Do animals have souls?

Question

My religion teacher (Catholic) told me that animals do not have souls... We had to put my dog to sleep a few days ago =[ and I believe that animals do have souls. What are your thoughts/ beliefs on this subject?

Answer 1

I have good reason to believe that animals have every chance of surviving death as we do
you know your dog , you know he had a personality , you know he loved you and you loved him .... would you know that of something that had no soul ?
trust your heart on this one xx

for you
http://www.indigo.org/rainbowbridge_ver2.html

Answer 2

Animals ARE souls. Numbers 31:28, Revalations 16:3, Leviticus 24:18. Your teacher probably said this because animals do not have hope of everlasting life. Also, humans ARE souls as well. Look these verses up: Genesis 2:7, 1Corinthians 15:45, Acts 27:37. Humans don't Have souls. They are souls.

Answer 3

I think that it would be good for you to research what the bible teaches about what a soul is.

Genesis 2:7: "And Jehovah God proceeded to form the man out of dust from the ground and to blow into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man came to be a living soul. "

He didn't have a soul, he is one, just as we are living souls, a soul is a person or the life of that person. Look what it says about animals...

Genesis 1 :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. "

Now check this out:
Ecclesiastes 3: 19 & 20: "For there is an eventuality as respects the sons of mankind and an eventuality as respects the beast, and they have the same eventuality. As the one dies, so the other dies; and they all have but one spirit, so that there is no superiority of the man over the beast, for everything is vanity. 20 All are going to one place. They have all come to be from the dust, and they are all returning to the dust."

Ecclesiastes 9:5: "5 For the living are conscious that they will die; but as for the dead, they are conscious of nothing at all, neither do they anymore have wages, because the remembrance of them has been forgotten."

Ezekiel 18: 20: "The soul that is sinning—it itself will die"

Romans 3:23; "For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, "

This is not the end of the truth, but the beginning, there is so much more, but this is what the bible teaches about the soul and about the condition of the dead...conscious of nothing. When our brain dies, we no longer are capable of thoughts or awareness, we are dead...

Acts 24:15: "and I have hope toward God, which hope these [men] themselves also entertain, that there is going to be a resurrection of both the righteous and the unrighteous."

Answer 4

Catholics do say that, but whats a soul? most cultures belive since every thing contains energy that we are all a part of the same energy! the celts belived that animals were closer to god. buddists believe that animals and humans all have the same energy and that re-incarnation is either animal or human. I believe that even trees have souls, after all they are alive! and I can look into my animals eyes and see love and emotion! so if the creature need a soul to feel emotion, then yes they have a soul! even plants re-act better in a positive environment with positive energy! yell at a house plant every day for a few months insult it! have another plant in another window that you baby, you'll see who does better!

Answer 5

Well, I was brought up a Catholic as well. I remember the nuns had not mentioned that. However, I've always believed that horses and dogs do have souls. Dog spelled backwards is God...and that's where my belief came from. As far as the horses are concerned, I've been around many. Have you ever looked deep into the eyes of a horse? Oh, gosh, I have...and there are extreme feelings that overwhelm me. A sense of awe...and strength...and might. It's amazing. Also, after I lost my cat...and I knew she was dead, there are many times I wake up at night and I could have sworn I felt her jump up on the bed next to me and lay where she always did, and that's right in the bend of my legs in the back. Gosh, I miss her so much.

Answer 6

If humans have souls, then why wouldn't animals? I'm sorry, but "because the Bible says so," just does not cut it for me. I was doing some research on Jainism, and I really like the way they view all living creatures as equal (since all souls are equal and during any rebirth a person may be as another creature.) Sounds like a much better attitude to have than this "I'm better than everything else walking."

Answer 7

Although I do not believe that animals have souls in the same sense that man has a soul, I do believe that some animals do have a special relationship with God. They bring great joy and in the end great sadness into the lives of people. For that, I am certain they are rewarded.

Answer 8

If you believe your dog has concious thought, if you think he could be happy or sad or angry? then he must also of had a soul because if you have no soul you have no emotion!
Tell your teacher human beings are animals and we have souls!

Answer 9

Well..........here is how I have come to my conclusion. I think we all have lost a pet that meant alot to us, so in my own experience, I just cannot DENY what I feel the Holy Spirit is telling me.

In the beginning...(Genesis)..it is written that GOD spoke the animals into existence. BUT! When it comes to man ( Adam ) and (Eve)...HE BREATHED the breath of life into them. Without such, I believe there is the absence of soul.

I further recall the occurrence of the demons (known as Legion)~ being cast into a hurd of swine (pigs). They went mad with the evil inside and went right over a cliff.

And then I am reminded of the fact that it TOO is written that in the New Jerusalem (heaven); that the LION shall lay down with the LAMB. (one's who on this earthly plane- are antagonists).

Now, with all that said.......

"With GOD; all things are possible."
He cares DEEPLY for our every concern, this much I KNOW!~
And there is nothing to say that HE would not re-united us with our family pets? Who knows? I'm just saying that I think it is possible. IDK?

I'm sorry if I couldn't be of more help; this obviously is just one of those curiosities that we will not know the answer to until we arrive there. Or unless you have a visitation from HIM, telling you how it goes? This is not unheard of either.

GOD BLESS YOU.
I empathize for your loss, sincerely!
^7^

Answer 10

Animals have souls. Go to the primate habitat in any large zoo, The Bronx Zoo in NYC is a god one. Sit for a period of time and observe the Gorillas. Make eye contact, you will see their souls.

Answer 11

If soul means consciousness, ability to be loved and to love loyally, not hurting others without reason, and the ability to feel pain Animals have more of a soul than many humans.