Can animals go to Heaven?

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My cat was just hit by a car, and we just finished the terrible ordeal by burying him a few hours ago.

I miss him so much, I wish I could see him again. I have thought about animals and salvation before and I’ve pretty much thought that Heaven is for people, not animals, since we don’t need to baptize them and such. But does anybody think that this is possible?
 
In Psalms it reads, “God is the savior of animals and humans alike.” Now, I don’t know the official Church teaching on this. But, in Revelation, God says that killing an Ox on His Holy Mountain in the New Heavens will be like killing a man. So, I believe there are animals in Heaven, and I believe there are singing birds in Paradise.

Oh! Scripture says that in the New Creation, an infant will put his hand on an adder’s hole and not be harmed. Also, the lion will lie down beside the lamb–or something similar.
 
Dear St Francis reminded us that all creation are our brothers & sisters so yes,some of us do believe this.

Pax et Bonum+
 
Sorry to hear about your cat.Being a pet owner myself, I can relate to what you’re going through. To answer your question, animals do not (as far as God has revealed in Scripture or any tradition I’m aware of) have an immortal soul, so they do not go to heaven when they die. However, there will be animals in the Kingdom (how else can the lion lay down with the lamb?). I would be interested to know where in Psalm bsroufek reads “God is the savior of animals and humans alike.”

Hope this helps!

Pax!
 
Cachonga said:
Sorry to hear about your cat.Being a pet owner myself, I can relate to what you’re going through. To answer your question, animals do not (as far as God has revealed in Scripture or any tradition I’m aware of) have an immortal soul, so they do not go to heaven when they die. However, there will be animals in the Kingdom (how else can the lion lay down with the lamb?). I would be interested to know where in Psalm bsroufek reads “God is the savior of animals and humans alike.”

Hope this helps!

Pax!
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bit in bold: I think there is something like this in Hinduism but I know that’s not what you were thinking of 😃
 
Cachonga said:
Sorry to hear about your cat.Being a pet owner myself, I can relate to what you’re going through. To answer your question, animals do not (as far as God has revealed in Scripture or any tradition I’m aware of) have an immortal soul, so they do not go to heaven when they die. However, there will be animals in the Kingdom (how else can the lion lay down with the lamb?). I would be interested to know where in Psalm bsroufek reads "God is the savior of animals and humans alike."

Hope this helps!

Pax!
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Psalm 36: ‘The Saviour of humans and animals alike’
 
We really don’t know… However, animals do not have Free Will therefore they only act on instinct. No Free Will equals No Sin, because they only do what they are programed for by God their Creator… Humans, however, have Free Will and can disobey, therefore Humans need to be saved.

Again, we don’t know if an animal that dies on earth goes to Heaven or just doesn’t exist anymore… They don’t go to Hell, so it’s either Heaven or nothing…
 
I don’t believe that they go to heaven. However, God promises a New Heavens and a New Earth in the Book of Revelation, and all creation groans until it is revealed. There are some amazing and wonderful things in store for those who love him, and having the garden of Eden restored, with my pets restored to me, would be lovely indeed. So don’t let anyone take away your hope. 😃
 
JDGaney said:
My cat was just hit by a car, and we just finished the terrible ordeal by burying him a few hours ago.

I miss him so much, I wish I could see him again. I have thought about animals and salvation before and I’ve pretty much thought that Heaven is for people, not animals, since we don’t need to baptize them and such. But does anybody think that this is possible?
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It is quite possible at the end of ages that all animals will be restored as part of the renewal of creation.
 
bsroufek said:
In Psalms it reads, “God is the savior of animals and humans alike.” Now, I don’t know the official Church teaching on this. But, in Revelation, God says that killing an Ox on His Holy Mountain in the New Heavens will be like killing a man. So, I believe there are animals in Heaven, and I believe there are singing birds in Paradise.

Oh! Scripture says that in the New Creation, an infant will put his hand on an adder’s hole and not be harmed. Also, the lion will lie down beside the lamb–or something similar.
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Don’t go interpreting this verse alone in isolation. It doesn’t mean what you think it means.

