Verses please? I'm trying to find some info for my husband who is very depressed about our cat: We have spent over $2000 in 4 days on her treatment and we do not know if she will pull through. Please pray that she does, she is almost like a daughter to him who had no one while he was alone for many years in Florida while his family was far away.
2007-12-28 04:39:40 · 17 answers · asked by Christine S 3 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
PS. She went to the emergency ward on Christmas Day at 12:30am and he's been depressed about Christmas ever since, he's extremely down, and blames God, which I don't like, but I understand (although I never will), all I can do is try to comfort him.
2007-12-28 04:41:59 · update #1
Kerry, thanks but "canonized" Mormom scriptures are not scripture at all to the majority of Christians. I consider the Apocrypha accepted as canon by the Catholic church before I accept something less than 200 years old as canonized scripture.
2007-12-28 05:04:26 · update #2
Animals have souls and spirits. According to the Book of Genesis chapter 1 verse 20 & verse 30, animals have souls (nephesh), and according to Ecclesiastes. 3:19, animals also have spirits (ruach). Also, if read in its entirety, the Ecclesiastes. passage makes it quite clear that there is no difference between the kind of spirit found in man and those found within animals, for it states: "They all have the same spirit, and man has no advantage over the beast."
All living things are souls.
2007-12-28 04:45:59 · answer #1 · answered by MyPreshus 7 · 7⤊ 1⤋
I am so sorry to hear about your situation. I firmly believe that animals DO have souls, and they are just like family members. It's very sad and heartbreaking when they become sick or pass away. I agree with what someone else mentioned regarding Ecclesiastes. Here is the exact verse:
ECCLESIASTES 3:19-21
"Man's fate is like that of the animals; the same fate awaits them both: As one dies, so dies the other. All have the same breath, man has no advantage over the animal. Everything is meaningless. All go to the same place; all come from dust and to dust all return."
Here is another one:
PSALMS 50:10-11
"Every animal of the forest is mine, and the cattle on a thousand hills. I know every bird in the mountains, and the creatures of the field are mine."
And another:
PSALMS 145:-9-10,13,15-21
"Though all creatures are subject to man's cruelty, God loves all His creation and has made plans for all His children and the lesser creatures to enjoy His eternal Kingdom."
Hope this proves that they our pets do indeed have souls. In fact, they have the purest souls as they always give us such warm, unconditional love.
I hope your dear cat gets better very soon. May the new year bring you good luck and good news.
2007-12-30 23:08:41 · answer #2 · answered by dehypnosis 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Metaphysics. The nature of things, nature of being and of the world. (the existence of God and the soul, in humans, has always boggled the mind). Unfortunately, there is not clear cut answer.
All I know is that we can pray for God's comfort. (and metaphysically there is not certain proof of God either...although I do believe)
People have so many views on this. Just hope your husband finds comfort in his loss.
2007-12-28 12:56:03 · answer #3 · answered by PG 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Before I say anything else, what the hell is wrong with some of the other people answering? You people are the reason people think atheists are the philosophical equivalent of twelve year old kids that found their dad's gun. It's people like you that need to inflate their egos constantly that make it hard for people like me to even admit I'm an atheist. I joke about just about everything under the sun, believe me nothing is sacred, but for crying out loud, this person was just reaching out for some comfort and you verbally pissed on her hands. Really, you're not going to get kicked out of the "atheist's club" for not being a total dick for eight seconds. Try being a decent human being just once, I can tell you from experience it won't kill you.
Sorry to the person who asked the original question, I'm getting off my soapbox.
As far as biblical verses, I can't help you, but Saint Francis believed that animals had souls (he called the birds his "sisters" and thought they should thank God every day for their freedom). Here's the wikipedia on Saint Francis, so you can read more about him.
2007-12-28 12:53:38 · answer #4 · answered by Just Jess 7 · 1⤊ 2⤋
The animals are described in Genesis 1:24 by the Hebrew word "Nephesh". That is also translated as soul. Because of that, many would say that animals have a soul just as humans. The were not created in God's image and do not have the same spirit that we have but as I understand it, they also are created to be everlasting souls as we are.
Hope that helps.
2007-12-28 12:49:08 · answer #5 · answered by gilliamichael 3 · 4⤊ 1⤋
God bless your husband and you. All animal lovers like you two go to Heaven. I will pray your cat comes out of surgery hale and hearty and that will be the New Year's gift from GOD to you two.
Love,
From an ardent animal lover
2007-12-28 12:44:20 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 4⤊ 1⤋
In LDS doctrine, (Mormon) the existence of souls in animals is presupposed with this scripture found in the "Pearl of Great Price (one of the canonized Mormon scriptures).
It states in Moses 3:5:
For I, the Lord God, created all things, of which I have spoken, spiritually, before they were naturally upon the face of the earth.
All things being created by God, including animals were created spiritually first.
Joseph Smith also taught:
Says one, "I cannot believe in the salvation of beasts." Any man who would tell you that this could not be, would tell you that the revelations are not true. John heard the words of the beasts giving glory to God, and understood them. God who made the beasts could understand every language spoken by them. The four beasts were four of the most noble animals that had filled the measure of their creation, and had been saved from other worlds, because they were perfect: they were like angels in their sphere. We are not told where they came from, and I do not know; but they were seen and heard by John praising and glorifying God.
Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, p. 291
2007-12-28 12:47:20 · answer #7 · answered by Kerry 7 · 1⤊ 5⤋
There is nothing in the Bible that specifically says that our beloved animals will go to heaven and be there for us, but I believe they will because anything that has the capacity to love God's beloved humans is special. God understands how we can love our pets because God is Love and He made our pets to love us. He won't take them away like that. He loves us too much.
It is hard to let go of a loved one, but reality is that we all die. It is not God's fault that a cat is dying. God made the cat and now it might be time for that Cat to go to heaven to wait for its owner.
I hope your husband feels better soon. I feel bad for him.
2007-12-28 12:51:36 · answer #8 · answered by kjay_39 4 · 1⤊ 2⤋
Animals do not have souls. There are a few reasons. They would have to bejudged according to a moral law which is ridiculous when you are talking about animals. They do not know right or wrong. Secondly, they lack the intellect which tells them that they exist. They feel pain and emotions but, are not aware of themselves. Third, Animals are food for humans. God would not allow us to eat them if they had souls. Man is made in the image of God because man possesses a body, a soul and a spirit.
2007-12-28 12:45:59 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 7⤋
IMO, animals do have souls and do go to Heaven and that includes family pets...
Go to this site for more:
http://www.pet-loss.net/heaven.html
2007-12-28 12:46:32 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 4⤊ 1⤋