Do you believe animals have souls?

[Hollie]

Here is the Biblical view:

Eccl. 3: 21. "Who knoweth the spirit of man that goeth upward, and the spirit of the beast that goeth downward to the earth?"

Animals have a soul in the sense that they possess life. A common Hebrew word translated life (soul) is nephesh. Nephesh is used for the life or breath of both animals and man (Gen. 1: 20, 30; 19: 17). Life is that state that is the opposite of death. It is a state of animation, breathing, and awareness. Men and animals alike possess a soul in the sense of breath (nephesh). However, in the sense of possessing a part or element that lives forever, as man possesses, animals do not possess an eternal spirit.

The animal simply and totally returns to the dust, the spirit of man continues to exist.
One spirit is eternal, the other spirit is not.

But, God keeps nothing good from us, so we can ask for our pets to be with us for eternity. There are animals in Heaven, and God has a covenant with the animals here on earth. We aren't given the particulars, but the animals are so important to God, that not even a sparrow drops that He doesn't know about. Our animals are in good hands, and won't be kept from us.

Great. So I can bring my fish tank. Do the gods have a wall outlet so I can plug in the light and bubbler?

 

[Bill Angel]

Here is the Biblical view:

Eccl. 3: 21. "Who knoweth the spirit of man that goeth upward, and the spirit of the beast that goeth downward to the earth?"

Animals have a soul in the sense that they possess life. A common Hebrew word translated life (soul) is nephesh. Nephesh is used for the life or breath of both animals and man (Gen. 1: 20, 30; 19: 17). Life is that state that is the opposite of death. It is a state of animation, breathing, and awareness. Men and animals alike possess a soul in the sense of breath (nephesh). However, in the sense of possessing a part or element that lives forever, as man possesses, animals do not possess an eternal spirit.

The animal simply and totally returns to the dust, the spirit of man continues to exist.
One spirit is eternal, the other spirit is not.

But, God keeps nothing good from us, so we can ask for our pets to be with us for eternity. There are animals in Heaven, and God has a covenant with the animals here on earth. We aren't given the particulars, but the animals are so important to God, that not even a sparrow drops that He doesn't know about. Our animals are in good hands, and won't be kept from us.

I happened to photograph a woman providing water to her dog Stella.
Her dog only has three legs. Religions assert that if a person enters paradise, their soul won't be afflicted with the diseases and the infirmities that plagued them during their earthly existence. (What would be the point of being in Paradise that way?) If animals like this dog will be in paradise with its owner, hopefully the dog won't be afflicted with trying to get around on only three legs, even if their owner does love and care for them that way.

[ame=http://youtu.be/1pE7rj4HfAI]Video of Stella - a Three Legged Dog - YouTube[/ame]

 

[LilOlLady]

The bible say animals and human have the same eventuality. Soul is LIFE. God breathes into Adam and he became a living soul. No something separated from the body at death.

There is an eventuality as respects the sons of mankind and an eventuality as respects the beast, and they have the same eventuality. As the one dies, so the other dies; and they all have but one spirit, so that there is no superiority of the man over the beast, for everything is vanity. All are going to one place. They have all come to be from the dust, and they are all returning to the dust.” (Ecclesiastes 3:19, 20)

Gen 2:7: “Jehovah God proceeded to form the man out of dust from the ground and to blow into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man came to be a living soul.”


Ecclesiastes 12:7 says, "Then the dust returns to the earth (this is the body), and the Spirit or the soul returns to the God that gave it". Everything goes into reverse.