animals

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henrikhank

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Do animals come to Heaven?
If there were animals in the Garden of Eden then there will be animals in Heaven?!
 
Why should they be excluded? If lonely people have enjoyed the companionship and consolation of a pet in this life there is no obvious reason why they should be deprived of it in the next. Jesus told us that the Father cares for all His creatures.
 
I think if we are resurrected to our earthly bodies on the last day, it is possible that so will other living things. On the other hand, if we’re living in the presence of God eternally it won’t really matter that there’s no Fido or pretty flowers and trees! We could just live on a molten planet with no atmosphere and toxic fumes abounding, but being in the presence of God in our perfected earthly bodies with all of our ancestors and loved ones would make that place heaven and beautiful!
 
There are spirits in heaven. I don’t think we can quite imagine it, even if we try.

I don’t think there are animals as we know them. Then again, I haven’t been there. 🙂
 
Garyjohn2 said:
There are spirits in heaven. I don’t think we can quite imagine it, even if we try.

I don’t think there are animals as we know them. Then again, I haven’t been there. 🙂
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Well, yes, but after the Final Judgment, we will be reunited with our bodies (though they will be different, resurrected bodies.

I tend to think that if God felt the desire to put animals here on earth, I wouldn’t be surprised to see them also in heaven. You could be right about them not being “as we know them”. If Jesus’ resurrected body could walk through walls, then there will probably be some noticeable differences. 🙂

Just to clarify, I am not saying that animals will have resurrected bodies as we have. Animals do not have eternal souls, of course.
 
tonyrey said:
Why should they be excluded? If lonely people have enjoyed the companionship and consolation of a pet in this life there is no obvious reason why they should be deprived of it in the next. Jesus told us that the Father cares for all His creatures.
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I like your answer, but I don’t know if it’s in line with Catholic thinking on the matter of pets in eternal life. Some philosohers agree that only “rational animals” (not just sensory or nuitritive only) can exist in the hereafter.
 
4Horsemen said:
I like your answer, but I don’t know if it’s in line with Catholic thinking on the matter of pets in eternal life. Some philosohers agree that only “rational animals” (not just sensory or nuitritive only) can exist in the hereafter.
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Whatever anybody may tell you either way, the Catholic Church has left this issue open.

Only rational animals (i.e., human beings) can aspire to full union with God, of course. And the Church says that only humans have an innate propensity to life everlasting.

But just as God is able to reinstate you as a pneumatikon soma after you suffer death, why couldn’t He reinstate animals, as well, since these are likewise physical beings?

And in Heaven, you will be embodied, and so there will be places to be, things to see, smell, touch, etc. Why couldn’t this new physical realm include the other creatures that God shared His love with in earthly life?

Again, it’s an open question.

God Bless and ICXC NIKA.
 
4Horsemen said:
I like your answer, but I don’t know if it’s in line with Catholic thinking on the matter of pets in eternal life. Some philosohers agree that only “rational animals” (not just sensory or nuitritive only) can exist in the hereafter.
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I think the fact that it’s “Some philosphers agree…” rather than “The Church teaches…” illustrates that this is still somewhat of an open question. 😉

I know I’ve seen Peter Kreeft give an answer similar to tonyrey’s answer. The caveat is that, of course, our pets do not have eternal rational souls. However, if God chose to re-create our beloved pets out of nothing in order for us to enjoy them again in heaven, who is to say that God could not do such a thing?
 
Joe_5859 said:
I think the fact that it’s “Some philosphers agree…” rather than “The Church teaches…” illustrates that this is still somewhat of an open question. 😉

I know I’ve seen Peter Kreeft give an answer similar to tonyrey’s answer. The caveat is that, of course, our pets do not have eternal rational souls. However, if God chose to re-create our beloved pets out of nothing in order for us to enjoy them again in heaven, who is to say that God could not do such a thing?
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Interesting!

I came across a book titled, A Travel Guide to Heaven by Anthony DeStefano who “bubbles joyously about an incredible Technicolor afterlife that makes the journey ovver the rainbow to Oz pale in comparison,” according to the New York Times.

He answers the question “Will our pets go to heaven?” by saying “Why not?” since God can do what He wants. He’s not restricted to any parameters or the “confines of a syllogism, or any other logical construct created by human beings.”

He goes on to mention that the Bible speaks of lush vegetation in heaven, so in consistency, why not enjoy animals as in the Garden of Eden. Psalm 36 says, “You care for people and animals alike, O Lord.”

