Do animals have souls?

  • Thread starter Thread starter The_Serpent
  • Start date Start date
Status
Not open for further replies.
T

The_Serpent

Guest
***“Who knoweth if the spirit of the children of Adam ascend upward, and if the spirit of beasts descend downward?” Ecclesiates 3:21 ***

King Solomon asked this question in his writings, so we might wonder if animals have souls? 🤷
 
NeedsMercy said:
Begs the question “How do they know that?” :confused:
Click to expand...
Depends on how you understand a soul. From what I’ve gathered, the soul is what animates living things. So anything that is living would have a soul which causes it to live and grow (animates it). But from evidence gained from scripture and tradition, we cannot say that animals have immortal souls, or at the very least, they do not have rational souls with free will.
 
A soul is simply the principle of life which informs some material body. As a man, you nonetheless classify as an animal. So yes. Of course, you were likely inquiring about beasts. And again, yes, beasts (i.e., non-rational animals) have souls.
 
The wolf shall dwell with the lamb: and the leopard shall lie down with the kid: the calf and the lion, and the sheep shall abide together, Isaiah 11:6
 
I would say that they do have souls, as in they have a form. This is what Aristotle understands as souls. But Human souls are immortal and will be reunited to the Body after death. This isn’t the case for animals, when their soul disconnects from their body their soul will never be reunited. Our souls are immortal theirs aren’t

also we have rational souls they just have instinctive souls.
 
catholictiger said:
I would say that they do have souls, as in they have a form. This is what Aristotle understands as souls. But Human souls are immortal and will be reunited to the Body after death. This isn’t the case for animals, when their soul disconnects from their body their soul will never be reunited. Our souls are immortal theirs aren’t

also we have rational souls they just have instinctive souls.
Click to expand...
Is it the Church’s view that these animal souls are created by God?:confused:
 
CaptFun said:
http://t1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSt4Y4ctMCKk8ojvH8ZdMQV7YsEidtVkbcpi3J_rkuslP9Y4sYN

NO! 😛
Click to expand...
Not in the way people have “souls” at any rate. An animal “soul” to use the term is not equated with those souls which can know God, keep a covenant with Him, and gain eternal life through the forgiveness of sins, etc.

As I look for specific church teachings on this “issue” I ran across these, which are worthwhile for their own sake – even if they don’t speak directly to this question. From the Catechism of the Catholic Church (re: animals and … ):
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
Click to expand...
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.
Click to expand...
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.
Click to expand...
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.
Click to expand...
 
The_Serpent said:
***“Who knoweth if the spirit of the children of Adam ascend upward, and if the spirit of beasts descend downward?” Ecclesiates 3:21 ***

King Solomon asked this question in his writings, so we might wonder if animals have souls? 🤷
Click to expand...
Before the throne of God there will be the 4 living creatures…(perhaps, with all animal life represented within the 4 types…eg…animal, mineral, plant and ?)…all praising God for all eternity.

How do I know?..Well…there is Biblical evidence…here’s 2 examples…Balaam’s donkey…and Jesus said…“If these were to keep silent I tell you even the very stones would cry out!”
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top