Do animals have souls?

D Kelly · #1 Jul 24, '09, 4:46 pm

A lot of people that I've run in to over the years believe that animals don't have souls and that there isn't a place for them in Heaven. I totally disagree. For 1 thing, Animals each have their own individual personalities, and they know how to love in their own way.
As far as they're going to Heaven is concerned, God created them in the first place and I don't think he would just leave them to die with no eternal home. I'd like to know how everyone else feels about that. You wouldn't believe how many people don't pray for animals because they feel that they're so much lower than we are and that God is mainly concerned about people and doesn't care about the smaller beings of the world. What do you guys think?
Sorry for the soapbox, but this is something I strongly believe.

Deb

sobercatholic · #2 Jul 24, '09, 5:14 pm

Hello!

i am a new member, both to CA and this group.

In answer to your question, I believe that the Catechism teaches that animals do have souls, called "animative". We have spiritual and plants have "vegetative" souls. I just tried to find it in the Catechism, but can't locate it right away.

I'll keep looking and post the paragraphs when I do find it, unless someone else beats me to it.

Animative and vegitative souls are not immortal. However there is nothing in Scripture that explicitly states that animals don't enjoy eternity with us. Nothing really explicitly states that they do, either. (As far as I can tell.)

There is a best-selling book out entitled "A Travel Guide to Heaven" by Anthony DeStefano, which has a whole chapter dedicated to this question. The answer?Yes, based on the fact that God can allow it if He wills it and some implied scriptural writings.

Hope this helps!

Paul

pippin · #3 Jul 29, '09, 10:01 am

The Bible says that the "Lion will lie down with the lamb". That says to me that there are animals in heaven. The Bible calls heaven Paradise. Paradise also meant a lush garden. I can't imagine a garden without birds and animals. I believe there are animals in heaven and that we will recognize our pets.

Marfran · #4 Jul 29, '09, 10:22 am

Quote:

Originally Posted by pippin

The Bible says that the "Lion will lie down with the lamb". That says to me that there are animals in heaven. The Bible calls heaven Paradise. Paradise also meant a lush garden. I can't imagine a garden without birds and animals. I believe there are animals in heaven and that we will recognize our pets.

What would paradise be without animals and beautiful plants??? Great post, pippin. The lion and lamb together is a wonderful vision!

lucyroo · #5 Jul 30, '09, 5:24 pm

Pope John Paul II said that "animals possess a soul and men must love and feel solidarity with our smaller brethren" and that animals are "'as near to God as men are".

widower · #6 Dec 27, '11, 2:21 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by lucyroo

Pope John Paul II said that "animals possess a soul and men must love and feel solidarity with our smaller brethren" and that animals are "'as near to God as men are".

Good enough for me.

bruce3 · #7 Feb 1, '12, 10:51 am

The Bible is very clear on this point ONLY man has a body,soul and spirit (lThess.5:23 b) and was created in the" image and likness of God."Gen.1:26-8. Man was to have "dominion" over all animals.

Jesus the Perfect Holy Man/God said He had a 'soul/spirit and body' in the NT.Gospels.In Mark He says my soul (psuche')is on the brink of death.'Gk.It says His spirt (pneuma)groaned. And in Matt.He said take eat this is my body (soma).Animals do not have this divine composition.

Only man was to fellowship God as is very plain to those who KNOW Holy Scripture.
God loves all creation,of course,but only mankind has the capacity due to his/her" image and likeness" to his/her Creator to worship God.

I for one would like to see Scripture/s which say animals worship God and He fellowships with them,etc., in this capacity.In Bible study from the original languages since 1963 I have found nothing that says this.

Winstone · #8 Feb 2, '12, 3:01 am

Quote:

Originally Posted by bruce3

The Bible is very clear on this point ONLY man has a body,soul and spirit (lThess.5:23 b) and was created in the" image and likness of God."Gen.1:26-8. Man was to have "dominion" over all animals.

Jesus the Perfect Holy Man/God said He had a 'soul/spirit and body' in the NT.Gospels.In Mark He says my soul (psuche')is on the brink of death.'Gk.It says His spirt (pneuma)groaned. And in Matt.He said take eat this is my body (soma).Animals do not have this divine composition.

Only man was to fellowship God as is very plain to those who KNOW Holy Scripture.
God loves all creation,of course,but only mankind has the capacity due to his/her" image and likeness" to his/her Creator to worship God.

I for one would like to see Scripture/s which say animals worship God and He fellowships with them,etc., in this capacity.In Bible study from the original languages since 1963 I have found nothing that says this.

Doesn't even Jesus say: '' “I tell you,” he replied, “if they keep quiet, the stones will cry out.” Stones don't have souls, spirits etc.

Paul writes that all of creation has been groaning as if it was giving labour awaiting the day that God brings restoration to the earth and adopts all of his children as heirs to his kingdom. It is because of nature that we are fed, housed and clothed now why do you pursue this pointless debate favouring only redeemed souls in heaven. Nature by its very nature applauds, praises, sings and worships the Trinity without any approval from us 'conscious' beings. 'Conscious' beings - now that's a laugh for a start!

