...... in my dream grandma said Rover is with her there in heaven.
2006-07-12 05:02:39 · 25 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
I think animals definitely have souls. They have distinct personalities, just like humans. Look at a litter of puppies or kittens, or two cats, or both the National Zoo and San Diego PandaCams. You'll see that one is quieter and the other is more extroverted, or one is more cuddly and the other is more playful, etc. They have minds that learn things and an instinct to care for each other. Sometimes they care for other species, too--like us humans! If they don't have souls, neither do we!
Also, how heavenly a heaven would it be without animals? Lots of people would hate it!
But if they go to heaven, I bet they bark or meow or scratch at the door trying to get out again. ;-)
2006-07-12 05:05:38 · answer #1 · answered by GreenEyedLilo 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
A soul consists of a mind, will and emotion. If an animal has any of these then yes it does. If it has a spirit it comes from God and if so would then be God-like, but it would have to work in conjunction with the soul. This is not possible because God gave man authority over animals and they are therefore not created equal. They will get into heaven if and when we have a desire to have one there. Heaven is not material based environment.
2006-07-12 05:10:37 · answer #2 · answered by LRB B 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Grandma is in the ground resting until Jesus returns - Daniel 12:2
"Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was: and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it." Ecclesiastes 12:7.
There is nothing mysterious about the spirit that returns to God at death. It is the breath of life.
"The body without the spirit ["breath," see margin] is dead." James 2:26. "The spirit of God ["the breath which God gave him," see margin] is in my nostrils." Job 27:3.
Answer: The spirit that returns to God at death is the breath of life. Nowhere in all of God's book does the "spirit" have any life, wisdom, or feeling after a person dies. It is the "breath of life" and nothing more.
Rover doesn't have a soul because when God created man he bread the breath of life in him not animals.
Jesus died for man not animals.
All creation is corrupted by sin all of nature is corrupted. Animals are apart of nature and thus like the Bible says a new heaven and new earth will be made after this one is destroyed by fire.
2006-07-12 05:07:09 · answer #3 · answered by Damian 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Animas have souls but not spirits. Nevertheless, I believe that there are pets in heaven. If an animal comes under a Christian master's dominion, it can go to heaven.
My Glorygirl has howled harmony with me when I praised the Lord. And when my husband would tell her that a stranger was a Christian, she would stop growling. And she was half Doberman.
I believe that cats have a harder time being Christian pets than dogs, because of their independent personalities.
2006-07-12 05:10:38 · answer #4 · answered by freelancenut 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
My opinion is:
Animals aren't like humans.....they don't have consciences and souls. Their only concept of right and wrong is what they are trained by us humans. Their purpose is not the same as ours. They won't go through Judgement.
God created animals though and the Bible says "The Lion shall lay down with the Lamb" so it stands to reason that animals will be in heaven....and all will be peaceful and friendly.
2006-07-12 05:19:50 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Animals have to have souls. I mean, each dog and cat and so forth have their own personality. And i'm sure that all animals go to heaven unless they do something that violates their nature and is something other then what god intended, which is kinda hard for an animal to do, because they don't function on the same level of awarness as we do.
2006-07-12 05:12:23 · answer #6 · answered by Mirror Muse 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Our Church talked about this and our Pastor told us, dogs don't have souls,and they don't go to heaven. But I feel they do go to heaven, the Bible says the animals in heaven will all be friendly.
2006-07-12 05:07:38 · answer #7 · answered by prudencerube 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
As a rule, the complete question involves concern about animals, especially pets, being in heaven.
The original creation. When we visit the original creation, we discover a number of truths. One apparent truth is the uniqueness of man compared to the lower animal creation. Only to man was it said, "Let us make man in our image, after our likeness…." (Gen. 1: 26). Animals are next mentioned in the verse, but from the standpoint of their subservience to man.
The fate of man and animals. The wise man had much to say regarding man, his birth, life, and destiny. He wrote, "Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was; and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it" (Eccl. 12: 7). Earlier, he wrote regarding man and the beast: "Who knoweth the spirit of man that goeth upward, and the spirit of the beast that goeth downward to the earth?" (Eccl. 3: 21.) This question is clearly answered in the above noted chapter twelve, verse seven.
Animals have a soul in the sense that they possess life. A common Hebrew word translated life (soul) is nephesh. Nephesh is used for the life or breath of both animals and man (Gen. 1: 20, 30; 19: 17). Life is that state that is the opposite of death. It is a state of animation, breathing, and awareness. Men and animals alike possess a soul in the sense of breath (nephesh). However, in the sense of possessing a part or element that lives forever, as man possesses, animals do not possess an eternal spirit (cp. Matt. 25: 46). The animal simply and totally returns to the dust, the spirit of man continues to exist (Eccl. 3: 21, cp. 12: 7).
The fact that animals do not possess an eternal soul in the sense that man does, does not de-emphasize their value as companions to man. Pets can and do become an important part in the lives of millions. Also, in man's charge over the animal kingdom, it behooves man to protect and not abuse the animals (Gen. 1: 26-28).
2006-07-12 05:19:08 · answer #8 · answered by Evy 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Different religions have differing views on this.
I myself don't believe in souls or an afterlife, so I'd say, help your canine buddy have the best possible life here and now. You won't have Rover forever. Make your time together count.
2006-07-12 05:06:35 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Men see in animals part of God’s generous provision for human welfare. Animals have served man as burden bearers, as sources of food and clothing, as sanitation agents, and as helpers in the vital activities of plowing and harvesting. Their variety of form and color has delighted his eye; their habits and instincts have been and still are an extensive field for inquiry into the marvels of God’s creative work. Though animals die in the same manner as man, they do not share his hope of a resurrection.—2Pe 2:12;
Animals were created with a limited life span, humans had the prospect of living on earth forever. (Genesis 3:22, 23; Psalm 37:29) Jesus Christ said that to enjoy “everlasting life,” we must exercise faith and take in knowledge of God—things that animals are incapable of doing. (John 3:36; 17:3)
God created animals for the sake of humans. Animals can help them do their work and can serve as their companions or pets. They also serve to magnify God’s love and wisdom.
The Creator gave life to both humans and animals. But for how long were they to continue to live? Scientists report that humans seem to have the potential of endless life, so that investigators are perplexed as to why man dies. The Bible gives the reason. It says that the Creator gave the first humans the opportunity of living forever. Death came only because they rebelled. (Gen. 2:17; 3:17-19; Rom. 5:12) What, though, of animals? They are not capable of conscious rebellion against God; yet they live only for a length of time and then die. Hence, it is clear that the Creator never purposed that individual animals live forever. For them death was natural.—2 Pet. 2:12.
2006-07-12 08:52:29 · answer #10 · answered by BJ 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