What scriptures say animals won't go to heaven?

[minder_bender]

From the catechism:

Are plants alive? Tree surgeons. Think about it.

There was an experiment done some years back by Chinese scientists claiming that plants …scream… It was done by setting plants in a room and students sent in to do different things like, shout, hell, speak softly, cry, send hate thoughts, send love thoughts. etc etc. The findings were remarkable. Plants reacted to all the negitive emotions with what the sizmograph registered as eqivalent to fear or panic. To love…reaction was steady /relaxed…also those exposed to just love thoughts grew faster and were more healthy & resistant to disease. This did not surprise me as I know gardners who sing to their gardens because they believe the plants grow better. What shocked me was what happened when students entered the room with sissors in their hands and started to hack at the plants. All registered a negitive jump when students entered. As the students start to cut at plants, those closest to the unfortunate plant registered terror while those further away registered fear/anxiety. The poor plants being hack registered as though they were screaming! This research effected me beyond belief. Ever since, I send love thoughts to everything green and ask forgiveness to anything I prune. Sounds stupid…but I’m not taking the chance. All things are made with the spirit and the spirit is in all things and of all things surrounding all things and binding them together. (from bible somewhere). I think the spirit is responsible for the registering of all these reactions.

 

[minder_bender]

Could be a good philosophical argument, but i still like to see using scriptures. Thanks for sharing though!

Jesus said consider the Lillies fo the field…neither reaping or sowing but still being fully provided for by God. This does not say they are eternal but it does say they are considered important and cared for and implies the spirit of God is what is sustaining them. The spirit of God IS eternal. Also the bible says that at the end of time, the earth (and everything in it) will roll up like a scroll and cease to be… that implies that the earth and everything in it exists only in time, and so not eternal. Human souls on the other hand all meet in heaven for the gathering in the clouds.

 

[illusion_buster]

If you think you will miss your pet, you really have no idea what the beatific vision is all about. Nobody seems to be asking will their spouse be in heaven? If she’s not, will you be any less happy? No, because you will be in the presence of God!

We are told by Jesus Himself there is no marriage in heaven…(other than when the Bridegroom (Jesus) receives His Bride (the chuch) and the 2 become 1. I’m assuming we will only be conscious of the ‘body of Christ’ the ‘sonship’ so to speak, of which we will all be apart and the unhindered relationship with the Father. As for Love (reets)…love returns to it’s source…God Himself. But the idea of a new heaven and a new earth… suggests there is dimension and form (be it spiritual) making a difference between a ‘Heaven’ and an ‘Earth’. It is not unlikely (speculatively speaking) to suggest that if God thought it a ‘very good’ thing once, that He also might think it a 'very very’good thing a second time around. And the Tree of knowledge…been there! done that! If God made animals before and thought them ‘good’, then why not again?..there might be dogs! …& horses!

 

[illusion_buster]

It means God can express his love through many things, the gentle breeze (see Elijah), the stars (see Matthew), even a dog (ooowww God spelled backwards). None of these love, but we can see God’s love through them.

I’m not sure of that…My dog seems to ‘love’ in the same way I loved him. And when he died of old age…our other dog missed him terribly. not eating, depressed, etc etc. If it was JUST God’s love flowing through him, then why would the other dog react to his absence? I believe all love is God’s essence, and in that way God was loving us through him…but somehow? the dog was a willing participant.

 

[illusion_buster]

If you read the Catechism of the Catholic Church there’s nothing to suggest that Animals will reside in the same Heavenly Mansions as humans. That would be like putting an Animals soul spiritually on the same level as humans souls.
vatican.va/archive/ccc_css/archive/catechism/p3s2c2a7.htm
Read CCC. 2405-2418.

The essential difference between human beings and animals, it would seem that we would not see the souls of our pets in heaven for the simple reason that they do not have immortal souls and are not responsible for their actions. They do not have the intelligence which allows them to choose either God’s will or their own will. There is, then, an incomparable distance, say, between the soul of the sorriest human being who ever lived and the most noble brute animal that ever walked the earth.

What about those born intellectually handicaped… they are not responsible for their actions and are incapable of choosing and do not have ‘intelligence’…yet NO one (including you i know) would presume they are not the first to go directly to heaven. No…I am not suggesting that our pets DESERVE or are DESTINED for heaven because of the existance of a soul…but I do suggest that BECAUSE of the love shared on earth, that MAYBE God would gift us with their presence once again in the new earth.

