Hmmm, my last question seemed to provoke some intense debate. A lot of you seem to be dogmatically certain that animals have souls. Could you prove it?
(and before you answer, I have to let you know one fact - the word "soul" is derived directly from religious texts so don't try to use it in a non-religious context - that would not be logical)
2007-08-17 11:22:52 · 10 answers · asked by Anonymous in Pets ➔ Dogs
This should be interesting. LOL But I'm going to go ahead and argue against the question.
What does the word soul mean historically?
1. A living, breathing human
2. The physical, animated form of life that is lost at death
3. An immortal being that never dies
Obviously, only number 2 applies to animals so they do not fit the traditional definition of possessing a soul.
Genesis 1:26-30 and 2:7,21-25 clearly states that man was a special creation with no phylogenetic relationship to any other creature. Thus, there is a phylogenetic discontinuity between man and animals—we are not physically interrelated.
St Paul wrote “All flesh is not the same flesh: but there is one flesh of men, and another flesh of beasts, and another flesh of birds, and another of fishes” (1 Cor 15)
2007-08-17 11:24:05 · answer #1 · answered by Veritas 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
From what I read, most were not *certain* that dogs had souls. I informed you that proof was needed to validate your argument that humans are the only ones with souls.
Try posting this in the R&S section (although it's been posted before.) Hindus and Buddhists are both groups that believe animals have souls. Again, I must point out...these are spiritual beliefs. You will never get an absolute answer, since no one actually knows for sure.
2007-08-17 18:46:31 · answer #2 · answered by KS 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Animals are better beings then humans by far. They are innocent and creatures of God. Humans are not innocent, actually majority are evil. Humans are the ones killing everything and everyone, destroying everything and everyone. Not animals. You can not even prove humans have souls, only by scrpiture which has been edited so many times over and over, with huge chunks left out.
It all depends what you believe in, I believe they do and I can no more prove than you can prove you have a soul. Can't believe everything you read. I believe in God but I believe the bible and any and all other scrpiture has been way too altered.
2007-08-17 19:22:38 · answer #3 · answered by TritanBear 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
If you use this definition, then, yes:
The Ancient Greeks used the same word for 'alive' as for 'ensouled'. So the earliest surviving Western philosophical view might suggest that the terms soul and aliveness, were synonymous.
You set it up for you to win, by putting it in the parameters of religion, guessing Christianity, perhaps I am wrong.
"One widespread rationalization in Christian circles, often used to justify humanity’s mistreatment of animals, is the erroneous belief that humans alone possess immortal souls, and only humans, therefore, are worthy of moral consideration."
The 19th century German philosopher, Arthur Schopenhauer, condemned such a philosophy in his On the Basis of Morality
Or, maybe not.
Why does the fact that others may believe differently from you bother you so very much?
2007-08-17 18:42:57 · answer #4 · answered by Schatzi 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Yes I think they do, that's the way God made them, pure.
Please note this is my opinion, I've been around dogs, cats, all my life and have more than a few story's to tell you about pure souls, they are pure till people mess with the animals.
2007-08-17 19:24:53 · answer #5 · answered by kim t 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
well in religios text it states that every living thing has a soul. us humans have souls so why not dogs. God made living creatures so they must have souls. there are evil souls and good souls. good and evil. without souls we would not live. Plants have souls and bugs have souls. its like karma. your soul is reincarnated into another form. I hope that helps! everyone should have the sense of god in them. Your question is one of the best ones i've seen all day!
2007-08-17 18:36:40 · answer #6 · answered by Molly 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Really, they don't... but I would like to think that my little Schnoodle puppy will be in heaven with me. But you have to have a soul. Man were created in the image of God... with a soul. God gave man dominion over the animals. No they don't have a soul. But as I said... I want my dog with me in heaven! :-(
2007-08-17 18:33:55 · answer #7 · answered by Holli H 1 · 2⤊ 1⤋
What the heck happened to all the people out there who were saying animals have souls? Can they not prove their case?
Ever seen a dog locking up little orphan children in cages and trying to find good homes for them?
Case closed. They don't have souls and don't even come close to being equal to humans.
2007-08-17 18:30:31 · answer #8 · answered by Wild America 2 · 2⤊ 5⤋
the bible says that only man is created in God's image so therefore animals don't have no soul.
2007-08-17 18:32:09 · answer #9 · answered by Angel 2 · 2⤊ 2⤋
no
2007-08-17 19:10:13 · answer #10 · answered by Matty k 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