I was raised Baptist and this question has always bothered me...?

Question

They always told us animals didnt go to heaven. That animals did not/ do not have a soul. Arent we ourselves mammals and indeed animals? So are they not contradicting their own teachings?

For the record I am anti-religion now.

To jason h down there I said.. for the record I am anti relgion now. Perhaps if you read past the Baptist word you would of seen this little phrase.

ladydior1981- animals feel love, compassion and pain why would the be excluded. So humans think past instict?? Not all humans do some humans are no smarter than an ape.

drox-you talk about pagans disregarding "gods' word. You know christians mass slaughtered these people until they were driven underground.. hows that for disregarding "gods" word?

MLJ- I asked this question not for validation of my belief that they are hypocrites and contradicting themselves, but simply to bring out one of many contradictions there are in christianity.

Answer 1

hypocrisy in religion? gasp
people like that make me giggle

Answer 2

Neither humans nor animals have souls. They ARE souls. According to Genesis 2:7 when Adam was created it says nothing about him receiving a soul. Rather is says he BECAME a soul. Any living, breathing thing is a soul.

Concerning the difference between humans and animals, note what Ecclesiastes 3:19-21 states:

"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.  All are going to one place. They have all come to be from the dust, and they are all returning to the dust.  Who is there knowing the spirit of the sons of mankind, whether it is ascending upward; and the spirit of the beast, whether it is descending downward to the earth?"

Concerning both animals and men, this scripture states that all are going to the same place, that is, the dust (compare Genesis 3:19). However, this passage of scripture states that the spirit of mankind ascends to God whereas the spirit of animals goes back to the ground. The spirit is not some type of ghost that lives inside of us that floats up to heaven when we die otherwise the scripture would be wrong where it says that "they are all going to the same place". Rather, it is the life-force (or breath) that God gave us that every breathing man or animal has (Job 33:4). When a man dies, his life-force figuratively ascends "upward" returning to God who gave it (Psalm 36:9; 146:4). Thereafter, it is in God's hands as to whether the person remains dead eternally, or is resurrected back to life (Job 14:12-15). The spirit, or life force, of animals though, is spoken of as descending to the earth. Hence, when an animal dies it returns to the earth forever without any prospect for future life.

God created humans higher than animals (Genesis 1:27, 28). Death is a natural eventuality for animals (2 Peter 2:12). Humans were created to live forever (though Adam sinned and spread sin and death to all mankind (Romans 5:12). When mankind is once again brought to a perfect state of being (Revelation 21:3, 4) animals will continue to die. Their dying may help mankind in the future paradise to comprehend death so as to know really what death is (compare Genesis 2:15-17) and avoid sinning against God.

Answer 3

Geez, I wish you didn't decide to throw out the baby with the bathwater. Don't you realize that Gods opinion of the Churches is even worse than yours?
I was brought up Catholic, and wow, talk about false doctrine; but its not God saying that nonsense, its man. Dump them, not God.
Anyway, if its any help to you, the Book of Ezekiel from Chapter 40 til the end is all what we will be doing in the Eternity. You will find animals of all kinds there.

These Churches had better stop preaching their own words and get back to teaching
God's; they are already in a crapload of trouble with God as it is.
Read Rev 2 where John is given a message to each of 7 churches; only 2 of the seven are approved of by Christ Himself. And both of those churches taught the exact same thing. In over 35 years, I have found exactly ONE CHURCH that teaches it. You'll find the two approved churches at Rev 2:8 and 3:9 - if folks are in a church that doesn't teach what those two
Churches taught, they are in deep doodoo.

Try wiping your mind completely clean of all the BS you've ever heard from any of the Churches, and check out what God has to say; you'll be presently surprised with what He has to say, but at the same time you will be amazed at how different it is from what the Churches teach.
They are supposed to be teaching Gods Word, not their own tripe.
Why diss Him for what some ignorant bunch of holier-than-thou hypocrites said?

Answer 4

Although science classifies us as animals and indeed we are mammals, but we are also made in the image of God and human beings were given dominion above other creatures. That sets us above our pets. We were given the intelligence higher than them, therefore leaving us a free will to decide or choose heaven. Animals are here for us to enjoy. They have no afterlife. The good news is, we will be able to enjoy animals in heaven too, only this time they are tame. Yes! Even the wild beasts that we fear here on earth like lions and tigers. Little children will play with them. It's biblical.

Answer 5

you make sense. i am a Christian. i believe that there is a Heaven for animals.why else would the Catholic church have several days during the year for special blessings for animals of all kinds. yes, it is contradictory. i hate to see you lose your Faith because of some human errors. we are only human and we are sinners and we are a contradictory people .we are not always right and will be wrong most of the time. we are not infallible. please give your religion another chance. if you still feel that your Baptist religion is lrtting you down then maybe GOD is trying to tell you to look esle where for a new set of religious beliefs. in this world today many people are doing just that . it's okay to religion shop until you find one that fits your beliefs. GOD does not mind as long as you keep Faith in HIM.

Answer 6

I am not telling you that going to church is what you should be doing. I most cases organized religion doesn't work. What I am saying that Jesus is there and want a relationship with you. As far as animals are considered here is what the Bible says... (Who cares what man teaches!) Jim
Psalms 36:5-6
Thy mercy, O LORD, is in the heavens; and thy faithfulness reacheth unto the clouds.
Thy righteousness is like the great mountains; thy judgments are a great deep: O LORD, thou preservest man and beast.

Answer 7

Sorry to hear your anti religous now...so why the need to ask the question if your not a believer?

That said. I was raised methodist, baptist, protestant... I'm not of any dinomination........I believe you don't have to have one. But I do believe in God. I don't however believe in everything "people" tell me, or tell me what I should or shouldn't believe in........that's why we all have our own minds not theres. Ya know.

I have had a bunch of dogs in my life, cats too. I have three dogs right now, love them all. I'm a big animal person period.
I truly believe that animals of all kind will be in Heaven. Think for a minute too.......just thought of this. If animals weren't that important to God why'd he have Noah build an ark big enough to put all of them on it with him..........hmmmm? God created the animals and all the creatures and there all amazing and wonderful in there own way. Right.

Answer 8

Religious people like to imagine that humans are somehow unique and have no connection to anything else in nature. The fact that we share 97% DNA with chimpanzees proves that we ARE just another animal life form. If humans have souls--whatever that may be, exactly--then surely other animals do, too.

Answer 9

animals act on instinct- we have a choice to do or not- wether or not they are in Heaven so to speak i am not sure- but they will be here during Christ's 1000 year reign- is mentioned in Isiah 65-66 as for religion- I don't like the way it leads people to think that pagan customs are OK and to disregard Gods word to do those things.

Answer 10

So anti-religion what are you doing in this community then. Go back to your demonology and norse whatever which I thought they had gods. Not everyone's answer is going to be nice, we are from all over the world with all different backgrounds, different situations, there are those that are going to feed off your energy and the sooner you work out the time wasters less of your time you'll waste.

Answer 11

I left the Catholic Church one week before I was to be confirmed because the priest told me my dog would not go to Heaven.
I am a Buddhist now. I understand where you are coming from completely.