 

[Brendan]

Animals have a soul and a spirit. God is love. Your pets will be with you in eternity. Together you will all worship God in the most loving profound heavenly way. God bless all of you.

Actually, no. Animals ( and plants, and every living material creature) have souls. But only the soul of mankind is spirtual in nature.

Read Revelation, at the Second coming, there is a new Heaven, and a New Earth. The New Earth will be a perfect material world, filled with perfect material creatures.

However, we, like God, will not reside there. We, like God, will look down upon it and recieve Joy at it’s beauty

 

[centurionguard]

What about those born intellectually handicaped… they are not responsible for their actions and are incapable of choosing and do not have ‘intelligence’…yet NO one (including you i know) would presume they are not the first to go directly to heaven. No…I am not suggesting that our pets DESERVE or are DESTINED for heaven because of the existance of a soul…but I do suggest that BECAUSE of the love shared on earth, that MAYBE God would gift us with their presence once again in the new earth.

What about those born intellectually handicaped… they are not responsible for their actions and are incapable of choosing and do not have ‘intelligence’.

IMHO that’s debatable and of course depends on the seriousness of how or to what degree from a logical standpoint an individual who is mentally challenged.

Ultimately; God decides because He knows their heart and soul.
My elder sister has a daughter who is mentally challenged at the age of 23 but has been accessed professionally with the child mind of a seven year old. She regularly goes with her parents and partakes in the Sacraments of Confession and Holy Communion. She also has received the sacrament of Confirmation.

 

[illusion_buster]

IMHO that’s debatable and of course depends on the seriousness of how or to what degree from a logical standpoint an individual who is mentally challenged.

Ultimately; God decides because He knows their heart and soul.
My elder sister has a daughter who is mentally challenged at the age of 23 but has been accessed professionally with the child mind of a seven year old. She regularly goes with her parents and partakes in the Sacraments of Confession and Holy Communion. She also has received the sacrament of Confirmation.

I meant no disrespect…I have a close cousin born metally ill. She also has the metal capasity of a 4year old. The age of reason is seven or so I was taught by the nuns. Before this, apparently, a person is not responsible for their actions. The mentally ill have a special gift for mankind. LOVE. and unfortunatly, we, (western society) are the only ones who consider them to have little to give society. Anyone actually involved with them though, know differently. If we are wrong in our assessment in this area, maybe we are also wrong in the area of pets.

 

[Evan]

I meant no disrespect…I have a close cousin born metally ill. She also has the metal capasity of a 4year old. The age of reason is seven or so I was taught by the nuns. Before this, apparently, a person is not responsible for their actions. The mentally ill have a special gift for mankind. LOVE. and unfortunatly, we, (western society) are the only ones who consider them to have little to give society. Anyone actually involved with them though, know differently. If we are wrong in our assessment in this area, maybe we are also wrong in the area of pets.

It is not required that one reach the age of discernment to receive the sacraments. It is just a recent tradition of the west. In the eastern Church, they still receive baptism, confirmation, and eucharist (in that order) as an infant. Although I think confirmation has a different name.

We are not wrong in our assessment, the Church has always desired that the faithful receive all the sacraments. If there is an indication that someone will not advance in mental capacity, they can receive confirmation and Eucharist at any time.

Animals, without an immortal soul, die (even pets). God can create more animals, even in the new earth. But they will still be animals, they will not add or subtract from our joy which will derive, not from pets, but from our will being fully united with the divine will.

 

[GodHeals]

Animals, without an immortal soul, die (even pets). God can create more animals, even in the new earth. But they will still be animals, they will not add or subtract from our joy which will derive, not from pets, but from our will being fully united with the divine will.

Thank you all for the posts!

Hi Evan, I get what you are saying, but it isn’t known what animals will be in heaven or won’t be in heaven. I think i like what one of the Apologists? said on a Catholic.com link… that the Church doesn’t know whether or not animals will be in heaven, and that maybe those animals who are close to their masters will be an exception. Something like that…

God Bless You!
Brian

 

[ti8er]

Hi Everyone…interesting topic.
I stumbled across this forum while googling about animals in heaven…
I think this page explains alot:
all-creatures.org/murti/tsnhod-08.html

 

[Mintaka]

ti8er –

This thread is four months old. A thread that’s gone several months without a reply is usually supposed to be left just to reading and not be “resurrected.” If you want to start a new thread on the same topic, that’s a lot better way to go.

