Theology and Pets

[Mintaka]

It’s unlikely that we’ll see animals in heaven.

However, we should remember that heaven, by itself, is just the beginning of eternal life. The main course really starts when Jesus comes back (bringing the dead with Him), reunites the souls of the dead with their bodies, and judges everybody. Then the good live forever – in a new heaven and a new earth.

If God wants to have animals on the new earth, and if He wants them to be partially made up of our pets, I won’t tell Him he can’t do it.

Of course, whatever God wants to give us will be better than anything we can imagine, so I’m not going to worry about it. I trust God to fix things up the best way possible.

 

[Techno2000]

I have a few questions about pets. I’ve searched the forums for the answers, and may have found them, but the answers are “Yes, No, Maybe so.”

Do pets go to heaven? If not, is it because they are not immortal souls? If their souls are not immortal, then where does it go? If the pets do go to heaven, what is the theological reasoning behind this conclusion? is it morally acceptable to euthanize pets if they do, in fact go to heaven? if they go elsewhere? If so, why? If not, why?

Three years ago,I lost a beloved family pet, a massive St. Bernard. William, the dog, had so much personality, so much “sparkle.” One day, we came downstairs, and found him in pain. his stomach had turned, and his digestive track was, well, not in functioning condition. his death was slow and painful, but we had him euthanized. Things like this, the loss of a pet, are such emotional moments, such profound and afecting moments, that I couldn’t see how pets don’t go to heaven.

Well I have read NDE stories of people being reunited with their
deceased pets in Heaven, I can only hope its true.

 

[Church_Militant]

I am not aware of anywhere in the Word of God that says that a soul ceases to exist. Does someone have something to enlighten me?

I have heard that the JWs and certain other cults believe this but I don’t recall anything in my reading of the Bible or the teaching of the Catholic Church that even implies that.

 

[Techno2000]

I am not aware of anywhere in the Word of God that says that a soul ceases to exist. Does someone have something to enlighten me?

I have heard that the JWs and certain other cults believe this but I don’t recall anything in my reading of the Bible or the teaching of the Catholic Church that even implies that.

Right it seems to me that animals are animated with a Spirit in their flesh just like us Humans are (Spirit and flesh), so it mite be
possible God could have a special place in Heaven for peoples
beloved pets.

 

[Church_Militant]

Right it seems to me that animals are animated with a Spirit in their flesh just like us Humans are (Spirit and flesh), so it mite be
possible God could have a special place in Heaven for peoples
beloved pets.

Then of course you get the logical next question…“What about the Cow I ate for supper last night, the pig the day before and the chicken before that, and perhaps even the fish from Friday?”

It gets complicated and in the end one has to admit that we trust to the mercy of God and we don’t know beyond that.