Do you believe animals have souls? Why or why not?

[Bishop556]

Just as the title says.

[Lani]

My cat is my soulmate.

[Candy_Pants]

My dog was a very fancy bitch in a past life.

[Eternal Sunshine]

My cat is my soulmate.

 

Same here :love:

[Anela]

My cat is my soulmate.

 

My dog is mine.

[central]

I don't believe souls exist, nor in any other supernatural or superstitious concepts. On that basis, I don't believe animals (of which humans are one kind) have souls.

 

However, IF souls exist, then I'd say yes, because IF they exist, I'd also subscribe to the Buddhist concept of reincarnation and karma (which I don't), where soul would be some essence that passes from one incarnation to another until such time as enlightenment is attained and freedom from physical bonds occurs.

[Untouched]

Animals don't need souls as they are free from sin entirely, they are pure. God does not throw away what He made. All will be restored to the pure state. If there is Heaven, animals will be there. I'm positive. But of course I can't prove it!

[M30USA]

Animals don't need souls as they are free from sin entirely, they are pure. God does not throw away what He made. All will be restored to the pure state. If there is Heaven, animals will be there. I'm positive. But of course I can't prove it!

 

Not sure if this is Biblical. The Gospel of Matthew records that demonic spirits hosted a bunch of pigs.

 

Here is an interesting verse. I've always wondered what it means:

 

"Who knows if the human spirit rises upward and if the spirit of the animal goes down into the earth?” (Ecclesiastes 3:21 NIV)

 

At the very least it says animals have spirits.

 

Lastly, animals are not pure. When creation was cursed in Eden, EVERYTHING was cursed. This is why, currently, the lion does not lay down with the lamb.

[Untouched]

Lastly, animals are not pure. When creation was cursed in Eden, EVERYTHING was cursed. This is why, currently, the lion does not lay down with the lamb.

 

That is only a result of human sin. They are still pure. They can't sin.

[M30USA]

That is only a result of human sin. They are still pure. They can't sin.

 

You could say the same about us as humans. Adam sinned and the effects corrupted everything, humans and animals. Are WE pure?

[Allumere]

You could say the same about us as humans. Adam sinned and the effects corrupted everything, humans and animals. Are WE pure?

 

I researched this awhile back. This is from CARM (Christian Apologetics)

 

Sin is breaking the law of God (1 John 3:4). The law of God says such things as do not lie, do not steal, etc. These are moral commands and are intended for people--not animals. Animals don't have moral beliefs, nor do they have consciences. Also, animals are not made in the image of God as mankind is (Genesis 1:26) and are not under the moral laws intended for people. Therefore, they can’t sin. Animals work off of instinct--not off of moral purpose or obligation to honor God and not with any spiritual connection to God.

 

Adam represented all mankind and the animal kingdom. When he sinned, the world was affected by it. Through him, sin entered the world (Romans 5:12), which is why we have plagues, famines, etc.

[Phoe]

Yes.

 

My darling deaf kitty has a very sweet and sensitive soul.

 

 

My grandmothers cat has a spunky, playful, carefree soul.

 

 

Animals all have very distinct souls if you take the time to find out

[Allumere]

You could say the same about us as humans. Adam sinned and the effects corrupted everything, humans and animals. Are WE pure?

 

I researched this awhile back. This is from CARM (Christian Apologetics)

 

Sin is breaking the law of God (1 John 3:4). The law of God says such things as do not lie, do not steal, etc. These are moral commands and are intended for people--not animals. Animals don't have moral beliefs, nor do they have consciences. Also, animals are not made in the image of God as mankind is (Genesis 1:26) and are not under the moral laws intended for people. Therefore, they can’t sin. Animals work off of instinct--not off of moral purpose or obligation to honor God and not with any spiritual connection to God.

 

Adam represented all mankind and the animal kingdom. When he sinned, the world was affected by it. Through him, sin entered the world (Romans 5:12), which is why we have plagues, famines, etc.

[M30USA]

I researched this awhile back. This is from CARM (Christian Apologetics)

 

Sin is breaking the law of God (1 John 3:4). The law of God says such things as do not lie, do not steal, etc. These are moral commands and are intended for people--not animals. Animals don't have moral beliefs, nor do they have consciences. Also, animals are not made in the image of God as mankind is (Genesis 1:26) and are not under the moral laws intended for people. Therefore, they can’t sin. Animals work off of instinct--not off of moral purpose or obligation to honor God and not with any spiritual connection to God.

 

Adam represented all mankind and the animal kingdom. When he sinned, the world was affected by it. Through him, sin entered the world (Romans 5:12), which is why we have plagues, famines, etc.

 

You bring up some good points. But I don't think that the Law is required in order for a person to be able to sin. Sin existed before the Law. Paul said the Law serves the purpose of making us aware of our own sin. A person does not have to be aware of their sin for it to be considered sin. Does this apply to animals? Not sure if the Bible says one way or the other.

[Untouched]

M30USA, are you arguing that animals are guilty and sinners like people are due to Adam's transgression?

 

They did not get to remain in a paradisiacal garden and had to go fend for themselves in the world like people did, but that did not make THEM sinners.

