Do Animals Have Souls Got Questions
Paradise is open to all of Gods creatures In 1990 Pope John Paul II said animals have souls but then Pope Benedict gave a 2008 sermon that seemed to say the opposite.
Do animals have souls got questions. After the flood God established a new order of human existence Genesis 9817. And a little child shall lead. It bothers me that certain Christiansdenominations dont believe that the animals that have lived here on Earth will go to heaven because they dont have a soul.
In Isaiah 116 we are told that during the Millennial reign of Jesus on earth The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb the leopard shall lie down with the young goat the calf and the young lion and the fatling together. Though they do not have eternal souls they are part of Gods creation and they give Him His due worship. The question of whether our pets go to heaven requires an examination of the natures of animals of humans and of God.
Numbers 3128 When the first man Adam was created he was not given a soul but became a living soul. Will I see my dog in heaven. The Bible says that both animals and humans are souls.
The Word of God lets us know that animals have a soul but not a spirit. The Bible does not clearly state whether we will see our pets again in heaven but Scriptures suggests the presence of animals in heaven. Solomon the wisest man states that both man and animals.
There is a difference between the soul and the spirit and since most dont understand what that difference is they get the two confused. In a long and fascinating letter the fourth Lubavitcher rebbe Rabbi Shmuel known as the Rebbe Maharash explains that although some Kabbalists were of the opinion that animals dont have immortal souls5 according to the teachings of the Arizal animals do in fact have independent souls and they do go to heaven6 The Arizal is generally considered the final arbiter for all Kabbalistic teachings. So it appears that God has equipped the human soul with more capacities in order to fulfill a purpose unsuited for animals.
The answer to whether animals have a soul is yes but only because of a technicality. In many passages God shows compassion for the beast or bird whether by the law or other means. Since then he and other pro-consciousness scientists have concluded that animals have systems not only for seeking but also rage lust maternal care panic play and fear.