Every religion: How do you feel about this and why?

Question

**Please read all details!** Today I walked down my hallway, and glanced at my fish tank, only to see one of them on the floor of the tank, dead. It was a very depressing sight, even though you may think it was just a little fish, dead things are always sad to look at. It was not dead because of my neglect, we think one of our spazz 8-inch catfish had another panic attack and unintentionally killed it.

Anyway, so this got me thinking, do animals have an afterlife? Do they have a soul/spirit? And I wanted to know what the people on this site think. I would appreciate knowing specfically what religion you practice, and what you think of this. If you are Christian, do animals go to Heaven in your opinion? If you are whatever, it does not matter, do they reincarnate? Do they just...die? Do certain animals have an afterlife, but not others? Anyway, please don't focus on how my fish died or how this may be a stupid question. Go into as much detail as you please, I sure did! Blessed Be.

I'm aware that humans are animals, but you know, that's what we call them. I personally don't really have an opinion on the afterlife or if there is one, but I think if we have an afterlife they should too. And no, I am not worried about seeing my fish in Heaven, don't be silly. Don't focus on the afterlife part, it's the animals' afterlife, remember?

Answer 1

every thing that dies is dead!
there is no afterlife.
that is a pagan teaching that originated in Babylon and was spread across the earth when God mixed up the languages of the people.

Answer 2

it's ot a stupid question and while i honestly don't have an exacct asnwer for you (i'm not dead and haven't been to my after life yet ; ) I will say - there are quite a few references in the Bible to animals in the heavens.
but i don't believe animals have a souls as humans so i don't think you'll see your fish in the afterlife.
i do, however, hope that i will never fail to hear the birds in the morning or the owls at night that i enjoy so much now. :)

Answer 3

As a Christian, I do not believe that animals will be resurrected along with humans, simply because the Bible teaches that mankind is unique in that it is created in God's image. This is not to say that we look like Him, but that we are created with a spiritual aspect, or soul, that will live beyond the lifespan of our current bodies.
Because animals do not have souls, they also do not understand right and wrong, they cannot sin, and do not require forgiveness. They die when their bodies die. However, the Bible is detailed in its description of Heaven, saying that animals will be present, since Heaven will be full of all the enjoyable, God-honoring things that delighted us on earth, and more.
(Incidentally,The doctrine of human souls is why Christians are so adamantly against the evolution theory, that humans came from the same ancestors as apes. I believe that through natural selection and genetics that animals do change over time, that has been proven, but not to such an extent that entirely new and varied species developed from a single celled organism.)

Answer 4

That is sad, I'm sorry to hear it. I am a Jehovah's Witness and I believe what the bible teaches, that Humans and animals are the same in that we do not 'have' souls, but that the whole creature when alive 'is' a soul, there is nothing to say that we have a part of us that leaves our bodies after death. genesis 2:7 shows that adam 'became' a living soul. it shows that animals are also souls Genesis 1:20 and that the soul dies - ezekiel 18:4.

hope that helps.

Answer 5

I'm Christian. I don't know if animals have an afterlife or not. All I know is that God takes care of ALL of his creatures, so maybe they do have an afterlife. Maybe there is a place in heaven where their spirits go. Maybe we get to see them when we reach heaven, who knows? I don't know, and this question is unanswerable, but good question nonetheless because it really makes you think!

Answer 6

I'm an Agnostic, and I don't know if there is an afterlife for anyone or not. But if there is, I can't imagine why humans could go there and not other animals.

Answer 7

That's actually and interesting question. I'm not religious but it's something to think about. If humans sapposably go to heaven then why wouldn't animals? If god loves us all then animals would not be less important than humans, and they too would go to heaven. Haha who knows..

Answer 8

i am an animist pagan Neo-pagan... i beleive that every thing has a soul. since i was little i have wondered the same thing ... i do believe they have an after life... they would have to .... after life is the after life ... cant get no simpler than that lol.... i'm not quite sure on how they are judged.. like humans are... but they must have their own beliefs.... i know saying a fish or a dog has a religion is stupid to think about ... but we cant talk to them .... how do we know?
any way thats how i feel about that situation

Answer 9

I am a Catholic. The Bible says that God created all things. God created all things out of love. Wouldn't God want all things that He loves to be with him always? I say yes! So, I believe that all living things - human and animal - have souls and are reunited with us at the Throne of God in Heaven.

Answer 10

Human beings are the only living beings that possess a soul!
Animals therefore cannot go to heaven because they do not possess a soul! FYI--I am a Christian!

Answer 11

i am a spiritualist medium and have had many spirit come through with evidence of their pets being with them .. this may not be something you believe in but i can only tell you what i know from my own experience ... yes animals have spirits ... and although they may not remain in spirit world as long as we do before moving on to join the god force energy ...
the love that we hold for them keeps them in spirit until such time we are able to let them move on