 

I am curious - do you practice your faith in any kind of fellowship, or is it just you on your own with the word?

[Tayla]

yes. Born of life, and going thru survival. Its got a soul. My pups are proof in my eyes. Its how one beleives and beliefs' are both personal and spiritual.

[Allumere]

You bring up some good points. But I don't think that the Law is required in order for a person to be able to sin. Sin existed before the Law. Paul said the Law serves the purpose of making us aware of our own sin. A person does not have to be aware of their sin for it to be considered sin. Does this apply to animals? Not sure if the Bible says one way or the other.

 

As I said, that came from CARM. If not familiar with the website you actually may dig it since it is dedicated to Christian apologetics. You like to really challenge interpretation and discuss scripture (and I mean that in the positive) so you may find folks that can really get deep into it. You can get a feel for CARM by reading their mission statement.

 

Me, I fail at apologetics because I am lucky to remember breakfast so quoting scripture in discussion without a bible in hand won't happen. That said, I do remember the gist of things.

 

Lets see...thanks to Adam, the rest of us have come into this world with a sewn in sinner label. It was a man that screwed up so all of mankind was labelled afterwards (not meant to be taken as I'm man bashing by the way). I don't recall anything saying that "man and animals" were all made sinners. I also can't recall any warnings directed to animals in turns of their behavior. If you are working along the train of thought of what if animals fall under the same burden of being born sinners , then lets face it they would be screwed cause Jesus died for man...don't recall it saying animal and man.

[pie2]

If you believe the cute animals have souls, then so do the worms, parasites and roaches, yeah?

[M30USA]

M30USA, are you arguing that animals are guilty and sinners like people are due to Adam's transgression?

 

They did not get to remain in a paradisiacal garden and had to go fend for themselves in the world like people did, but that did not make THEM sinners.

 

I am curious - do you practice your faith in any kind of fellowship, or is it just you on your own with the word?

 

I attend a church. But the true disciples that I know are not from my church.

[Tayla]

If you believe the cute animals have souls, then so do the worms, parasites and roaches, yeah?

 

yes, that which lives and dies, carries a source of spiritual energy. I know a few humans that sadly seem without a soul yet I have to remember, there is a rock somewhere that it might be hidding under

[Eternal Sunshine]

If you believe the cute animals have souls, then so do the worms, parasites and roaches, yeah?

 

Yes, beleiving that only cute animals have souls is just silly.

 

However, I am not going to bond with worms and parasites so I aknowledge their souls and leave it at that.

[Taramere]

On a nice day, when I'm making coffee I'll have the window open. There's often some sort of bird on the roof just outside my window. Sometimes a seagull, sometimes (preferably, as I prefer them) a crow. When the radio's on, and a classical piece is playing I've noticed that whichever bird is on the roof will start cocking its head and looking at me as if we're sharing our appreciation of the music.

 

Also, when I was a teen and we lived in the country, a neighbour's peacock used to visit us. It would jump onto the windowsill of the room where I played the piano, and spend ages just watching and listening. If birds enjoy classical music, then how can they not have souls?

[Anela]

If you believe the cute animals have souls, then so do the worms, parasites and roaches, yeah?

 

I do my best to not kill anything. I actually have some admiration for ants - I've watched them in the past, out in the garden, or when a small amount decided to congregate on the floor - one was carrying something huge, on its tiny body. Bats eat mosquitoes, spiders eat fleas, mice serenade each other. there is a possum that frequents our garden, that I wouldn't want to cuddle, but I believe it has a soul.

[pie2]

I do my best to not kill anything. I actually have some admiration for ants - I've watched them in the past, out in the garden, or when a small amount decided to congregate on the floor - one was carrying something huge, on its tiny body. Bats eat mosquitoes, spiders eat fleas, mice serenade each other. there is a possum that frequents our garden, that I wouldn't want to cuddle, but I believe it has a soul.

 

I agree with you. It's gotten more painful to kill any animal as I get older. But I have my limits. If I'm at all scared, it really might get squished (like a spider).

 

But, then again, I still eat meat. I guess I'm a little detached from the actual killing part, which is kind of hypocritical. But as time goes on, I do feel differently about animals, and causing needless pain to another being. If an animal is killed for human good, I guess ultimately it's a good thing.

 

I just don't like it when people treat animals BETTER than people.

 

yes, that which lives and dies, carries a source of spiritual energy. I know a few humans that sadly seem without a soul yet I have to remember, there is a rock somewhere that it might be hidding under

 

lol

 

I see no evidence that animal's have souls though. Just my opinion, base on biblical teaching, and my own ideas of animals' purpose on earth. But, I have no idea if a beloved pet would be in heaven or not. Maybe lots of pets are in heaven. But probably for the good of the human soul who would benefit from its presence, not for the good of the animal itself.

[Thegreatestthing]

Yes animals have souls and deep intuitions and sixth senses ,my dog use to know when I was coming home when I was an hour away,would bark at all sorts of random spirits,my littlest puppy Everytime I picked it up would bark and growl everywhere around me as if there were spirits around me and didn't do it with anyone else.