Winchester Posted January 23, 2014 Share Posted January 23, 2014 If it has a concept of its mortality, yet acts in a manner to benefit or damage creation in a lasting manner, it seems a matter of divine justice for there to be an afterlife. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThereseMaria Posted January 24, 2014 Share Posted January 24, 2014 This is an argument I heard before, I don't really know how accurate this is, but it was something along the lines of: The Bible says: And God said, "Let the waters bring forth swarms of living creatures, and let birds fly above the earth across the dome of the sky." SoGod created the great sea monsters and every living creature that moves, of every kind, with which the waters swarm, and every winged bird of every kind. And God saw that it was good. God blessed them, saying, "Be fruitful ad multiply and and fill the waters in the seas, and let birds multiply on earth. " (Genesis 1:20-22) This argument basically states that one definition of the word "blessed" is something along the lines of "to breathe divine spirit upon". So basically, the person arguing this stated that if you replace the part of that passage that says "God blessed them," with "God breathed His divine spirit upon them", you have the answer to the question "Do animals have souls?" (Note: This isn't necessarily my belief, this is just an argument that I heard. I just posted it because it seemed relevant. Again, I don't know how accurate this really is.) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThereseMaria Posted January 24, 2014 Share Posted January 24, 2014 OH and that Scriptural passage came from the NSRV (New Revised Standard Version: Catholic Edition) translation/version of the Bible. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Julian Posted January 25, 2014 Share Posted January 25, 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. Exactly! Animals and plants have a soul. A principle of life that animates them. However they do not have rational powers of the soul. Catechism of the Summa Theologica: http://archive.org/stream/catechismsumma00peguuoft#page/22/mode/2up Powers of the soul: http://www.lifeissues.net/writers/mcm/ph/ph_01philosophyyouth13.html Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
An Historian Posted January 25, 2014 Share Posted January 25, 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. But of course only God is necessary for our happiness. Affection for one's boa constrictor named Fluffy is merely a natural and earthly attachment. The supernatural happiness of heaven will abolish such concupiscence. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Annie12 Posted January 26, 2014 Share Posted January 26, 2014 Are there animals in heaven? I can not say for sure because I am still alive. Theologically speaking however, I have read that animals do indeed have souls but they are not eternal. I always like to think that by beloved cat is in heaven but, I will not ever be able to know until I die. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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