Do animals other than people have a soul? I think so, how about you?

Question

I believe that all animals from cats and dogs, to fish, insects, snakes, birds, etc. all have souls. I'm not sure what a soul is, but whatever it is, I think that if people have it, other animals definitely do too.

My boss at work and I always argue about this. He thinks humans are the only ones that have a soul.

What do you think?

Before I close this question I would like to say that I think it's very interesting to see that religious people both agree and disagree with this subject. I personally am an atheist, but I think that if you define a soul roughly as the thing that gives life, personality, and awareness to a being, then all animals have it for sure. I also thought the mentioning of plants having soulds was intersting. I am not sure about that one, but I will say that it is certainly possible.

Answer 1

Many Christians believe that animals do not have souls and nothing happens to them when they die.

I personally do not believe in heaven and hell but I do believe in souls and I believe that animals have them. I cannot imagine why animals, as living and breathing creatures just like us, would not have souls if we do.

Answer 2

The Bible says that both humans and animals are living souls. It says that the soul is the life that they lead. It does not say that either the soul of the human or the animal survives death. Only the resurrection can restore the soul (life) or make a person a soul again.

Answer 3

I'm guessing that your idea of a soul and your boss's idea of a soul are 2 different things. There is a difference between people and animals. People are the only ones that percieve their own mortality. It is that higher ablitliy to reason that allows us to be responsible for our souls. We have the choice of good and evil. God gave us that free will. It isn't the same with animals. They do have some mental abilities (some more than others) but they never reach that true state of reason. They can't choose for instance to reject God, to willing die for another (they may do so, but not with the knowledge of their sacrifice), to go against their nature, etc...

Answer 4

Yes of course. Soul is the living, conscious spiritual particle within the body. Without the soul body is simply dead matter. Not only animals, but also plants have souls. The souls in all bodies are equal, but the difference is that in lower bodies soul's consciousness is more covered, for example, plants practically do not show any signs of consciousness, although their souls are the same as in human bodies. When the body is finished, the soul transmigrates to another body, either lower or higher. This information is given in the Vedic literatures.
However, actually soul is not meant to be in different material bodies and transmigrate from one body to another. The soul has its eternal spiritual identity as servant of Supreme Lord. When the soul is in human body it has a unique opportunity to revive this spiritual consciousness through the process of bhakti-yoga. If we succeed to do so, we will not have to take another birth in this material world in another material body, but we will return to spiritual kingdom. Would you like to?

Answer 5

I do not believe so... the basis is that mankind was created in God's image... and the animals just as physical animated objects... man kind has free will beyound instinct and was originaly intended to have immortal life in the earthly body... but because man messed up and brought sin into the world the immortal life in the physical body was lost..God then provided a way for mankind to regain His favor and a place with Him in Heaven. But there is no record of God giveing the same to the animals.

Answer 6

The Hebrew and Greek word we translate into soul means "breather".

So everything that breaths is a soul.
Read Gen 1 : 20 And God went on to say: “Let the waters swarm forth a swarm of living souls and let flying creatures fly over the earth upon the face of the expanse of the heavens.” 21 And God proceeded to create the great sea monsters and every living soul that moves about, which the waters swarmed forth according to their kinds, and every winged flying creature according to its kind. And God got to see that [it was] good
24 And God went on to say: “Let the earth put forth living souls according to their kinds, domestic animal and moving animal and wild beast of the earth according to its kind.” And it came to be so. 25 And God proceeded to make the wild beast of the earth according to its kind and the domestic animal according to its kind and every moving animal of the ground according to its kind. And God got to see that [it was] good.


After man and animals die the only hope for life is the resurrection. Only mankind have been promised a resurrection.

Answer 7

You can say they have a soul or not, but i believe there will be no dogs in heaven, Jesus did not die for the salvation of dogs nor any other, anyway when I am in heaven and worshiping God, the question on rather or not my pet is with me or not will not even matter.

Answer 8

Once St.Peter was hoity toity about foods and he had a grand spread appear before him in the bible. If fish had souls Christ would not have fed five thousand with fish. If sheep had souls Abraham would not have sacrificed a lamb.

If lice have souls ought we let 'em breed in our 'air?

Answer 9

i vote for you! animals have to much savey of humans not to have something going. i have the most loving animals, they call themselves guarding me, if i am sleeping, they try to attack who ever tries to come into my room. is that a soul, or just they love me, and if they love me, isn't that having a soul. jesus talked about the "lion shall lay down by the lamb"

Answer 10

I don't think people or animals have souls, if you are using the traditional definition. Your brain creates your thoughts. Your thoughts are what make you who you are. When your brain dies, your thoughts are gone.