Pets afterlife?

[stringbeanduck]

Whether we see them in Heaven or not isn’t important. What is, is that God has promised us that we will be happy when/if we get there. If God feels that having our beloved pets in Heaven is needed to make us happy, they will be there.

 

[buffalo]

Whether we see them in Heaven or not isn’t important. What is, is that God has promised us that we will be happy when/if we get there. If God feels that having our beloved pets in Heaven is needed to make us happy, they will be there.

That would suggest the beatific vision is not enough. God in His utmost beauty could not satisfy a human? Not!

 

[stringbeanduck]

That would suggest the beatific vision is not enough. God in His utmost beauty could not satisfy a human? Not!

I recall seeing a CAF apologist post something similar. That if having our pet is needed to make us happy, then He will have that pet there. I was going to post the link, though I can’t find it anymore. It’s almost like it got deleated.

Anyways what does it matter; If we can be happy forever by simply seeing Him and being there, what more could we ask for from Him? Of course God will make us happy eternally.

 

[DrFloyd]

Anyway, Animals have souls just a all living things have souls, they just do not have eternal souls. There are three types of souls. You want to look to St Thomas Aquinas for the full explanation. Start with the Summa Theologica or look to Aristotle.

Basically it is accepted for the most part that there are 3 types of souls-
Plants have vegetative souls that allow them to live, grow, and reproduce,
Animals have sensitive souls that allow them to feel and (usually) move from place to place, and
Humans have** rational souls** that allow us to have rational thought.

How do we know for certain that animals do not have rational thought?

 

[Marfran]

My mother told me long ago that animals can’t go to heaven because they don’t have souls…and this has tormented me immeasurably!

I loved your post! A veteranarian once told me that animals are on this earth for only a short time because what they are here to teach us does not take that long. Animals teach us love, respect for God’'s creation, how to cope with loss, companionship, true beauty, natural law, etc., etc. (The list can go on and on.) We learn many lessons from animals, and not just from the pets. Pets have perhaps certain lessons for us, and other animals in God’s Kingdom have others.

When people say that animals do not have souls, this may be correct (and it does not neccessarily mean a negation of that animal)–as we do not fully understand the afterlife. The troubling thing to me is that someone would say this to a child, or to anyone, in an efffort to undermine the connection that that child or person has with their pet.

God created animals. They are good. Do they have souls??? One day we will all understand, but for now, rest assured that they are not here to give us love, etc., to be cruelly taken away, and to be forgotten. There is a plan.

 

[buffalo]

I loved your post! A veteranarian once told me that animals are on this earth for only a short time because what they are here to teach us does not take that long. Animals teach us love, respect for God’'s creation, how to cope with loss, companionship, true beauty, natural law, etc., etc. (The list can go on and on.) We learn many lessons from animals, and not just from the pets. Pets have perhaps certain lessons for us, and other animals in God’s Kingdom have others.

When people say that animals do not have souls, this may be correct (and it does not neccessarily mean a negation of that animal)–as we do not fully understand the afterlife–but the troubling thing to me is that someone would say this to a child, or to anyone, in an efffort to undermine the connection that that child or person has with their pet.

God created animals. They are good. Do they have souls??? One day we will all understand, but for now, rest assured that they are not here to give us love, etc., to be cruelly taken away, and to be forgotten. There is a plan.

Animals do have souls. All living things have souls. The difference is man has an immortal soul.

 

[masondoggy]

When I was mourning the loss of my childhood dog years ago, a comment from my mom has stayed with me all these years and upon a lot of reflection, has led me to believe with confidence that I will see my pets again. She said that as much as I loved my dog, it doesn’t compare to how much GOD loves him, HE created him and would miss him every bit as much, if not more, if he just simply ceased to exist. God wants ALL of His creation with him forever.

It doesn’t make sense to me that God would create these beautiful creatures that He loves so much, only to throw it away and be done with it when my dog’s 13 years on earth are up. We may live a disposable life like that, but God sure doesn’t.

This sums it up for me.

 

[Sierrah]

While I would love to see my pets in heaven again I doubt that will happen. As an animal lover I hope to find animals there and an Earth like environment maybe. But give me my family and friends and I’ll be happy enough.

 

[Marfran]

When I was mourning the loss of my childhood dog years ago, a comment from my mom has stayed with me all these years and upon a lot of reflection, has led me to believe with confidence that I will see my pets again. She said that as much as I loved my dog, it doesn’t compare to how much GOD loves him, HE created him and would miss him every bit as much, if not more, if he just simply ceased to exist. God wants ALL of His creation with him forever.