 

[ti8er]

didnt look at the dates. just stumbled upon this post while googling and decided to post…

 

[GodHeals]

Hi, Welcome to the forum.

Thanks for the link. I am a Creationist. It seems this link is based heavily on evolution. The author even says they have the ability to know right and wrong, and thus possess the ability to reason to relate to their Creator as only Man made in the Image of God can relate. Animals do not have memory, intellect, and will, as man does.

I do believe that animals have souls, and so do humans, of course.

In an email from Answers in Genesis, they said:

“Nephesh chayyah is used in the Bible to describe sea creatures (Genesis 1:20–21), land animals (Genesis 1:24), birds (Genesis 1:30), and man (Genesis 2:7). By the way, Nephesh is never used to refer to plants, so by biblical standards plants do not possess “life” like animals and mankind do.”

Here is an article from their website: answersingenesis.org/articles/cm/v4/n1/man-image-of-god

God Bless You!
Brian

---

'Kowalski notes that animals are aware of death. They have a sense of their own mortality, and grieve at the loss of companions. Animals possess language, musical abilities, a sense of the mysterious, creativity and playfulness. Animals possess a sense of right and wrong; they are capable of fidelity, altruism, and even self-sacrifice.

“Animals, like us, are microcosms,” says Kowalski. “They too care and have feelings; they too dream and create; they too are adventuresome and curious about their world. They too reflect the glory of the whole.”

 

[ti8er]

Hi, Welcome to the forum.

Thanks for the link. I am a Creationist. It seems this link is based heavily on evolution. The author even says they have the ability to know right and wrong, and thus possess the ability to reason to relate to their Creator as only Man made in the Image of God can relate. Animals do not have memory, intellect, and will, as man does.

I do believe that animals have souls, and so do humans, of course.

In an email from Answers in Genesis, they said:

“Nephesh chayyah is used in the Bible to describe sea creatures (Genesis 1:20–21), land animals (Genesis 1:24), birds (Genesis 1:30), and man (Genesis 2:7). By the way, Nephesh is never used to refer to plants, so by biblical standards plants do not possess “life” like animals and mankind do.”

Here is an article from their website: answersingenesis.org/articles/cm/v4/n1/man-image-of-god

God Bless You!
Brian

---

'Kowalski notes that animals are aware of death. They have a sense of their own mortality, and grieve at the loss of companions. Animals possess language, musical abilities, a sense of the mysterious, creativity and playfulness. Animals possess a sense of right and wrong; they are capable of fidelity, altruism, and even self-sacrifice.

“Animals, like us, are microcosms,” says Kowalski. “They too care and have feelings; they too dream and create; they too are adventuresome and curious about their world. They too reflect the glory of the whole.”

Thank you for your response…

yes i read about “nephesh chayah” too… its so bizarre because its apparently hebrew for “breath of life” or “living soul”… and that’s the word to describe the living soul of man and animals…but then i thought Man obtained the “living soul” through God breathing into his nostrils (?) in Genesis. so that totally debunks the notion that the soul of man and the soul animals is “Different”…why would the same hebrew word be used as the “living soul” of animals and the “living soul” of man if the soul of man and animal was different?

the bible makes the distinction between the soul and the mind…maybe the soul of man and animal is from the same source (God - gives the nephesh chayah) but man was specially given a MIND like God. i.e. when man was made “in the image of God” maybe it means Man has the intelligence/consciousness and the ability to CHOOSE that is like God which animals dont have…but an eternal soul is from God for BOTH man and animal and that’s why both man and animals have the “nephesh chayah”…that’s just my guess

and check out the following verse:

"Romans 8:19-22
19 For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God.
20 For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope,
21 Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God.
22 For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now."

