Freedom Posted January 22, 2014 Share Posted January 22, 2014 I've heard people say a few things, that they don't have souls and there are no animals in heaven <--- which I disagree. That there is a place called Rainbow Ridge where it's animal heaven and you can visit them whenever (after you've left earth this of course). That animals have simple souls <--- I tend to concur with this as they are similar (dogs as an example) in a lot of ways yet they have their own unique personality. What are your thoughts and beliefs? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PhuturePriest Posted January 22, 2014 Share Posted January 22, 2014 Simple theological answer: In Heaven, you have everything you need in order to be happy. If you are literally incapable of being perfectly happy without your boa constrictor you named Fluffy, then he will be in heaven. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NotreDame Posted January 22, 2014 Share Posted January 22, 2014 I'd like to hear from a Thomist on this one for "intellectual accuracy", but regardless of the what the Summa says, I personally love our family cats and dogs and don't see why they wouldn't be in heaven. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Not The Philosopher Posted January 22, 2014 Share Posted January 22, 2014 As far as I can remember, the Thomist response is that animals do have souls, but mortal ones. Since the immortal part of the soul is the rational part, which animals lack. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KnightofChrist Posted January 22, 2014 Share Posted January 22, 2014 (edited) In the new Heaven and new Earth there will be animals, or so the Holy Scriptures seem to tell us. Isaiah 11:6 for example... Edited January 22, 2014 by KnightofChrist Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
arfink Posted January 22, 2014 Share Posted January 22, 2014 I'd like to hear from a Thomist on this one for "intellectual accuracy", but regardless of the what the Summa says, I personally love our family cats and dogs and don't see why they wouldn't be in heaven. I don't believe the Summa asserts one way or another whether animals will be in heaven, it merely makes the distinction between immortal and mortal souls, which as was pointed out already, refers more to rationality and free will than whether they survive past death. The translation into immortal and mortal is a little gimpy in that regard. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
God the Father Posted January 22, 2014 Share Posted January 22, 2014 Yes they do and everytime you eat one they shed a few silent tears and make a face like the dogs and cats in ASPCA commercials and think "why are you eatin my body" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cartermia Posted January 22, 2014 Share Posted January 22, 2014 ^^^ God gave us cattle and other animals for a reason. Why aren't some lions vegetarians? Because God created prey for them to eat. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Basilisa Marie Posted January 22, 2014 Share Posted January 22, 2014 The only thing we know for sure is that human souls are different from any soul an animal may or may not have. There is theological support for a new Heaven and new Earth after the final judgement. I had one professor once say that the natural "evils" in the world (disasters, disease, death, etc) are all a result of original sin. That sin has an effect that radiates into the natural world in some way, and that Christ's passion and death opens the door for salvation for us humans, but also for transformation of the natural world as well. It's just one opinion, but I think it's interesting. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PhuturePriest Posted January 22, 2014 Share Posted January 22, 2014 ^^^ God gave us cattle and other animals for a reason. Why aren't some lions vegetarians? Because God created prey for them to eat. God gave us cows to distract the main population from eating superior meat like chicken, thus granting the select few who know chicken is superior (Such as myself) more meat to consume. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nihil Obstat Posted January 22, 2014 Share Posted January 22, 2014 Simple theological answer: In Heaven, you have everything you need in order to be happy. If you are literally incapable of being perfectly happy without your boa constrictor you named Fluffy, then he will be in heaven. Would such an extreme attachment not perhaps imply some issues in need of purgation? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PhuturePriest Posted January 22, 2014 Share Posted January 22, 2014 Would such an extreme attachment not perhaps imply some issues in need of purgation? That's just a theological answer I was told to give kids when they ask about a dead pet being in heaven. Usually, they grow out of it and realize they don't require their pet to be happy, their pets simply assist them in being happy in this life. I would love to fulfill my life's ambition of snuggling with a lion and playing with lion cubs, but I know the overwhelming happiness and ecstasy of heaven is far greater than anything we can experience on earth, and thus I know I won't need cuddly lions in heaven. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Basilisa Marie Posted January 22, 2014 Share Posted January 22, 2014 God gave us cows to distract the main population from eating superior meat like chicken, thus granting the select few who know chicken is superior (Such as myself) more meat to consume. You've never had slow-roasted prime rib from a steer that was raised by one of your local 4H kids, have you? That stuff is perfection. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tab'le De'Bah-Rye Posted January 22, 2014 Share Posted January 22, 2014 The old NAB bible i used to have with a church theology section in the back said something like this ' that animals have a soul but it is not an intellectual soul ' whatever that means, so the NAB says that the church says animals have a soul, so the answer is 'YES' animals do have a soul just not an intellectual soul whatever that means. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IgnatiusofLoyola Posted January 23, 2014 Share Posted January 23, 2014 I spent hundreds of hours working with apes--gorillas, chimpanzees, and organutans, as well as with lesser (basically smaller) apes such as gibbons. I'd like see a well-thought out. well researched paper by someone who BOTH had worked closely with apes and also REALLY knew their theology argue that these animals do not have intellecutual souls. Just because humans are too stupid to understand everything these animals are able to communicate and feel, doesn't mean the animals don't have intellectual souls. I expect to see beloved animals in heaven. And, if by chance they are not there, since heaven promises happiness and understanding, I assume I will understand why and be satisfied with that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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