Would dogs enjoy heaven?

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markeverett49 said:
This does not follow at all. You’re imagining Earth without sorrow; heaven is something else entirely.
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No, I think ya’ll are just reading into what I’m saying.

What does the sorrow of the Earth have to do with God loving the animals He’s created?
 
Why is the Holy Spirit so often depicted as a dove if there are no animals in heaven? 😉
 
Charlemagne_II said:
Why is the Holy Spirit so often depicted as a dove if there are no animals in heaven? 😉
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So people can see the Spirit! Angels, God’s messengers, appear to humans embodied. The bodies are not for their benefit but for ours.
 
Lochias said:
No, I think ya’ll are just reading into what I’m saying.

What does the sorrow of the Earth have to do with God loving the animals He’s created?
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You need to figure out the difference between natural and supernatural happiness.
 
Lochias said:
What does the sorrow of the Earth have to do with God loving the animals He’s created?
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What does loving them have to do with having them in heaven? (And what of dogs whose owners go to hell? Or who had no owners? Or who had multiple owners----it’s getting to be like the woman with seven husbands!) Dogs do not have spiritual souls—heaven could not appeal to them.
 
markeverett49 said:
What does loving them have to do with having them in heaven?
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You’re saying that you don’t think God could love them enough to keep them around? That it’s an entirely impossible occurrence?
(And what of dogs whose owners go to hell? Or who had no owners? Or who had multiple owners----it’s getting to be like the woman with seven husbands!)
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What about 'em? Does a dog’s owner have to go to Heaven in order for God to bring that animal there as well? And what of a man who married more than once? What does this question have to do with anything?
Dogs do not have spiritual souls—heaven could not appeal to them.
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Does have to appeal to them in some sentient form or fashion for God to want them there? Furthermore, loving all of His creation, do you think it’s entirely impossible that God wouldn’t want ALL of the New Heaven and the New Earth together?
 
markeverett49 said:
What does loving them have to do with having them in heaven? (And what of dogs whose owners go to hell? Or who had no owners? Or who had multiple owners----it’s getting to be like the woman with seven husbands!) Dogs do not have spiritual souls—heaven could not appeal to them.
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I sense that Lochias doesn’t desire to actually understand the theology but to simply repeat his platitudes.
 
devoutchristian said:
I sense that Lochias doesn’t desire to actually understand the theology but to simply repeat his platitudes.
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I understand the theology. What you don’t seem to want to admit is that the theology allows for both possibilities. Put simply, we don’t know for sure. Once we exist outside of time, we’ll see the new Heaven and the New Earth, and since we know that “all of creation” is awaiting that time, it seems more logical to me to be hopeful rather than not.

But then, cold and clinical evaluation of the rules was always the Pharisees’ favorite game; if you’d like to lump yourself in with that lot, you’re more than welcome to.

It’s more fun (and still within the right teaching of the Church) over here. 😃
 
I would love it if my dog made it to Heaven; and her lack of a “rational soul” in no way precludes our LORD reinstating her life!

But the Church has left it an open question, so I should too.

If I can leap into our LORD’s arms, the rest will take care of itself!!!

ICXC NIKA.
 
Lochias said:
Once we exist outside of time, we’ll see the new Heaven and the New Earth, and since we know that “all of creation” is awaiting that time, it seems more logical to me to be hopeful rather than not.
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The soul being immaterial / immortal is what allows for its existence outside time. The resurrection body will not be like our earthly one—won’t be subject to time. The souls of dogs are material (-which is why dogs CANNOT have spiritual thoughts, which require an immaterial soul) and this is why they do not survive death.

It would be bizarre indeed to think that all creation goes to heaven EXCEPT for some angels (such as Lucifer, who was cast out) and some human beings.
 
PennyinCanada said:
We are going to have a new heaven and a new earth at some point, and I imagine the new earth will be populated by all the species it was originally. ‘The lion will lie down with the lamb’. I can’t wait to see that! and I’m pretty sure our pets will be able to join us. We can’t imagine what God has in store for us! The Garden of Eden restored but without the capacity to sin since we would have ‘passed the test’ here already. We would be redeemed, renewed, revived!
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You wouldn’t be able to tell the difference between “your” pet and an animal of exactly the same size and breed - and the animal would also not know the difference.
 
markeverett49 said:
The soul being immaterial / immortal is what allows for its existence outside time.The resurrection body will not be like our earthly one—won’t be subject to time. The souls of dogs are material (-which is why dogs CANNOT have spiritual thoughts, which require an immaterial soul) and this is why they do not survive death.
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Then why does “all creation” await for the new Heaven and Earth? Why does it say “that creation itself would be set free from slavery to corruption and share in the glorious freedom of the children of God” (Rom 8:21)?

Sure sounds like God has SOMETHING in mind for all of His creation, and that it’ll somehow share in what we have coming.
It would be bizarre indeed to think that all creation goes to heaven EXCEPT for some angels (such as Lucifer, who was cast out) and some human beings.
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Is God so finite to you that you can’t imagine that? At all?
 
Lochias said:
Then why does “all creation” await for the new Heaven and Earth? Why does it say “that creation itself would be set free from slavery to corruption and share in the glorious freedom of the children of God” (Rom 8:21)?

Sure sounds like God has SOMETHING in mind for all of His creation, and that it’ll somehow share in what we have coming.

Is God so finite to you that you can’t imagine that? At all?
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There will be animals in the New Earth, but they will not be in Heaven. Our home will be in Heaven, and we will care for the Earth as God had originally intended for Adam and Eve. But the rule of “no animals in the house” will be applied - dogs will not eat of the Eucharistic Banquet. 😉
 
Lochias said:
Then why does “all creation” await for the new Heaven and Earth? Why does it say “that creation itself would be set free from slavery to corruption and share in the glorious freedom of the children of God” (Rom 8:21)?

Sure sounds like God has SOMETHING in mind for all of His creation, and that it’ll somehow share in what we have coming.
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If you think Paul was talking about dogs and pigs and horseflies going to heaven because He loves them and wants them to be happy, but many people may go to hell just the same, I will—with best wishes for you and your loved ones—bow out of this conversation. I remember my seminary rector admonishing us not to tell children their pets don’t go to heaven; I never imagined so many adults would have a hard time with the notion.
 
markeverett49 said:
I do not think dogs go to heaven. A cousin challenged me about this yesterday, which in itself was a surprise, and I said, yes, dogs have souls but not immortal souls; without the resurrection of canine bodies, it is hard to see how they might be known in heaven, and to me, the notion of the resurrection of canine bodies is,well, childish.

This lead to a blast of the wisdom of our age: “That is YOUR opinion!”

Then I thought something I had never thought before (-probably because this is not a subject I dwell on): why is it that people who think dogs go to heaven never talk about this in terms of its advantages for the dogs??? I asked my cousin if she thought dogs would get more out of the beatific vision than they get out of watching TV. (I’m waiting to hear back on that one.) People want dogs in heaven for THEIR joy, not for the dog’s.

That said, it might be curious----in a jocular way—to suggest that if the OWNER doesn’t make it into heaven, their pets have no chance!
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All my old pals will be there, why not ? Linus2nd
 
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