!!?
Why would the animals wait for the “Sons of God” to be revealed and be “delivered” from the “bondage of corruption”? why are they waiting to be liberated if they have no spirit and soul? i think these verses indicate that maybe there is more to animals than we know and or is revealed to us in the bible. obviously the bible is God’s revelation to MAN and therefore information about animals are not covered in detail.

based on the above passage in Romans
animals are in bondage due to MAN’S SIN not their own sin (cause animals dont have sin). which means it is VERY unjust and unfair if animals dont even have an afterlife…they suffer pain and death due to Man’s sin and they dont even go to heaven??? i seriously doubt God would treat the suffering of animals as something trivial to be ignored…God is supposed to be just.

i’ve been reading some writings by Reverend Andrew Linzey…apparently alot of the christian thought about the “soul” and “spirit” is derived from secular non christian Greek philosophy and that trickled down into how we perceive animals…and certain knowledge was lost, for e.g. christians dont use the idea behind the words “nephesh chayah” to form their view of animals but they conform to the secular non christian/pagan Greek philosophies that were prevalent in the early church culture which largely influenced our view of the afterlife (and also influenced the translation of words in the bible). very interesting stuff around if you search for it…Andrew Linzey is apparently the leading theologian in this area.

 

[Spencer3096]

Short answer: animals don’t have rational, immaterial souls. This implies that when they die, they decay and that’s it. Man, on the other hand, has as his substance an immaterial, rational soul. Genesis also lists man as being made in God’s image and likeness, but not animals. Otherwise, I’m certain that there would be ethical issues with going to the steakhouse .
Maybe you should pick up a copy of The Science Before Science. It’s an introduction to Aristotelian/Thomistic philosophy for those who have never been exposed to it. I found a copy of it at my local Catholic bookstore. It’s kind of heavy reading, but this very topic is one of many that are covered.

 

[Salvatore123]

Last year, I participated in a VERY heated debate in a thread on this exact issue.

Everyone who claimed that “animals go to Heaven” took the approach like the cartoon movie “All Dogs Go To Heaven”: our pets brought us joy on Earth, so why wouldn’t God allow them to be in Heaven with us if we make it there ourselves, so that we can continue enjoying them?

As some have pointed out, the final answer is that the Church has never officially taught that animals do not go to heaven.

BUT, as many have pointed out, theologically speaking, animals do not, for the following reasons:

1. All life - whether animal or plant or insect - has a soul, that is, that which animates something, distinguishing it from a rock, or dirt, or water.
2. Only humans have an immortal soul.
3. When all non-human life dies, their souls die with them.

Can God “permit” animals to be in heaven? Sure - God can do whatever He pleases.

My conclusion in the last thread, as well as in this one, is:

The ONE thing man should strive for is the beatific vision: to see God in the face. That is the greatest reward man wants (or should want).

To suggest that man would want to turn his face away from God to go play fetch with his pet Fido, denigrates the awesomeness and reward that we get when we meet God in the face one day.

With respect, I have always been amazed that how much time people worry about where their pets go, but spend less time talking about where THEIR souls will go after death

 

[ti8er]

Last year, I participated in a VERY heated debate in a thread on this exact issue.

Everyone who claimed that “animals go to Heaven” took the approach like the cartoon movie “All Dogs Go To Heaven”: our pets brought us joy on Earth, so why wouldn’t God allow them to be in Heaven with us if we make it there ourselves, so that we can continue enjoying them?

As some have pointed out, the final answer is that the Church has never officially taught that animals do not go to heaven.

BUT, as many have pointed out, theologically speaking, animals do not, for the following reasons:

1. All life - whether animal or plant or insect - has a soul, that is, that which animates something, distinguishing it from a rock, or dirt, or water.
2. Only humans have an immortal soul.
3. When all non-human life dies, their souls die with them.

Can God “permit” animals to be in heaven? Sure - God can do whatever He pleases.

My conclusion in the last thread, as well as in this one, is:

The ONE thing man should strive for is the beatific vision: to see God in the face. That is the greatest reward man wants (or should want).

To suggest that man would want to turn his face away from God to go play fetch with his pet Fido, denigrates the awesomeness and reward that we get when we meet God in the face one day.