It doesn’t make sense to me that God would create these beautiful creatures that He loves so much, only to throw it away and be done with it when my dog’s 13 years on earth are up. We may live a disposable life like that, but God sure doesn’t.

This sums it up for me.

masondoggy: I loved your post!!! I think that God has a plan. A wonderful plan. Animals are woven into our lives in many ways, and they are part of God’s creation. Anyone who experiences the profound connection to, or with animals, is blessed. I am sad for those who ignore the rest of God’s creation, and consider it valueless.

 

[noclevername]

If you want to get technical about Heaven, we only really know that one person made it to Heaven and that was the thief on the cross. My point is that no one really knows.

I firmly believe that all animals go to heaven. I am sitting here with my wonderful cat as I am typing this and he is looking at me with his loving eyes. He is nine but I hope he lives many many more years. But when he does die, I know he will go to heaven. My wonderful dog died a few months ago just shy of his 14th b’day. He was the best dog in the world and I know he’s waiting on me.

Here is a little story I send to my friends when they lose beloved pets. No one knows who wrote it but it’s a great story. I can’t read it without crying. It’s wonderful and meaningful and if you have issues with the story, please keep it to yourself. It’s JUST a story.

**

Rainbow Bridge.

Just this side of heaven is a place called Rainbow Bridge.

When an animal dies that has been especially close to someone here, that pet goes to Rainbow Bridge.
There are meadows and hills for all of our special friends so they can run and play together.
There is plenty of food, water and sunshine, and our friends are warm and comfortable.

All the animals who had been ill and old are restored to health and vigor; those who were hurt or maimed are made whole and strong again, just as we remember them in our dreams of days and times gone by.
The animals are happy and content, except for one small thing; they each miss someone very special to them, who had to be left behind.

They all run and play together, but the day comes when one suddenly stops and looks into the distance. His bright eyes are intent; His eager body quivers. Suddenly he begins to run from the group, flying over the green grass, his legs carrying him faster and faster.

You have been spotted, and when you and your special friend finally meet, you cling together in joyous reunion, never to be parted again. The happy kisses rain upon your face; your hands again caress the beloved head, and you look once more into the trusting eyes of your pet, so long gone from your life but never absent from your heart.

Then you cross Rainbow Bridge together…

Author unknown… **

 

[noclevername]

It is a grave sin to love a animal as much as a person or treat an animal like a person or to think an animal is equal to a person(heaven) or to devote time and attention to an animal as much as a person.

No it’s not. I refuse to believe that and I won’t believe that. Nope.

There were 4,000 babies murdered today - does anybody care about that?

What does that statement have to do with the price of tea in China?

 

[noclevername]

I know this is going to be hard on many people, but all living things have souls. Souls are what animates them. Only humans have an immortal soul. When we die our soul separates from our body. Our soul holds us reponsible for our actions. Animals do not have immortal souls and are not held responsible for their actions. They cannot choose for or against God. Because of our souls we can see God. Since their soul is out of existence when they die, they cannot see anything. By this reasoning it is unlikely we will see animals in heaven.

If you used that logic, then babies who die wouldn’t go to heaven because they don’t have the ability to choose for or against God. We know that babies do go to heaven. I think animals go to heaven too. And I mean all animals. Not just out beloved pets but all the cows and chickens that die for our food and clothing go to heaven too.

 

[noclevername]

How do we know for certain that animals do not have rational thought?

I agree. I know that my dog had rational thought. Seriously. Sometimes when he was outside off leash and see a squirrel he would have to decide what to do. He knew he wasn’t suppose to chase that squirrel. He knew he would get in trouble if he took off after it. He would look at me, look at the squirrel, look at me, look at the squirrel. He was trying to decide if chasing that squirrel was worth the trouble he was going to get in afterwards. And knowing that I am an ole softy a lot of the time he would choose the squirrel. But if that’s not rational thought, I don’t know what is.

 

[Nanny_PK]

If you want to get technical about Heaven, we only really know that one person made it to Heaven and that was the thief on the cross. My point is that no one really knows.

I firmly believe that all animals go to heaven. I am sitting here with my wonderful cat as I am typing this and he is looking at me with his loving eyes. He is nine but I hope he lives many many more years. But when he does die, I know he will go to heaven. My wonderful dog died a few months ago just shy of his 14th b’day. He was the best dog in the world and I know he’s waiting on me.

