First, I firmly believe that if Jesus Christ himself came down and told you personally that animals do NOT have immortal souls and thus do not continue to live after the death of their mortal bodies, you would argue with him and say he is wrong.
Second, I don’t see how your questions of me in any way answers the questions I posed. I surmise that answering my questions may lead one to an “unpleasant” conclusion - one that might lead one to conclude that one’s pets do not follow them into hell or purgatory or heaven.
Third, I will nevertheless answer your SOLE question using the bible as a reference:
- In Genesis, God specifically refers to only one aspect of creation in which an object of creation was created in God’s own image: MAN. Not plants, not animals - MAN.
Gen 1:26 And he said: Let us make man to our image and likeness: and let him have dominion over the fishes of the sea, and the fowls of the air, and the beasts, and the whole earth, and every creeping creature that moveth upon the earth.
Gen 1:27 And God created man to his own image: to the image of God he created him: male and female he created them.
Gen 1:28 And God blessed them, saying: Increase and multiply, and fill the earth, and subdue it, and rule over the fishes of the sea, and the fowls of the air, and all living creatures that move upon the earth.
Gen 1:29 And God said: Behold I have given you every herb bearing seed upon the earth, and all trees that have in themselves seed of their own kind, to be your meat:
Gen 1:30 And to all beasts of the earth, and to every fowl of the air, and to all that move upon the earth, and wherein there is life, that they may have to feed upon. And it was so done.
- If man and animals are alike, as you claim, in that they both have mortal bodies and both have immortal souls, why would God give man dominion over a creature that is the equal of man? Why would God permit man to kill animals to eat, if animals stood on the same “footing” as man? If man and animals are alike in that they both have bodies and both have immortal souls and both have souls who enter heaven, why is killing an animal by man not considered murder by God?
Gen 9:2 And let the fear and dread of you be upon all the beasts of the earth, and upon all the fowls of the air, and all that move upon the earth: all the fishes of the sea are delivered into your hand.
Gen 9:3 And every thing that moveth, and liveth shall be meat for you: even as the green herbs have I delivered them all to you
- You claim that man and animals are identical in that they have a corporeal aspect (their bodies) and an incorporeal aspect (their immortal souls). If this is so, why did God recognize the DIFFERENCE between man and animals such that he felt the need to create another creature that was equal to or “appropriate” for man?
Gen 2:20 And Adam called all the beasts by their names, and all the fowls of the air, and all the cattle of the field: but for Adam there was not found a helper like himself.
Gen 2:21 Then the Lord God cast a deep sleep upon Adam: and when he was fast asleep, he took one of his ribs, and filled up flesh for it.
Gen 2:22 And the Lord God built the rib which he took from Adam into a woman: and brought her to Adam.
Gen 2:23 And Adam said: This now is bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called woman, because she was taken out of man.
- Finally, I think it highly unlikely that God would permit man to treat another being that has an immortal soul such as himself, in a “lesser” manner. Our own Church teaches this in the Catechism by stating that although animals are part of God’s creation and should be respected, man has the right to not only kill them for food and clothing, but may experiment on them.
*Respect for the integrity of creation
2415 The seventh commandment enjoins respect for the integrity of creation. Animals, like plants and inanimate beings, are by nature destined for the common good of past, present, and future humanity.195 Use of the mineral, vegetable, and animal resources of the universe cannot be divorced from respect for moral imperatives. Man’s dominion over inanimate and other living beings granted by the Creator is not absolute; it is limited by concern for the quality of life of his neighbor, including generations to come; it requires a religious respect for the integrity of creation.196
2416 Animals are God’s creatures. He surrounds them with his providential care. By their mere existence they bless him and give him glory.197 Thus men owe them kindness. We should recall the gentleness with which saints like St. Francis of Assisi or St. Philip Neri treated animals.
2417 God entrusted animals to the stewardship of those whom he created in his own image.198 Hence it is legitimate to use animals for food and clothing. They may be domesticated to help man in his work and leisure. Medical and scientific experimentation on animals is a morally acceptable practice if it remains within reasonable limits and contributes to caring for or saving human lives.
2418 It is contrary to human dignity to cause animals to suffer or die needlessly. It is likewise unworthy to spend money on them that should as a priority go to the relief of human misery. One can love animals; one should not direct to them the affection due only to persons.*
I can tell you without doubt or question that no one can turn to any official dogma or doctrine of the Church that states: “animals have immortal souls” or “animals do not have immortal souls”.
I can, however, tell you that from a rational and logical standpoint, I seriously doubt that God would give man so much “dominion” over animals, as amply described above, if such creatures possessed an immortal soul like man.
Now, would you please answer MY questions?
