Do Animals have souls?

[Valke2]

Here’s what I’ve found:

1. Catholic teaching doesn’t actually deny that animals have souls. And it’s stance needs to be clarified, according to:
   all-creatures.org/ca/ark-186soul.html
   Pope John Paul II had declared that animals have souls.

Also, if we look at Genesis, it is clear that God blesses the animals, even before he blesses (or creates) man. This would indicate, I think, the theological belief that animals do possess souls.

A righteous man knows the soul of his animal - Proverbs 12:10

However, while Judaism has plenty of laws regarding the proper treatment of animals, normative judaism does not believe animals have souls. But it does teach that how one treats animals is linked to how one treats people. We prefer shepherds over hunters. We also believe animals (domestic) are to be rested on the Sabbath.

 

[zagjames]

I have always understood that animals have a soul of sorts. But because we were created in God’s immage only human beings have the sort of soul that can continue to exist beyond the end of our lives. Animals that are even semi-concious of their own existance have a limited soul.

I dont know if that is right, but that is what I was told.

So no not all dogs go to heaven…

 

[Valke2]

I have always understood that animals have a soul of sorts. But because we were created in God’s immage only human beings have the sort of soul that can continue to exist beyond the end of our lives. Animals that are even semi-concious of their own existance have a limited soul.

I dont know if that is right, but that is what I was told.

So no not all dogs go to heaven…

Thank you for the response. Sounds reasonable.

 

[AgnosTheist]

Question is, what is a ‘Soul’ for Catholics AND Jews?

 

[mercygate]

Here’s what I’ve found:

1. Catholic teaching doesn’t actually deny that animals have souls. And it’s stance needs to be clarified, according to:
   all-creatures.org/ca/ark-186soul.html
   Pope John Paul II had declared that animals have souls.

Also, if we look at Genesis, it is clear that God blesses the animals, even before he blesses (or creates) man. This would indicate, I think, the theological belief that animals do possess souls.

A righteous man knows the soul of his animal - Proverbs 12:10

However, while Judaism has plenty of laws regarding the proper treatment of animals, normative judaism does not believe animals have souls. But it does teach that how one treats animals is linked to how one treats people. We prefer shepherds over hunters. We also believe animals (domestic) are to be rested on the Sabbath.

“Soul” is a term Catholics understand to mean the animating force in a living thing. Animals have souls. Plants have souls.

Humans, however, have immortal, rational souls. It would be possible for a Catholic, who is not being precise, to say “animals have no souls” – but we would mean that they do not have human souls and are not heirs to the immortality that we believe is the destiny of human beings…

 

[Valke2]

Question is, what is a ‘Soul’ for Catholics AND Jews?

There must be hundreds of references to our soul in the Torah and scripture. I just can’t think of any .

Judaism believes that the soul is the essense that puts the “I” in the physical body. Everything that exists has a soul. Existence requires a soul to sustain it. There may be many Jews who disagree but this is still a jewish belief. We also believe that the human soul is the most spiritual/complex of all souls.

 

[AgnosTheist]

There must be hundreds of references to our soul in the Torah and scripture. I just can’t think of any

hey even christians are confused what a soul really is.

Judaism believes that the soul is the essense that puts the “I” in the physical body. Everything that exists has a soul. Existence requires a soul to sustain it.

Of course you are just referring to existing life forms, right?

can you be a litte bit more specific? what is it? is it like a spirit? does it have an intelligence similar to the intelligence of the creature it inhabits?

 

[mercygate]

There must be hundreds of references to our soul in the Torah and scripture. I just can’t think of any .

Judaism believes that the soul is the essense that puts the “I” in the physical body. Everything that exists has a soul. Existence requires a soul to sustain it. There may be many Jews who disagree but this is still a jewish belief. We also believe that the human soul is the most spiritual/complex of all souls.

I just found 200 occurrences of the English word “soul” in the Old Testament (not including the Deuterocanonical books) – RSV translation.

 

[Valke2]

“Soul” is a term Catholics understand to mean the animating force in a living thing. Animals have souls. Plants have souls.

Humans, however, have immortal, rational souls. It would be possible for a Catholic, who is not being precise, to say “animals have no souls” – but we would mean that they do not have human souls and are not heirs to the immortality that we believe is the destiny of human beings…

thank you.

 

[Valke2]

hey even christians are confused what a soul really is.

Of course you are just referring to existing life forms, right?

can you be a litte bit more specific? what is it? is it like a spirit? does it have an intelligence similar to the intelligence of the creature it inhabits?

oy. You have to take this with a large grain of caveat, as I may be way off base here. IN general, we believe that the soul cannot exist without the body and vice versa. But this is often the position taken when the topic is metaphorical. For example, in discussing halacha (law) and aggadah (spirit/story/intent).

Chabbad teaches that there are 5 stages of the soul. (Chabbad is a jewish organization/sect that is widely known for its outreach programs to jews who are unaffiliated with a synagouge).

Chassidic/mystics view the 5 dimensions of the soul:

1. Nefesh = Soul
2. Ruach = Spirit
3. Neshamah = breath
4. Chayah = life
5. Yechidah = singularity

Nefesh is the soul as the engine of life. It is the level that actually brings animation to the physical being.

Ruach is the “personaltiy”, the “I” of the individual.

Neshamah is the intellectual self.

Chayah is the seat of will, desire, commitment and faith

Yechidah is the essence of the soul. Its unity with God, the source of all life. It is through this dimension that we understand that there is a part of God in each of us.

We believe that everytime we perform a mitavot (commandment), our soul is connecting with God.

 

[Verbum_Caro]

Valke2,

Would animals then, under this schema, only possess Nefesh, and not Ruach or the following?