Here is a little story I send to my friends when they lose beloved pets. No one knows who wrote it but it’s a great story. I can’t read it without crying. It’s wonderful and meaningful and if you have issues with the story, please keep it to yourself. It’s JUST a story.

**

Rainbow Bridge.**

Just this side of heaven is a place called Rainbow Bridge.

When an animal dies that has been especially close to someone here, that pet goes to Rainbow Bridge.
There are meadows and hills for all of our special friends so they can run and play together.
There is plenty of food, water and sunshine, and our friends are warm and comfortable.

All the animals who had been ill and old are restored to health and vigor; those who were hurt or maimed are made whole and strong again, just as we remember them in our dreams of days and times gone by.
The animals are happy and content, except for one small thing; they each miss someone very special to them, who had to be left behind.

They all run and play together, but the day comes when one suddenly stops and looks into the distance. His bright eyes are intent; His eager body quivers. Suddenly he begins to run from the group, flying over the green grass, his legs carrying him faster and faster.

You have been spotted, and when you and your special friend finally meet, you cling together in joyous reunion, never to be parted again. The happy kisses rain upon your face; your hands again caress the beloved head, and you look once more into the trusting eyes of your pet, so long gone from your life but never absent from your heart.

Then you cross Rainbow Bridge together…

Author unknown…

I absolutely love this story. I think it paints an absolutely glorious picture of Heaven. I do not believe that pets are on the same level as humans, but they are precious gifts to those of us that enjoy having pets in our lives.

 

[buffalo]

If you used that logic, then babies who die wouldn’t go to heaven because they don’t have the ability to choose for or against God. We know that babies do go to heaven. I think animals go to heaven too. And I mean all animals. Not just out beloved pets but all the cows and chickens that die for our food and clothing go to heaven too.

Babies have immortal souls. That is what the musings about limbo were all about. Since they possess immortal souls we leave it up to God as to what happens. We also know that our capacity for the beatific vision is increased as we become more holy here on earth.

For animals to be in heaven they would need immortal souls.

 

[Marfran]

All of you who love animals are blessed. And this in no way negates or detracts from our care and concern for our human brothers and sisters. People who love animals, be they pets or wildlife, have open and wide hearts. Are our pets disolved to nothingness upon death??? Your reaction to that thought says a lot about you. If you say: they are just animals, they die and are nothing, we should focus on people and people problems–then I say that you need to widen your heart. People who see and love and acknowledge ALL of God’s creation, will have the PEACE of knowing that God’s heart is WIDE–and He will not forget that you loved, cared for, and respected His Earth, His animals… Open your HEART WIDE–let LOVE flow in and out–don’t be restrictive about giving out your LOVE!!!

 

[buffalo]

All of you who love animals are blessed. And this in no way negates or detracts from our care and concern for our human brothers and sisters. People who love animals, be they pets or wildlife, have open and wide hearts. Are our pets disolved to nothingness upon death??? Your reaction to that thought says a lot about you. If you say: they are just animals, they die and are nothing, we should focus on people and people problems–then I say that you need to widen your heart. People who see and love and acknowledge ALL of God’s creation, will have the PEACE of knowing that God’s heart is WIDE–and He will not forget that you loved, cared for, and respected His Earth, His animals… Open your HEART WIDE–let LOVE flow in and out–don’t be restrictive about giving out your LOVE!!!

OK - here is the Good Samaritan test -

You come across an accident and on the side of the road is a human and a dog. Which one concerns you most?

 

[Nanny_PK]

OK - here is the Good Samaritan test -

You come across an accident and on the side of the road is a human and a dog. Which one concerns you most?

With all due respect, that’s an absurd question. Our obligation is ALWAYS to the human victims. Showing compassion for animals in any situation in no way alleviates our duty to fellow human beings.

 

[buffalo]

With all due respect, that’s an absurd question. Our obligation is ALWAYS to the human victims. Showing compassion for animals in any situation in no way alleviates our duty to fellow human beings.

The question cuts to the chase. Next question -

If you have 100.00 is it better to spend on human suffering or on pets?

 

[masondoggy]

For animals to be in heaven they would need immortal souls.

My thinking is that they may not be in heaven right now, but that they will somehow be included in the new earth. Maybe they will in some way be “resurrected” at that point or “recreated” somehow? I don’t know how God will do it, but I know nothing is impossible with God.

What fun would the new earth be without ANIMALS?