

*GASP*
what do you mean andina?
what else is in development!! do tell!!

well, from the look of AC, he obviously hasn't found his promised land. I mean, look, it's like he hasn't seen Aerith for 2 years.
Really, I think Cloud is slower than me... I dunno, he sure seems like it.

I don't think the idea of the Promised Land having a location and being unique and special to each person are necessarily contradictory, either. It is implied in the story that it is a feeling and a state of mind, but it is also implied that it has a location. Aerith even said that it's a location of great spiritual energy, and implied that there is a location for the Promised Land while they were in the Temple of Ancients. After they retrieve the Black Materia in the Temple of Ancients, Cloud asks Aerith if she would be able to use it:

Aerith "Nope, we can't use it right now. You need great spiritual power to use it."
Cloud "You mean lots of Spiritual energy?"
Aerith "That's right." "One person's power alone won't do it." "Somewhere special. Where there's plenty of the Planet's energy..." "Oh yeah!" "The Promised Land!"

That implies that there is a specific location, since she needs to be in a location of great spiritual energy in order to use the Materia. (BTW, since she needs to be in a location of great spiritual energy to use the Black Materia, wouldn't she have to be in a location of great spiritual energy in order to use the White Materia, as well?) At the same time, it's said that the Promised Land is also where supreme happiness is found, which implies a state of mind.

However, the same can be said of Heaven, can't it? In a sense, Heaven is supposed to exist in a location within a spiritual dimension where all the Angels live in a state beyond our own physical awareness. It is believed to have an actual location while being a state of mind at the same time because it exists in a location that is beyond our own physical awareness since it exists in a spiritual dimension rather than physical. Can we find Heaven on Earth? Don't we say that we've found Heaven when we are truly happy? Is it so different from the idea of the Promised Land?

Very good point! Tsk... clearly I should have taken more philosophy classes, lol

What Aly sweetie just said is not something you learn at school, my dear. ^_^

Allright then, I am willing to give up a little on this. I always babble how I believe the Promised Land can be anything depending on what the person holds dear in his/her heart. But after reading everything you'be been saying I'm starting to believe that the Promised Land is a location after all, one place where those who are worthy (I have no idea who would qualify...)will go. But everyone has their own place in the Promised Land that is exactly what that person would want it to be. So it's not just one big field of flowers where everyone will run around all jolly, but once a person has found his/her way to the Promised Land it will turn (not sure if that's a good word to use in this case) into a place where he/she will be happy.

In Aerith's case it is a huge field of flowers, as we can see, if it really is the Promised Land where she and Cloud meet that is.
So shortly, everyone will have their own personal space there that can be whatever they could possible want it to be so they can be happy and free of worries there.

The Promised Land... for me, at least... is like a state of being. It's like reaching the final stage of Maslow's Theory of Needs: Self-Actualization.
However, people must think that this is a place because of the word "land", which is always associated with something physical with soil; something we can step upon and walk on and explore... and perhaps, maybe own.

Is Aerith's fate the fate of all Cetras? If so, then when they give themselves up for the Planet's safety, it could be considered as their self-actualization. With this, they could be fulfilled physically and mentally; and their other needs have also been fulfilled beforehand (they felt loved, they feel secure, etc...) for them to be able to reach their self-actualization.

The Promised Land could be a place depending on how you view it... or even "feel it" once you "get there" or once you feel that you are fulfilled.

*goes blank all of a sudden*...

:unsure: