There has never been a defined doctrine on the souls of animals. Thomas Aquinas taught that all life was a soul but only humans have an immortal soul. However, a priest friend said many years ago the Church has never said Thomas Aquinas was infallible and apparently Aquinas never had a dog or pet of any kind.
I have had other priest indicate, we really don't know.
Now the Bible doesn't mention the souls of animals because the Bible is salvation history. It deals with Man's fall from grace and Man's redemption. There would be no need to deal with the souls of animals.
So if any Catholics out there says they don't, I would like to know what makes them so sure - not that Sister Mary Ignatius told you so.
2007-04-14 10:21:24 · 11 answers · asked by Shirley T 7 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Anyone who thinks animals don't have souls has never had or loved a dog. You'd have to be a blithering idiot to believe that a dog doesn't have a soul.
2007-04-14 10:25:27 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
RE: Does the Catholic Church believe animals have souls and will be in heaven? This has really been concerning me lately. I've done some research and found that many Catholic sources believe that animals don't have souls, or at best, don't have immortal souls. As a new member of the Catholic Church, I find this to be a devastating, faith-shaking idea. How could anyone believe...
2016-05-20 00:11:57 · answer #2 · answered by delores 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The trueth is according to fact compare with simular things and accoring to authority.
These are the way we try to find out reality but not exactly.
Firstly; bible came from Moses who leading the people in the desert, the only food were
animals. If he said animals had soul of feeling, theory will not kill animal for a fair deal and comparsion.
Secondly; bible said the creator did everything and arrange everything was a pet psychology; thou shall not want. Animals died with soul, should creator accept these soul? If yes, will space enough to acept? for now is more than 2000 years after Christ. Heaven should be everlasting and no change and soul will not dye again. That will be a awful thing if heaven is everlasting and no change, for me will be a disaster.
Thirdly; Why creator made us feed with animals? He knew the bad things and he created too? He created angels and the leader Satan who always anti him and also a everlasting subject. He did a mistake?
Fourly; He is powerful and intellegence to creat something he do not want? And his products not obey him still waiting for his punishment? He like to punish people?
I was a Christian too but all the questions I asked when I was a young kid. Everytime returned to me was a acute that I should not ask.
Fifthly; Bible said none of the words will change, there is only one god in the world. As we know there are so many other god in world besides his son Jesus.
Sixtyly; All religious in our world are according to their background to describe their god; A westhern god will not dress eastthern style and Krisner never put on jacket and jean. Black people god is black, white people god is white. They will never get out of their traditional concept.
What is a soul? Testing from a sensitive electronic equitment will know; after a creature died within 3 days, there is a report showwing the indicator reflected some things had moved around the death body zone. Is there a soul for animals?
2007-04-14 11:11:19 · answer #3 · answered by johnkamfailee 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Funny, my good friend is a philosophy prof at Loyola University. Which as you probably know is a Catholic University. In my opinion is pretty funny, they seem a little bit of a paradox right? He had to take a class on Aquinas and wanted to rip his eyes out. Anyway, it would seem to me that Catholics would believe that animals would have no soul. Considering that they ( don't mean "they" in a negative sense) believe humans are above and beyond all. Which probably leads to some sort of power play, which often comes from religions. A means to believe that we are that much more important. Same reason some christian movements believe we have the right to destroy the earth. Something along the lines of, God gave it to us, for us to dominate and that is part of his goal. I bet animals would fall into that domain. Think of manifest destiny.
2007-04-14 10:46:35 · answer #4 · answered by choubisou 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Why would any one say any thing because they make it up as they go along. Who the heck really knows what the truth is. The bible is a history book written by man. People who say such things as animals have no souls are ignorant people who actually believe that they are superior to animals. How do we know that humans have souls.? Just because the bible says so.... GIVE ME A BRAKE! GREAT QUESTION
2007-04-14 10:41:36 · answer #5 · answered by scruffie 2 · 0⤊ 2⤋
Catholics who say animals do not have souls are really the ones with out a soul. Humans have conditions when they give love. Animals don't. The two people who gave thumbs down are going to burn in a fiery hell because they have NO soul.
2007-04-14 10:26:56 · answer #6 · answered by Lynnemarie 6 · 1⤊ 2⤋
I think you are correct. Catholic doctrine is rather quiet about the subject.
Something to think about:
The book of Revelation chapter 5 verse 13 states, "Then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea, everything in the universe, cry out: "To the one who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be blessing and honor, glory and might, forever and ever."
This sounds like every creature is praising Jesus.
With love in Christ.
2007-04-15 15:28:52 · answer #7 · answered by imacatholic2 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I am not sure why catholics believe animals do not have souls other than if they read the bible they will find that there are no scriptural references to animal souls. Scripture is Gods word....
2007-04-14 10:27:09 · answer #8 · answered by K 5 · 1⤊ 1⤋
I'm not a Catholic and I don't believe animals have souls.
2007-04-14 10:24:01 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
I was hoping you would get a more informed answer then what you got.
2007-04-14 10:47:52 · answer #10 · answered by Atheist 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