Nature and that will include all of the animals witness to Our Glorious God:

You shall go out with joy
And be let forth with peace,
And the mountains and the hills
Will break forth before you
There'll be shouts of joy
And all the trees of the fields
Will clap, will clap their hands

You will go out in joy and be led forth in peace; the mountains and hills will burst into song before you, and all the trees of the field will clap their hands. Isaiah 55: 12

Psalm 65: 13The meadows are covered with flocks and the valleys are mantled with grain; they shout for joy and sing.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Psalm 69:34 Let heaven and earth praise him, the seas and all that move in them,
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Psalm 96:12 let the fields be jubilant, and everything in them. Then all the trees of the forest will sing for joy;
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Psalm 98:8 Let the rivers clap their hands, let the mountains sing together for joy;
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Psalm 148:9 you mountains and all hills, fruit trees and all cedars,
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Isaiah 14:8 Even the pine trees and the cedars of Lebanon exult over you and say, "Now that you have been laid low, no woodsman comes to cut us down."

Winstone · #9 Feb 2, '12, 3:03 am

Quote:

Originally Posted by Winstone

Doesn't even Jesus say: '' “I tell you,” he replied, “if they keep quiet, the stones will cry out.” Stones don't have souls, spirits etc.

Paul writes that all of creation has been groaning as if it was giving labour awaiting the day that God brings restoration to the earth and adopts all of his children as heirs to his kingdom. It is because of nature that we are fed, housed and clothed now why do you pursue this pointless debate favouring only redeemed souls in heaven. Nature by its very nature applauds, praises, sings and worships the Trinity without any approval from us 'conscious' beings. 'Conscious' beings - now that's a laugh for a start!

Nature and that will include all of the animals witness to Our Glorious God:

You shall go out with joy
And be let forth with peace,
And the mountains and the hills
Will break forth before you
There'll be shouts of joy
And all the trees of the fields
Will clap, will clap their hands

You will go out in joy and be led forth in peace; the mountains and hills will burst into song before you, and all the trees of the field will clap their hands. Isaiah 55: 12

Psalm 65: 13The meadows are covered with flocks and the valleys are mantled with grain; they shout for joy and sing.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Psalm 69:34 Let heaven and earth praise him, the seas and all that move in them,
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Psalm 96:12 let the fields be jubilant, and everything in them. Then all the trees of the forest will sing for joy;
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Psalm 98:8 Let the rivers clap their hands, let the mountains sing together for joy;
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Psalm 148:9 you mountains and all hills, fruit trees and all cedars,
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Isaiah 14:8 Even the pine trees and the cedars of Lebanon exult over you and say, "Now that you have been laid low, no woodsman comes to cut us down."

Dominion over all the animals does not mean their exclusion!

bruce3 · #10 Feb 3, '12, 9:56 am

I will stay with the Word of God His Holy Bible.

No one is excluding animals. I for one believe that all animals that have ever lived wil be restored for the Kingdom of God.

But they were NOT made in the very" image and likeness of God" as was man.There will always be that 'divide.'

Who was tested in the Garden of Eden? Man.
Who had access to the Tree of Lives? (pl. in Heb.mind/body/spirit- type or symbol- but real- of Christ our 'Tree of Life'-man choose Satan in the 'Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil'-sad) Man.
Who did God visit and fellowship with in the 'cool breezes' of the day?Man.
Who received the Word of God OT and NT? Man.
Who did Christ die for? Man

But God bless the whole creation.
We should love and when necessary and /or care for animals,etc.
'Be kind to your domestic animal' said Moses.
My co.has given to cubs of tigers (I got to feed them quite a thrill!)slain by man because of poaching.Terrible,but we are trying to help.
Support animals whenever possible.

Winstone · #11 Feb 4, '12, 3:04 am

I don't think anyone was disputing that Brucie! Your original contribution implied the 'exclusion' of creation. How God regenerates at the end of time is truly up to Him. It was our sin that upset nature not the other way round and ''Look, I am making all things new'' does not leave out nature. We have the honour of recognizing the existence of God through nature - see Paul - therefore it has played a role in our understanding of God through His creation. Surley our God will not exclude nature and leave us bereft of what we share in common. I believe we can safely deduce from scripture that God loves all of his creation and what ''the eye has not seen, nor the ear heard'' will be beyond all our imaginations!

widower · #12 Mar 6, '12, 3:26 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by bruce3

I will stay with the Word of God His Holy Bible.

So will we. You simply aren't getting that no, the Bible does not exclude animals having souls.

I will also trust in the Pope's opinion over yours. Nothing against you, but I'm going out on a limb and thinking he knows more about this kind of thing than you do.

PS you might note this is a CATHOLIC site. If your intent is to sway anyone to a "baptist way of thinking," I wouldn't hold your breath. Most of us also like to dance and a good glass of wine or 2.

But in fact, I'm not even aware of any common baptist belief that says definitely animals do not have souls anyway, so don't know why this is so hard for you to even consider as a possibility.

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Linusthe2nd · #14 Jul 22, '12, 12:56 pm

Well, if what I hope for counts, they will go to heaven, but they will not enjoy the Beatific Vision, they will be a part of the New Heaven and the New Earth. I envision Heaven sort of like a new, original Paradise, except even better. In the new Paradise animals will not eat each other. That is what I hope anyway. After all, on earth they really led a hard life and not very pleasant, surely there will be a reward for that.

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