Do animals go to Heaven?

[Zhenia]

I have a friend who sometimes, half-jokingly, says that animals may be the ONLY ones who go to heaven, rather than humans. And, to tell the truth, sometimes I agree with him.

Animals are the only creatures of God that do not, and indeed, cannot offend Him, since they operate on instinct, as God created them to.

 

[GEddie]

To be taken in the context of our cruelty to animals and to each other, and in my more cynical moments. Animals, of course, can also be cruel, but at least they are acting more on instinct than on intellect.

Are human beings really acting on “intellect” when they engage in cruelty?

 

[GEddie]

I agree that animal cruelty is a terrilble thing and IMO is a sin.However its impossible to really know how bad animals suffer.We know that they do physically from their reactions.But we don’t know that God doesn’t protect them in some way(in their minds perhaps).Just speculation but we know God doesn’t want anything to suffer.Then again maybe He does simular to how God destroyed the enemies of the Hebrews without regards to their feelings.Maybe God is so much above us that physical suffering doesn’t mean as much to Him as we.

I’d say that the life of our LORD made physical suffering perfectly present to God.

ICXC NIKA.

 

[Catholic90]

It would mean that God changed His Mind, which again is an impossibility

.

Really :ehh:…you are telling God what he can and cannot do?

Somehow I think if God wanted to change His mind…He could!

I find it amazing how we mere humans often attempt to limit what God can do.

God is God…therefore, He can do whatever He wants to do whenever He want to.

To the OP, yes, I believe animals are in heaven.

 

[Zhenia]

I think in the world to come, we will receive many surprises.
Some whom we assumed would be there, might not be.
And others, whom we assumed would not be, might be.

 

[meltzerboy]

Are human beings really acting on “intellect” when they engage in cruelty?

At times, perhaps they are acting like…animals. But at other times, they may be acting according to their intellect, as in instances of cruelty that involve calculation and cunning deception, such as cold-blooded murder. As you know, intellect and reason are not the equivalent of morality.

 

[meltzerboy]

One other point I’d like to mention. In Jewish lore (rather than Law), it is said that when G-d passes sentence as to whom will go to Heaven and whom to Hell, our pets will testify regarding how we treated them.

 

[buffalo]

How can an animal choose God?

 

[Zhenia]

How can an animal choose God?

They never denied Him. We did. And unfortunately, because man and the animals are united as one in Creation (God created all of us), they suffered due to our sin and disobedience. We owe them kind and humane treatment because our disobedience in the Garden of Eden brought sin, disease, cruelty and death upon ALL of God’s Creation, them as well as us.

But animals never denied Him.

Listen to the words of Saint Paul, from the Epistle for the 4th Sunday after Pentecost (Traditional Roman Catholic Mass Propers):

Romans 8: 18 - 23
Brethren, I reckon that the sufferings of this time are not worthy to be compared with the glory to come, that shall be revealed in us. For the expectation of the creature waiteth for the revelation of the Sons of God. For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him that made it subject in hope; because the creature also itself shall be delivered from the servitude of corruption, into the liberty of the glory of the children of God. For we know that every creature groaneth, and travaileth in pain, even till now; and not only it, but ourselves also, who have the first fruits of the Spirit, even as we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption of the sons of God, the redemption of our body; in Christ Jesus Our Lord.

All praise to the Lord Jesus Christ! For by dying He has destroyed death, and shall come again in glory, restoring all Creation unto Himself, and they shall not hurt nor destroy in all His holy mountain! Just as through the first Adam all died, so through the second Adam…the Lord Jesus Christ…ALL shall be made alive!

 

[followingtheway]

One other point I’d like to mention. In Jewish lore (rather than Law), it is said that when G-d passes sentence as to whom will go to Heaven and whom to Hell, our pets will testify regarding how we treated them.

What do Jewish people believe about Heaven and Hell, meltzerboy? :0

 

[smichhertz]

Really :ehh:…you are telling God what he can and cannot do?

Somehow I think if God wanted to change His mind…He could!

I find it amazing how we mere humans often attempt to limit what God can do.

God is God…therefore, He can do whatever He wants to do whenever He want to.

Keep in mind that God is eternal.

Unlike us, He sees past, present and future all at once and He has perfect knowledge of His creation. So once He makes a decision, there would be no reason for Him to change it. It’s not like He forgets about some unseen factor.

