I went to a Catholic high school where I distinctly remember being taught that only humans have souls to the exclusion of all other animals. I have also seen this assertion repeated on yahoo answers several times (only humans can go to heaven, only humans can sin, etc, etc...).
Now, if you recognize and understand evolution, which many of you do of course, then do you believe that human ancestors did not have a soul? They were much simpler forms of life after all. Also, if you believe they didn't, at what point did humans begin having souls? How human did our ancestors have to get before their soul sprung into existence?
I guess what I'm asking is what criteria does an organism have to meet in order to have a soul? At what point do you think our soul came into existence? Is there an official answer to this from the Catholic church? If other great apes have been proven capable of reasoning does this mean they too can have a soul? I'm curious if the church has a stance.
2007-08-09 02:13:22 · 15 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
To sudonym x:
I can't try another denomination as I am not religious. I am curious as to what religious people who do believe in evolution think about this though. It is certainly a well known practice in many denominations that only humans have souls.
2007-08-09 02:19:47 · update #1
Does no moderate Catholic want to step up to the plate on this one?
2007-08-09 02:23:51 · update #2
Great question! You have made an excellent observation as to why Creation is the reason we exist. Evolution is merely someone's idea or theory that scientists cannot prove and keep running into stumbling blocks - like your question about our soul.
Please look at my previous question to see more about Creation:
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=ApMXtBKTa_fUUNmjFtpE7H_ty6IX?qid=20070804163818AAZH8TS
Also, here is a list of scientific facts that are also in the Holy Bible.
http://www.creationscience.com/onlinebook/IntheBeginningTOC.html
2007-08-10 02:33:28 · answer #1 · answered by Naturescent 4 · 0⤊ 2⤋
First of all; you may not personally be trying to force your beliefs on others, but don't be fooled. That certainly is the goal of christianity, islam, judaism, and the list goes on. You want evidence? Read a history book about the crusades. Try to buy liquor on a Sunday.Better yet, read the old testament. It is filled with stories of "god's people" forcing their will on others by the point of the sword. Secondly: we don't need to prove you wrong. That has been done quite well. What we need is for people like you to join the rest of humanity is using reason and evidence over that unprovable, untestable, idea you call faith which does nothing more than have you ignore the laws of science that, yes, govern our entire universe as we know it. Andbefore you chime in with "science doesn't have all of the answers either", science readily admits that with the understanding that science is the only discipline that will possibly answers all of our questions. Put your faith aside and engage your brain with reason. It won't hurt, and your god will not strike you down for doing it. Peace.
2016-05-17 21:58:53 · answer #2 · answered by allen 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
A soul, if it exists, is a supernatural thing. We can't explain a soul through the laws of physics.
So if you believe you have a soul, by logic you have to believe in God. Yet you say you're not religious.
If you think you have a soul, then asking if animals have souls is a very unimportant question. The most important question has to deal with finding this God who gave you a soul.
You have this wonderful gift called a soul, yet you don't want to seek the Giver?
2007-08-10 00:12:01 · answer #3 · answered by Matthew T 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Man is a spirit having a soul and living in a body. The soul consists of the will, mind and emotion. The spirit consist of the conscience, intuition and communion. An animal also have a soul but not a spirit. Only man has spirit because God breathed spirit into Adam when he was created.
2007-08-09 02:36:08 · answer #4 · answered by seekfind 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
As a Pagan I believe that all living things have a Life Force, and a soul, and some form of consciousness though we may not recognize it. It is human arrogance to assume that only we have souls. All living things have souls, and all living things contain what we call "sparks of the divine."
2007-08-11 00:14:57 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
"God Breathed life into Adam" - that was giving mankind
a soul (then Eve was made from Adam).
I believe animals do have some type of soul, however.
I don't think macro evolution has been in any
way proven. I don't have any problem with
micro evolution - it makes sense.
2007-08-09 02:24:25 · answer #6 · answered by Nickel-for-your-thoughts 5 · 2⤊ 1⤋
I am agnostic deist.
There is so much christian doctrine and dogma that is just ludicrous to anyone with common sense. Animals and souls is one of them.
Do you believe that a deity would want to exist without an animal nearby? We are lowly humans and even we know the power of the love from animals.
2007-08-09 02:20:58 · answer #7 · answered by Gorgeoustxwoman2013 7 · 1⤊ 2⤋
According to Native American beliefs, EVERYTHING has a spirit that would be respected. If you believe that animals, especially pets, have a soul, then they do.
2007-08-09 02:24:20 · answer #8 · answered by grumpyfiend 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Good question. We know the Bible says only humans have souls so one just doen't evolve into a human and just pick up a soul. But atheists would have to argue we don't have souls so we are back to square one.
2007-08-09 02:18:34 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 3⤋
I think animals have souls. What about that gorilla Koko? She can think feel-- even got depressed when her cat died! She shows every emotion and uses sign language to convey her thoughts. I don't think any Christian can say animals don't have souls after they encounter her-- if they do they are misleading themselves. http://www.answers.com/topic/koko
2007-08-09 02:22:34 · answer #10 · answered by mathaowny 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