Looking for honest, serious theological response to this: Do animals have a soul? Do they go to heaven?

Question

All the major religions of the world believe that humans have an eternal soul. For the faithfull, that is never open to debate. But what about animals? Do they have souls? Could dogs, cats, horses, insects, fish have everlasting life? What is your position on this? What is you religion's position on this?

Answer 1

Yup. God created them, He loves them, they'll be there.

http://www.woodhavenlabs.com/animals-heaven3.html

Answer 2

Not all religions believe in an immortal soul. The bible says "the soul that is sinning, it itself will die." Ecc. 18: 4 & 20

Yes, the bible shows that animals are souls.

Gen. 1: 20, 21, 24 & 25 "God went on to say, let the waters swarm forth a swarm of living souls.....let the earth put forth living souls according to their kind."

Lev. 24: 17 & 24 "....soul of domestic animal...

However, humans have been given the hope of a resurrection, and the hope of living forever, which has not been extended to animals. So enjoy your pets and take good care of them so they live as long as possible. I have five dogs and I try to enjoy every minute I can with them.

Answer 3

The Bible doesn't come out and say if animals have any spirit in them or not.
I was raised that they did not, that God breathed something special into humans, so we're the only ones with souls. But I can't say for sure if that's all there is to it.
The Bible does tell us that there will be animals in heaven. "The lion will lie down with the lamb." Whether they were created in heaven, or went there after death, it's hard to say.
I guess my answer is, I don't know for sure.
.
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Answer 4

Also, the animals are souls, Genesis say "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" (1:21) "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."(1:24) But the animals can not go to Heaven. Actually, just a group from the Earth go to Heaven. Apocalypses 14:1 says: "the Lamb standing upon the Mount Zion, and with him a hundred and forty-four thousand having his name and the name of his Father written on their foreheads." Many people from all nations, languages or tribes wait to leave in a Paradise in the Earth. (Genesis 1:28; Psalm 37:29, Proverbs 2:21) we are gonna live with animals in extraordinary peace ISAIAH 65.21-25 says: And they will certainly build houses and have occupancy; and they will certainly plant vineyards and eat [their] fruitage. They will not build and someone else have occupancy; they will not plant and someone else do the eating. For like the days of a tree will the days of my people be; and the work of their own hands my chosen ones will use to the full. They will not toil for nothing, nor will they bring to birth for disturbance; because they are the offspring made up of the blessed ones of Jehovah, and their descendants with them. And it will actually occur that before they call out I myself shall answer; while they are yet speaking, I myself shall hear. “The wolf and the lamb themselves will feed as one, and the lion will eat straw just like the bull; and as for the serpent, his food will be dust. They will do no harm nor cause any ruin in all my holy mountain,” Jehovah has said.

Answer 5

Animals have no souls. But there will be animals in heaven. I think it's in the book of revelation, where John has a vision that the lion will be lying next to the lamb....Animals were created by God, so I think there will be animals in heaven. If your pet died, I sincerely doubt you will see it in heaven. sorry.

Answer 6

"the Lion will lay next to the Lamb" I take take that as all in peace. and literally.

My Heaven is supposed to be what brings me joy. If that promise by God is true, (which I believe it is) then my heaven would have to have my animals.

My animals may not have had a soul such as mine, but I know they had something really special. God wouldn't let that special quality be left out of heaven. Hope I'm right.

Answer 7

Animals do not have souls, and here's why. Animals do not have a moral code to follow since they are completely controlled by instinct. If they do something that is immoral to humans, they can't be held accountable; becausethey only live by instincts. If humans were just animals then i could beat my neighbor and steal his wife and noone could say anything, because its all instinct right? Humans have a moral code they must follow, and they have a choice to make. That's why humans have souls and animals don't. e=mail for comments/questions.

Answer 8

I have not found any thing in scripture that supports this thought, however we all have had pets that we love so much that when they die we can only hope that they will be taken to heaven, this is part of the human condition and we must believe that God has this all taken care of.

Answer 9

I believe that animals do not have a soul. I think they know who their creator is and to whom they belong. God, in Genesis, created man and woman in His spiritual image hence, our soul. That did not apply to animals. He gave the animals to man just as He did the earth, as property, since He gave us dominion over everything.

Answer 10

I think animals have a soul. I think there will be animals in heaven. To explain exactly why I think this, it would make for a very LONG answer on here...you can email me if you want to know my reasoning. I don't believe that animals have a spirit..only humans do..but God gave us animals..and I believe they will be there for us In heaven too...

Answer 11

well, i ought to say no. however, i've known four animals in my life that seemed to have been humans in a previous life, and simply wanted things a little easier in this one. So truly, i don't know, but boy i miss those animals and i don't even really like pets