A question on here earned me 2 thumbs down on my answer so i will ask you all for your thoughts and/or belief.
4 years ago one of my cats passed away from leukemia,i was traumatically heartbroken,as a result,i asked a Pastor in the Catholic church if i will see my cat when i enter Heaven,he responded,No,animals do not have souls.Do they or not??
2007-08-09 20:27:20 · 8 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=Al6h5RU.hGQXDHwf_flGHnXsy6IX?qid=20070810001006AAk9aYY&show=7#profile-info-diQpFVKiaa
2007-08-09 20:29:37 · update #1
Not understanding what Darth was talkin about but anyhow,thanks for your answers!
2007-08-09 20:38:01 · update #2
LOL!!Ok,gotcha Darth,and i agree with 100% on that hun!
2007-08-09 20:49:52 · update #3
And then there was Deacon.I assume i will get myself reading up on this particular issue on my own.Thanks to you all.
2007-08-10 07:00:42 · update #4
I'm Catholic.
There has never been any defined dogma by the Catholic Church regarding the souls of animals. Please tell your Pastor that.
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 once said apparently Aquinas never had a dog or pet of any kind. Apparently your pastor is giving his own opinion or has been influenced by Aquinas. Or he is just saying what Sister Mary Ignatius told him as a little boy.
Most priest and even a few Bishops have frankly said, "I don't know," when confronted with the question as to whether animals have souls and will go to Heaven.
I believe I will see my kitties and my little dog in Heaven. I know how you feel. I had a cat that had adenocarcinoma of the uterine stump and had to be put down in 1991. She was 15.
I might add that the Bible doesn't specifically mention the souls of animals. However, the Bible is Salvation History. It is about man's fall from grace and man's redemption. Don't believe your little cat's ancestors fell from grace like man did. However, it seems your little cat had to suffer and die because of man's fall from grace. It is only just that he receive the reward of eternal life.
2007-08-09 20:48:33 · answer #1 · answered by Shirley T 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
As an animist, I believe that all things around us have a soul. In my belief, there is a quality to life that goes beyond what can be seen and touched. The spirit or soul is this ephemeral quality. All animals, plants, even rocks have this quality to some degree.
As to whether the soul of an animal is immortal, I don't know. I only have experience of a human soul. However, folk tales tell us of wise animals, and my experience of pets show the same sort of degree of folly and wisdom/dignity in animals as with humans. Who knows, maybe animals have their own spiritual path to follow.
2007-08-10 04:09:21 · answer #2 · answered by Valarian 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
NO. Only man has a Soul and only men who are Born Again Christians can go to Heaven.
John 3:3
Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.
John 3:2-4 (in Context) John 3 (Whole Chapter)
John 3:7
Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.
John 3:6-8 (in Context) John 3 (Whole Chapter)
1 Peter 1:23
Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.
1 Peter 1:22-24 (in Context) 1 Peter 1 (Whole Chapter)
2007-08-10 05:13:26 · answer #3 · answered by deacon 6 · 1⤊ 2⤋
I asked a similair question awhile ago about animal ghosts. I was told that animals don't have souls. I guess if they did, and some souls become ghosts (?) then the woods would be full of vengeful whitetail ghosts.
2007-08-10 03:31:19 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
I believe if God wishes, an animal can live in Heaven. It's God's creation. He can have whatever He wants there. Soul or not.
2007-08-10 03:37:19 · answer #5 · answered by Wisdom Guru 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It is my belief that a soul is a spirit that dwells inside a body. And that animals have both spirits and bodies, so yes.
2007-08-10 03:56:06 · answer #6 · answered by karatekowgirl 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It is my personal belief that animals do have souls. I'm not sure, but I think that Buddhists believe that as well.
2007-08-10 03:31:41 · answer #7 · answered by sassylass 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I realy hope they do.they get screwed by man alot
not sexualy..like abused an habitats destroyed an such..perv..lol
2007-08-10 03:33:23 · answer #8 · answered by Darth Alfalfa 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