 

[Zhenia]

What do Jewish people believe about Heaven and Hell, meltzerboy? :0

It depends on which ones you ask. The Orthodox Jews believe basically as Christians do re: heaven and hell (minus Jesus); the others? It varies from one group to the other.

 

[buffalo]

They never denied Him. We did. And unfortunately, because man and the animals are united as one in Creation (God created all of us), they suffered due to our sin and disobedience. We owe them kind and humane treatment because our disobedience in the Garden of Eden brought sin, disease, cruelty and death upon ALL of God’s Creation, them as well as us.

But animals never denied Him.

Listen to the words of Saint Paul, from the Epistle for the 4th Sunday after Pentecost (Traditional Roman Catholic Mass Propers):

Romans 8: 18 - 23
Brethren, I reckon that the sufferings of this time are not worthy to be compared with the glory to come, that shall be revealed in us. For the expectation of the creature waiteth for the revelation of the Sons of God. For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him that made it subject in hope; because the creature also itself shall be delivered from the servitude of corruption, into the liberty of the glory of the children of God. For we know that every creature groaneth, and travaileth in pain, even till now; and not only it, but ourselves also, who have the first fruits of the Spirit, even as we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption of the sons of God, the redemption of our body; in Christ Jesus Our Lord.

All praise to the Lord Jesus Christ! For by dying He has destroyed death, and shall come again in glory, restoring all Creation unto Himself, and they shall not hurt nor destroy in all His holy mountain! Just as through the first Adam all died, so through the second Adam…the Lord Jesus Christ…ALL shall be made alive!

It is clear animals were made for man. Man however, is to exert good stewardship over them.

Animals do not have immortal souls. When they die their soul dies too.

 

[meltzerboy]

What do Jewish people believe about Heaven and Hell, meltzerboy? :0

That’s a complicated question because there are different beliefs. Regarding animals, I don’t think Orthodox Judaism (Traditional Orthodox, Modern Orthodox, Chasidic, Haredi Litvish, and Karaite) has an official position one way or another about it. In fact, there is little dogma about the whole issue even for humans. However, most Jews, including Orthodox, Conservative, Reform, and Reconstructionist today believe in both Heaven and Hell. Some Reform and Humanistic Jews do not; neither do so-called secular Jews or atheist Jews. Heaven is based, for both Jews and non-Jews, on leading a moral life and following the commandments. Non-Jews are required to follow only seven laws (Law of Noah), while Jews should follow as many of the 613 (really about 300 today) as they can. Hell means separation from G-d rather than physical torture. In ancient times, the Pharisees (from whom most of modern Judaism is derived) believed in Heaven and Hell, and so did the Essenes; but the Sadducees did not.

 

[jsaldar]

I was always taught that animals don’t go to heaven.

However, where in scripture is it stated that they don’t go to heaven.

We must remember nothing is impossible to God, and he is all loving.

 

[Zhenia]

It is clear animals were made for man. Man however, is to exert good stewardship over them.

Animals do not have immortal souls. When they die their soul dies too.

We’re all entitled to our opinions, I guess.

 

[buffalo]

We’re all entitled to our opinions, I guess.

This is not opinion. It is clear Catholic teaching.

 

[valentino]

I’d say that the life of our LORD made physical suffering perfectly present to God.

ICXC NIKA.

Yes,that does kind of contradict what Im saying but it did seem as though God didn’t care to much about the people who suffered at the hands of the Isrealites.Under God’s order they demolished whole people and not it such a merciful manner.

 

[RosalieM]

I haven’t read the posts, just the OP’s question. I haven’t read and will unsubscribe from the thread as soon as I post my :twocents: because I feel so strongly about this subject.

There is a new book out by Friar Jack Wintz, entitled “I Will see You in Heaven”. There is a cat lover’s edition and a dog lover’s edition.

God bless you all. Pax et Bonum.

 

[GEddie]

Yes,that does kind of contradict what Im saying but it did seem as though God didn’t care to much about the people who suffered at the hands of the Isrealites.Under God’s order they demolished whole people and not it such a merciful manner.

There is no “mercy” in killing or in being killed; the very idea is illogical.

You have to remember that each of those people would have died, anyhow.

The fact remains that in our LORD’s life, HE took physical suffering unto Himself.

ICXC NIKA