There is much more DeStefano has to say, some of it perhaps over the top, but, nonetheless, very interesting.
 
tonyrey said:
Why should they be excluded? If lonely people have enjoyed the companionship and consolation of a pet in this life there is no obvious reason why they should be deprived of it in the next. Jesus told us that the Father cares for all His creatures.
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I’ve read numerous stories of people found with many, many cats living in their homes. Do I have to put up with thousands, nay millions, of stray felines in heaven?

I think I’ll reincarnate…🤷
 
4Horsemen said:
I like your answer, but I don’t know if it’s in line with Catholic thinking on the matter of pets in eternal life. Some philosophers agree that only “rational animals” (not just sensory or nutritive only) can exist in the hereafter.
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I regret to say - from direct experience of myself - philosophers are often out of touch with reality! 😉
 
John21652 said:
I’ve read numerous stories of people found with many, many cats living in their homes. Do I have to put up with thousands, nay millions, of stray felines in heaven?

I think I’ll reincarnate…🤷
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Don’t worry! Heaven is not a transformation of this world…🙂
 
GEddie said:
I regret to say that the two seem to go together:shrug:
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It’s an occupational hazard, Eddie, yet philosophers don’t receive more pay for the high risks of living with abstract ideas. There is a solution though: manual work. There’s nothing like hitting your thumb with a hammer or banging your toe or getting a:blackeye: to bring you right down to earth… It’s better than going round the bend! 😉
 
tonyrey said:
It’s an occupational hazard, Eddie, yet philosophers don’t receive more pay for the high risks of living with abstract ideas. There is a solution though: manual work. There’s nothing like hitting your thumb with a hammer or banging your toe or getting a:blackeye: to bring you right down to earth… It’s better than going round the bend! 😉
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Or maybe it’s good to go around the bend, and return to your starting point…🙂
 
GEddie said:
Whatever anybody may tell you either way, the Catholic Church has left this issue open.

Only rational animals (i.e., human beings) can aspire to full union with God, of course. And the Church says that only humans have an innate propensity to life everlasting.

But just as God is able to reinstate you as a pneumatikon soma after you suffer death, why couldn’t He reinstate animals, as well, since these are likewise physical beings?

And in Heaven, you will be embodied, and so there will be places to be, things to see, smell, touch, etc. Why couldn’t this new physical realm include the other creatures that God shared His love with in earthly life?

Again, it’s an open question.

God Bless and ICXC NIKA.
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We know God has absolute power and is able to raise us up to new life and other creatures as well. The greatest gift, of course, is perfect union with the divinity. And it won’t be broken, interrupted, lost, as it is on earth as we try to pray. In fact, prayer, itself, is union with God, and it can begin on earth if we allow God to work in us.

You’re probably familiar with St. Teresa of Avila’s works. She delineates the various levels of prayer describing each as a mansion.
The highest level is something rarely attainable on this earth and, if so, cannot be sustained. But as we practice prayer and recollection, our minds are in tune with God – at least for a time – as we prepare ourselves for the meeting with the Beloved. 🙂

P.S. Just wondering what the ICXC NIKA means.
 
Do you have any official writings on this issue?

btw, whether animals come to heaven shouldn’t be a question when choosing whether to love animals or not. we should love animals and humans.
 
4Horsemen said:
P.S. Just wondering what the ICXC NIKA means.
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IC = Greek for IS, the first and last letters in the name IESSOUS (Jesus)

XC = Greek for CHS, the first and last letters in the name CHRISTOS

Use of first and last letters was a common abbreviation technique in Biblical Greek.

NIKA = Greek for victory

So ICXC NIKA = Jesus Christ victorious:)

Hey, it’s all Greek to me!!!

God Bless and ICXC NIKA!
 
GEddie said:
IC = Greek for IS, the first and last letters in the name IESSOUS (Jesus)

XC = Greek for CHS, the first and last letters in the name CHRISTOS

Use of first and last letters was a common abbreviation technique in Biblical Greek.

NIKA = Greek for victory

So ICXC NIKA = Jesus Christ victorious:)

Hey, it’s all Greek to me!!!

God Bless and ICXC NIKA!
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Thank you for the explanation.

Christus vincit. Christus regnat. Christus imperat.

It’s all Latin to me!

God bless you! :amen:
 
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