With respect, I have always been amazed that how much time people worry about where their pets go, but spend less time talking about where THEIR souls will go after death

this isnt really about pets per se, it’s something I’ve always been interested in and was researching about and came across this site…

imo it’s very interesting since the bible is so silent on animals and the afterlife…its not a common theme discussed by alot of Christians but
it strange how throughout the bible animals always emerge in the most important events for e.g. the first physical death and the first sacrifice - was an animal killed by God to cover Adam and Eve with animal skin, Noah’s Ark, Dove when Jesus was baptized, Jesus riding on a donkey before his crucifixion, animals waiting for sons of god to be revealed…
its even more interesting cause it’s so subtle and ppl think animals are trivial yet they’re always there in the stories…

btw, can you please give supporting biblical evidence for your points:
2. Only humans have an immortal soul.
3. When all non-human life dies, their souls die with them.

imo the bible is silent on those two points above…that’s why there is a debate in the first place…cause no one knows for sure & that’s why it’s interesting

if one can agree that both animals and man have souls, the issue then becomes whether or not animals have an “immortal” soul…

sin is the cause of physical death for all of creation…so that must mean that before sin, immorality must have been the norm for all of creation…

sin caused physical death for all of creation BUT in the special case of man, sin also caused spiritual death as he was the one who consciously chose to be separate from God…animals never made that choice cause they dont have the intellect or the mind to make that choice. that’s why they never sinned.

so because animals never sinned and if we can agree that they have a soul, their souls must probably return to God…cause they didnt choose to be separate from God. they never had the intellectual capacity to make that choice…
in my mind it doesnt make logical sense that their souls would just disappear upon death, their souls would go somewhere…but no one knows where…maybe its heaven. i dont know…

maybe they have another special kind of relationship with God that we as humans are not privy to…cause God didnt reveal this to man

 

[PJM]

=GodHeals;8938551]Hello,

My understanding as a Creationist, drawing upon the Holy Scriptures, is that humans and animals have souls, but not plants. Never does God use the word “living”, “life”, “death”, “dying”, etc. to refer to plants. But uses “green things” (Job 39:8) and “withering”. That is another clue as to why humans and animals were able to eat plants before the fall of mankind, since death (sin, disease, suffering, etc.) did not enter into the world until after the sin of Adam and Eve.

answersingenesis.org/arti…/do-leaves-die
answersingenesis.org/arti…green-machines

As the Catholic church is open to creation science and animals being in heaven, i agree with both. In my understanding and belief, animals won’t be saved as humans will be saved, since animals cannot chose to sin, like humans (whom are in need to daily choose Jesus). But, since all of creation will one day be redeemed through Jesus Christ, i believe that will include animals. Just as Mary was full of grace and was still needing to be saved through the Cross (Luke 1:47), animals can be saved through the cross by no choice of their own (Romans 8:20-21).

I read on catholic.com that those animal souls that are bonded to human souls may be only the animals that go to heaven. Of course there is a lot of speculation…

What scriptures clearly state animals will not go to heaven?

God Bless You!

Brian

Brian,
ONLY HUMANITY,
made in the image and likeness of God Himself [Gen.1:26-27] have the POSSIBILTY of meriting and attaining heaven.

WHY?

Because humanity ALONE of all created things possess a mind, intellect, FREEWILL and SOUL which are ALL essential elements necessary to Know, Love and serve God in this life in order that we MAY be able to be with Him forever in the everlasting-life. AMEN!

This Brian is what the CC Teaches and has always taught.

God Bless,
pat/PJM

 

[jenwha]

I too hope insects and the like won’t be in heaven. If you want to see something truly shocking/horrifying/beyond comprehension, google “bolivia bug” and “house centipede” images on Google. They both turn my hair white.

The drought has killed my hanging plants outside (that, and I wasn’t most diligent about watering them). I felt really bad the other day about the Plant Murder as I was putting them in the trash. But I wasn’t sure if I should feel bad. I remember seeing something on some TV show years ago about someone putting a tiny, tiny microphone to a plant, and then ripping one of its leaves off. It apparantly screamed. I also noticed in my back yard earlier this spring that there was a drooping tree branch below one that was nice and upright, and that it seemed the nice, upright one had curled some wispy, plant-tendril things around it’s ailing, southern neighbor to help prop it up I presume. I found that neat.

As for the animals I have two beautiful innocent pugs that make me happier than almost anything in the whole world. Regardless of whether animals go to heaven or not (and I am still NOT for the Bolivia Bug or house centipede) I don’t think I will be able to get through the grief of losing my honeys without the comfort of thinking they may be at the Rainbow Bridge waiting for Mama. I have hope. Lots of hope.