Do animals go to heaven?

Question

Why in the bible, does it say animals dont have souls? How dont they? They have personalities, and are so smart. Is it possible they go to heaven?

Answer 1

If you look at my profile, I actually asked a very similar question a few months ago. There were some very good, well thought out answers there. I'll kinda sum up what I personally believe: I think animals do go to heaven. God loves the animals He made infinity times more than all the people on this earth love our animals, and since He can do anything, and He made them, I don't think it would be hard for Him at all to have them in heaven too. There isn't a verse that says animals don't have souls. I do believe our souls are different and more complex than animals, and that we're made in God's image, but I don't believe that animals are soulless and are like little robots prancing around for our food and entertainment. When I look deep into my Django's eyes, (my beloved little corgi,) I don't see a soulless creature who's destined to die without any afterlife, I see thoughts and personality and a soul, much like I see when I look into people's eyes.

And I believe my old kitty Rex, is sitting somewhere high above me up in heaven purring like crazy with angels stroking his neck. :-)

Answer 2

Nowhere does Scripture explicitly state that animals do not have souls...There is nothing in Scripture I know of that would preclude the possibility of animals' continued existence...The Bible does give us some reason to hope that departed animals will be restored. We read in the Bible that redemption is a cosmic matter. The whole creation is destined to be redeemed through the work of Christ (Romans 8:21), and we see the images of what heaven will be like; beautiful passages of Scripture tell us about the lion and lamb and other animals being at peace with one another.(Isaiah 11:6-8). Whenever heaven is described, though it may be in highly imaginative language, it is a place where animals seem to be present. Whether these are animals newly created for the new heavens and the new earth, or they are the redeemed souls of our pets that have perished, we can't know for sure.

Answer 3

The Catholic Church has no defined doctirne on the souls of animals.

Thomas Aquinas taught that all life was a soul but only humans have an immortal soul.

The Catholic Church has never said Thomas Aquinas was infallible. A priest friend of mine said apparently Aquinas never had a dog or pet of any kind.

I have the hope of seeing my little Pekingnese, Paddy, and all the kitties I have ever had in Heaven.

The Bible doesn't mention anything about animals in Heaven, but the Bible is Salvation History. It was man that fell from grace and man that needed redeeming. I believe my pets ancestors just never failed from grace. So there is was no need for the Bible to mention the souls of animals.

Answer 4

Where does it say they don't have souls? Since the soul is the blood, I assume they have souls. When the High Priest were sacrificing the Lamb on the Alter, they were to first slit its throat and allow the soul to pour out on the ground. And just like humans, when the body dies, so does the soul, also found in the Bible. No Blible says the soul is eternal.

Answer 5

Animals don't have souls. 'God breathed into Adam the breath of life' and he became a living soul. Genesis. The book of Rev is filled with the animals that are in heaven, and why God would keep our dear friends out would be beyond me. People that have died and glimpsed heaven have testified to friends and pets that are are there in heaven. You obviously don't have to be saved to be in heaven, i.e. the angels, cherubim etc... and every kind of animal in the galaxies. Animals are very simple really. They are not people. I love dogs. Most people love dogs because a dog is always faithful, but they don't have a soul, and thus they're not in need of saving.

Answer 6

i think they do but im not really sure i dont belive in the bible that much but i think animals go to heaven like people do

Answer 7

the bible doesnt mention nothing.. but animals go to the heaven cuz they are part of the creation.. and they are pure and innocents. the human we make than they act with bad actions..

Answer 8

I was about to say that animals don't go to heaven because they don't have souls. My pastor said that a few years ago when I went to bible study. I guess they don't go to heaven because certain animals really don't have a real purpose in life.

When you really think about it, I don't think that a animal be a born again Christian. An animal can't pray to God, so I guess they can't go to heaven either.

Answer 9

In Chinese and Japanese myths and legends, animals have even the capabilities to practice spiritual paths, some go the wrong way and become demons and while others go on the path of goodness and become gods and immortals.

Answer 10

When my dog died I had a hard time dealing with it and a friend told me to believe that they are in Heaven. And we'll know when we get there. I just imagine my dachshund running with Jesus. I think they do....In Revelation it talks about the lamb lying down with the lion.