Thanks,
VC

 

[Valke2]

I believe it is the 5th dimension, seeking unity with God, that we believe seperates our souls from other living creatures.

 

[mercygate]

I believe it is the 5th dimension, seeking unity with God, that we believe seperates our souls from other living creatures.

Catholics (Christians) might be speaking a slightly different language but it comes down to the same thing (no surprise). In our old catechetical formula "God made me to know Him, to love Him, and to serve Him in this life and to be happy forever with Him in the next.

 

[Ahimsa]

I believe it is the 5th dimension, seeking unity with God, that we believe seperates our souls from other living creatures.

I would have presumed that Yechidah, the essence of life, would be common to humans, animals, plants, etc., even if animals are not conscious of their unity with the essence of life; whereas I would have thought that Neshamah, the intellectual soul, would be unique to humans.

 

[rmcmullan]

From Numbers 22:

28 And the LORD opened the mouth of the ***, and she said unto Balaam, What have I done unto thee, that thou hast smitten me these three times?
29 And Balaam said unto the ***, Because thou hast mocked me: I would there were a sword in mine hand, for now would I kill thee.

The *** must have had a considerable amount of intelligence to be able to speak. If the Lord can “open the mouth of the ***” in the special circumstances noted here, I’d say there’s a chance that in heaven we’ll all be Doctor Doolittles and talk to the animals. Almost anyone with a pet communicates with them in some way. That’s pretty darn close to having a soul, whatever that means.

 

[thedavidwilson]

Here’s what I’ve found:

1. Catholic teaching doesn’t actually deny that animals have souls. And it’s stance needs to be clarified, according to:
   all-creatures.org/ca/ark-186soul.html
   Pope John Paul II had declared that animals have souls.

Also, if we look at Genesis, it is clear that God blesses the animals, even before he blesses (or creates) man. This would indicate, I think, the theological belief that animals do possess souls.

A righteous man knows the soul of his animal - Proverbs 12:10

However, while Judaism has plenty of laws regarding the proper treatment of animals, normative judaism does not believe animals have souls. But it does teach that how one treats animals is linked to how one treats people. We prefer shepherds over hunters. We also believe animals (domestic) are to be rested on the Sabbath.

A soul is the life energy that animates the pile of chemicals that make up you, I, animals and any living thing. The human soul also happens to be a spirit. Our spirit was created when we were conceived and will continue forever. The souls of animals are not spirits so when they die they die forever. So the answer to your orginal questions is yes. With this definition even plants or bacteria have souls, but they are not spirits so are distinctly different from the human soul/spirit.

 

[TomPiltoff]

I think some folks are really grasping for straws.

I can fully understand if you believe animals have souls.

I can also fully understand if you believe animals do not have souls.

But to see people saying ‘Yes, animals have souls. Just not rational, eternal ones’ is a little bit ridiculous.

You either have a soul, in the sense that when you die your consciousness continues in an afterlife or you do not have a soul and when you die your consciousness ends.

I think those people are just trying to find an easy out for the inevitable ‘well if animals don’t have souls then why does it matter if we abuse them?’ argument.

 

[mercygate]

I think some folks are really grasping for straws.

I can fully understand if you believe animals have souls.

I can also fully understand if you believe animals do not have souls.

But to see people saying ‘Yes, animals have souls. Just not rational, eternal ones’ is a little bit ridiculous.

You either have a soul, in the sense that when you die your consciousness continues in an afterlife or you do not have a soul and when you die your consciousness ends.

I think those people are just trying to find an easy out for the inevitable ‘well if animals don’t have souls then why does it matter if we abuse them?’ argument.

I hope you don’t drop the subject at this point.

There is nothing at all “ridiculous” about distinguishing between different sorts of ‘soul’ according to the nature of the creature it animates.

 

[thedavidwilson]

I think some folks are really grasping for straws.

I can fully understand if you believe animals have souls.

I can also fully understand if you believe animals do not have souls.

But to see people saying ‘Yes, animals have souls. Just not rational, eternal ones’ is a little bit ridiculous.

You either have a soul, in the sense that when you die your consciousness continues in an afterlife or you do not have a soul and when you die your consciousness ends.

I think those people are just trying to find an easy out for the inevitable ‘well if animals don’t have souls then why does it matter if we abuse them?’ argument.

It is the defnitions we are using. In the Catholic worldview there is a difference between as Soul and Spirit. Angels have spirits but no souls since they do not have a body to animate. We have a soul which is a spirit because we will carry on when we die and we have a body which we need to animate.

The reason we are not just a spirit is the existance of the body and the fact that we are made to reside in a body. We will one day return to a glorified body. If you assume that animals have spirits and will carry on when it dies then you have to assume that they will be in heaven. I don’t think there is any scriptural basis for this. You would also have to afford animals and plants the same rights as human beings and be concerned for their eternal salvation. I would not know how to work towards my dog’s salvation. He is a good dog show I guess it would not be too hard.

 

[TomPiltoff]

I hope you don’t drop the subject at this point.

There is nothing at all “ridiculous” about distinguishing between different sorts of ‘soul’ according to the nature of the creature it animates.

It’s just that, in my opinion, it seems really made up.

For example:

If you say ‘yes, I believe animals have souls’ then I can say ‘then how can you eat meat? You’re directly involved in the killing of something with a soul’ and your hands are pretty tied.

If you say ‘no, I don’t believe animals have souls’ then I can say ‘then why would you have a problem if I kicked a dog?’ and again, your hands are pretty much tied.

It seems like it’s more or less ‘animals have souls, but only to the extent that it doesn’t inconvenience me’.