Why does christianity say animals have no souls? Do animals not go to heaven?

[Xanikk999]

It must be boring in heaven with no animals.

Seriously though i hear lots of people talk about this who are religious but does it actually say anything like that in the bible. And if it does why?

Did early man have to justify himself being superiour to animals?

Note: This is not a troll thread im actually curious as to why this is.

 

[Red Stranger]

All Dogs Go To Heaven.

Pig in Heaven.

 

[Erik Mesoy]

Day 6 of Genesis. Twentychar.

 

[ChrTh]

The dog my family had when I was a child was reincarnated as a bunny the following spring. I'm not kidding. Tippy used to have one spot she sat in our backyard; the next year, a baby bunny came by and always sat in the same spot for at least that year.

 

[Red Stranger]

Maybe it's just a good sitting spot. Or that bunny killed your dog to take that sitting spot.

 

[Sidhe]

Only man was given a soul it mentions it as said in Genesis, animals die and rot humans can have eternal life, saying that though some people would like to see there long lost pets when they die, I know I would.

EDIT: That said though the Pope has a different view point.

Pope John Paul II: 'animals possess a soul'

When Pope John Paul II declared in a public audience in 1990 that 'also the animals possess a soul and men must love and feel solidarity with our smaller brethren' some people must have thought this was a new teaching, unaware of the Holy Father's scholarly familiarity with the authentic Hebrew texts. When he went on to state that all animals are 'fruit of the creative action of the Holy Spirit and merit respect' and that they are 'as near to God as men are', animal lovers in the audience were ecstatic! The Pope mentions the special relationship of mankind with God as being created in His image and likeness. 'However,' he goes on 'other texts state that animals have the breath of life and were given it by God. In this respect, man, created by the hand of God, is identical with all other living creatures. And so in Psalm 104 there is no distinction between man and beasts when it reads, addressing God: " … Thou hidest thy face, they are troubled: thou takest away their breath, they die, and return to their dust. Thou sendest forth thy spirit, they are created: and thou renewest the face of the earth." The existence therefore,' the Holy Father reminds us, 'of all living creatures depends on the living spirit/breath of God that not only creates but also sustains and renews the face of the earth.'

This discourse caused a stir around the world, and was especially encouraging to Catholic animal welfare groups which had begun to despair that anything 'animal friendly' would ever be heard in Rome. The then professor of theology and dogma at the University of Urbino, Carlo Molari, called it 'very important and significant. It is a "sign of the times" because it demonstrates the Church's desire and deep concern to clarify present confused thinking and attitudes towards the animal kingdom. There should be no need, but the Pontiff, in reiterating that animals came into being because of the direct action of the "breath" of God, wanted to say that also these creatures, as well as man, are possessed of the divine spark of life and that living quality that is the soul. And are therefore not inferior beings or only of a purely material reality.'

 

[Xanikk999]

Only man was given a soul it mentions it as said in Genesis, animals die and rot humans can have eternal life, saying that though some people would like to see there long lost pets when they die, I know I would.

God has a superiority complex over animals. He just has to make human look superious so he wont allow animals into his kingdom. He must have something to hide.

 

[Bluemofia]

Bhudist beliefs say that only people can go to Nirvana. Animals get reincarnated until they can become people to try.

But personally, I'm Atheist.

 

[Eran of Arcadia]

I am actually unaware of any Bible verse that says that animals don't have souls. Genesis 1 says that man is given dominion over them, but that's different. I think that animals do have souls, but they are not as "developed" or intelligent as ours. Animals, lacking moral judgment and thus the ability to sin, may all go to heaven but they can't enjoy it the same way we can.

 

[ChrTh]

Maybe it's just a good sitting spot. Or that bunny killed your dog to take that sitting spot.

Nope, it was a newborn bunny. And no one else sat there. So

Actually, I do believe that all dogs go to heaven.

Cats, on the other hand, don't go anywhere, not that they really care.

 

[Sidhe]

I was mistaken so I edited my original post, I obviously have recieved some false wisdom.

 

[Fifty]

My dog deserves to go to heaven more than any human!!!!!!!!

 

[Sidhe]

Indeed and he will apparently, sorry for the misinformation.

 

[Elrohir]

Technically speaking, the Bible doesn't say animals do not have souls. As a matter of fact, both animals and man are said to possess the "breath of life", and are shown to be distinctly different from, say, rocks or even trees. Man was given dominion over the animals, but that's not to say they have no souls.

Personally, I wouldn't say that they don't have souls; I would just say that they do not have human souls, souls intelligent enough to know the difference between moral rights and wrongs - thus, Jesus didn't have to come to save the chimps, just the humans. Also technically speaking, there's nothing in the Bible that says animals don't go to Heaven - but nothing that says they do either. I'm somewhat ambivalent on the issue, but I think that if they do, it is for our benefit and happiness, no theirs. I've been meaning to write an essay on the subject of souls, and animals having souls, perhaps I'll post it if I ever get around to it.

 

[King Flevance]

I too wonder about this. I have a lot of cats I wouldn't mind seeing upon getting to heaven. I have no idea if this information is true or false although I hear it alot. Usually, anytime I ask about it I get told they don't. That does kind of suck. I wonder if personality constitutes a soul? I have noticed a personality in even the simplest of animals which would in those situations prove the existance of a soul.

I wouldn't mind knowing a bit of information on this. Unfortunatly, the pope's words are just how he thinks it is. I don't live by his claims personally.

 

[Perfection]

Well if so Heaven must be overrun with squirrels.

 

[Eran of Arcadia]

Well if so Heaven must be overrun with squirrels.

And beetles. Lots and lots of beetles.

Realy, though, heaven is a big enough place anyways. And maybe there are animals in hell, too - they won't be suffering, any more than they are enjoying heaven, they are just there to bring comfort to the damned.

(The above is a combination of my opinion and some facetiousness. It is not intended to be doctrine.)

 

[Perfection]

What about plants, do plants have souls?

 

[Sahkuhnder]

I'm looking forward to the day when we start mixing the last percent or two of DNA that separates us from chimps. Will the cross-breads have souls? Where to draw the line? What happens when the cross-breads are more intelligent than ******** humans? Is having a soul based on intelligence? What is it based on?

Having a soul is a yes/no question with no room in the middle. DNA cross-breads are the definition of examples in the middle.

Can't wait to hear religion's viewpoints on who is 'human' with a soul and what is 'non-human' without one.

 

[Eran of Arcadia]

What about plants, do plants have souls?

I am of the opinion (this is not an actual belief on my part, or the doctrine of any church of which I am aware) that all living things have "souls" in some way. But the soul of a bacterium, or even a tree, is a much less significant thing than the soul of a human. The soul of a human may be one of the most amazing things on earth; but it is still much less than God.