When we look at other parts of Scripture, we see that all of creation was affected by Adam’s fall, and that as part of God’s plan is that all of creation will be sanctified and restored/renewed. The Psalm doesn’t mean that animals will receive the same salvation as man, but as part of God’s overall plan, all of creation, animals included of course, will be sanctified and renewed.
 
I wonder if the New Earth will be big like Jupiter (or bigger) or not.

To resurrect all of us and even some animals (many as there are) and to give us space
to live might require a big New Earth.
 
JDGaney said:
My cat was just hit by a car, and we just finished the terrible ordeal by burying him a few hours ago.

I miss him so much, I wish I could see him again. I have thought about animals and salvation before and I’ve pretty much thought that Heaven is for people, not animals, since we don’t need to baptize them and such. But does anybody think that this is possible?
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So sorry for your loss! It is so hard to lose a pet. I don’t think any of us know the answer to your questions but I for one are looking forward to meeting my doggy in heaven.
 
JDGaney said:
My cat was just hit by a car, and we just finished the terrible ordeal by burying him a few hours ago.

I miss him so much, I wish I could see him again. I have thought about animals and salvation before and I’ve pretty much thought that Heaven is for people, not animals, since we don’t need to baptize them and such. But does anybody think that this is possible?
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Yes. I know there are animals in heaven. God does not make JUNK. Everything he creates goes back to Him.
 
I truly believe that God will reunite us with our pets, that is, those who have had a special bond with their pets. For some people their pets are their best friends and companions, it only makes sense to me that God will allow us to have them back in Heaven. Dogs are some of the most faithful, caring, loving, and pure hearted creatures!
 
bsroufek said:
I wonder if the New Earth will be big like Jupiter (or bigger) or not.

To resurrect all of us and even some animals (many as there are) and to give us space
to live might require a big New Earth.
Click to expand...
No, it is the same earth. God will not destroy the earth and replace it with a different one, God will renew the earth.

There are more people today than there have ever lived in history. So at this point we won’t even double the population of the planet. Besides, heaven is being in communion with Christ and all those in communion with Him, we can easily live in densely packed cities if we have to.
 
COPLAND_3 said:
I truly believe that God will reunite us with our pets, that is, those who have had a special bond with their pets. For some people their pets are their best friends and companions, it only makes sense to me that God will allow us to have them back in Heaven. Dogs are some of the most faithful, caring, loving, and pure hearted creatures!
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In the early Canons of the Church, dogs aren’t even allowed in church. If a dog enters the altar area, the bishop has to re-consecrate the altar.

Look, eternity is spent in perfect communion with God. If that is not enough for you, then there is a problem right here.
 
ConstantineTG said:
No, it is the same earth. God will not destroy the earth and replace it with a different one, God will renew the earth.

There are more people today than there have ever lived in history. So at this point we won’t even double the population of the planet. Besides, heaven is being in communion with Christ and all those in communion with Him, we can easily live in densely packed cities if we have to.
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Well, scripture differs with you statement.
Revelation 21:1 Then I saw “a new heaven and a new earth,” for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, … for the old heaven and the old earth had disappeared.
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Does the Church disagree with this?
 
ConstantineTG said:
Look, eternity is spent in perfect communion with God. If that is not enough for you, then there is a problem right here.
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Exactly. It is simply childish to think that if one were in heaven - in perfect communion with God - then the addition of having Boo Boo Kitty there would make everything that much better. Read about the special grace that the children of Fatima received of being drowned in God’s infinite love and then tell me that having a stupid cat with you would make it any better.
 
ConstantineTG said:
In the early Canons of the Church, dogs aren’t even allowed in church. If a dog enters the altar area, the bishop has to re-consecrate the altar.

Look, eternity is spent in perfect communion with God. If that is not enough for you, then there is a problem right here.
Click to expand...
I agree. As much as I love animals, being in communion with the Source of all goodness and beauty and happiness will make even the best pet I’ve ever had seem like nothing.
 
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