Do animals have souls?

[Shul Cooper]

Because the Catholic Church grudgingly accepts [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Evolution_and_the_Roman_Catholic_Church] evolution, it would seem that, according to them, animals have souls. However, they could claim that God explains the spiritual creation of humans (and not animals).

However again, many other religions believe that animals have souls. The real problem is that there is no way to prove either position, just as there is no way to prove whether a god exists or not. If you believe that animals have souls, then maybe they do.

 

[Maze1125]

Assuming that souls exist, I see no reason why humans would have them and not other animals.

 

[bodyklok]

Simply put. No, Primarly because it's impossible (probably) to prove souls exsist, animal or otherwise.

 

[Clashero]

Well, if you mean as Heavenly souls, yea, I would love to think my dog, Foster, would come with me up to heaven after we have both passed away. But, by the other meaning of soul, personality, then I will answer yes again, every Dog, Bird, Cat, Mouse, and Gerbil, acts a bit diffrent, and has a unique style compared to other animals. Though I do not dwell on this subject much, I would much rather play with the animal, then dabble on the thought if it has a soul or not.

-This-is-Hip-Hop

The only thing that baffles me about your post is that your dog's name is Foster.

 

[Gerazzi]

I believe in Minds, not souls

agnostic

 

[Copter400]

Look, it's been a thousand years and we're still a little iffy on whether or not humans have souls or indeed any sort of presence in the supposed afterlife. First things' first, you know? Let's not worry about animals for now.

 

[Gamine]

I love Animals,Dogs especially and i used to have two Samoyeds,who are missing now or perhaps dead *sob* for their sake, i sure hope they have souls!

 

[Altorin]

Humans don't have souls.

Humans are animals

QED

 

[Shurikens and Lightning]

I would love for my dog to have a soul.

If it is heaven which means perfect paradise, then they would definetly bring my dog there.

And if animals are just to increase our menu, why hasnt your teacher eaten a dog yet?

 

[Mostly Harmless]

(an exert from a paper I read on the subject)
We share in the life principle, but it is not the life principle itself that is precious.... Ontological continuity cannot be established upon the experiences of life, the intrinsic value of life itself, or physical parallels between animals and humans; rather, we are separated from the animal world by an impassable gulf-a chasm of essential difference in who we are.

Animals may be said to have souls if the word "soul" is used as the Bible employs it in discussing members of the animal kingdom (i.e., to describe only the physical life force found within all living creatures). But if the word "soul" is used to refer to an immortal soul that one day will inhabit heaven or hell, then no, animals may not be said to possess a soul. This is the only conclusion that can be drawn, respecting the instruction on the subject found within the Word of God.

 

[Labyrinth]

I don't think animals have souls. I don't think people do either. Personalities, dreams, willpower, sure. Just not souls. There's something illogical in the idea that a part of us will live on, it's also wistful thinking really.

 

[SenseOfTumour]

Well, being as a soul is meant to be energy and all living things have the energy they need to move and such, everything that has a pulse has a soul too (until it dies, then that energy returns to the great cycle).

I'm with Booze, I see a soul as a kinda life force, and when something dies, it's returned to the world's stock of lifeforce to be used for the next tree/badger/baby, and yes, I'd prefer more trees and badgers, personally.

 

[Darth Mad]

personally, I think it's wrong to eat animals, but they are most certainly not made to be eaten.

Erk, whats wrong with eating meat? Is it only wrong for human to eat meat or is it wrong for others animals as well, like a lion eating a zebra?

 

[runtheplacered]

Well, considering HUMANS don't have souls I'd say it's a bit of a stretch to suggest that animals do.

That right there.

If animals have souls, then why wouldn't plants have souls? Is the prerequisite that you just have be a living organism? What's the significance of that?

 

[seidlet]

personally, I think it's wrong to eat animals, but they are most certainly not made to be eaten.

Erk, whats wrong with eating meat? Is it only wrong for human to eat meat or is it wrong for others animals as well, like a lion eating a zebra?

obviously this question wasn't directed at me, but eating meat is grotesquely inefficient and environmentally unfriendly - and while i don't have a personal moral issue with the slaughter of animals, i can see how it could be viewed as cruel to kill something for sustenance when we really no longer NEED to in this day and age. lions still need to eat zebra [or whatever else happens to be running around] to survive - humans living in the first-world have an endless supply of alternative choices.

 

[cuddly_tomato]

In my religion class my teacher was talking to the class about how humans are speicial and how animals are insignificant creature just there so we can have a large menu to choose from. So i spent about half an hour argueing with him. His primary argument was that animals dont have souls and god only gave souls to humans.

Just to be clear I dont want this topic to end up a debate on religion vs atheism i just want to know your opinion on if animals have souls.

If humans do, then surely animals (and indeed plants) do also. I really dislike the kind of arrogance that goes along with this very human aspect of thinking that humans are somehow above other orders of life.

I don't think animals have souls. I don't think people do either. Personalities, dreams, willpower, sure. Just not souls. There's something illogical in the idea that a part of us will live on, it's also wistful thinking really.

Lots of things are illogical. From concepts of justice, to showing mercy to a killer, to helping a blind man who will never contribute as much as he takes from the rest of society, to staying with a spouse who you discover is infertile. Some would say it is the soul itself which compells us to take these actions. I would say simply that sometimes being illogical is no bad thing.

 

[Peach_hat]

Dooooo people?

 

[Soulkiller3]

I'm with Booze, I see a soul as a kinda life force, and when something dies, it's returned to the world's stock of lifeforce to be used for the next tree/badger/baby, and yes, I'd prefer more trees and badgers, personally.

been playing ff7?

as for the op, nope i dont belive in souls, i also dont belive religon should be teached in schools, its somthing that familys should teach if the child wants to learn it.