Do animals go to heaven?

[Sugar Pea 2,682]

Probably a month ago, me and my religious friend got into a debate whether animals go to heaven or not. I wanted to get ya'll's opinion on whether they do, may you believe or not.

She told me that according to the Bible, it said animals didn't go to heaven because humans are superior to them and they don't have a soul. 

I argued that if they didn't have a soul, how come they can feel jealousy, madness, sadness, happiness, all in all feel pain and distraught. It's like comparing them to a rock, and saying that one living thing isn't worthy enough to go to heaven as well as another living thing.

She then came back and told me it's because they don't have a sense of morality. That they don't have morals, or even aware of the presence of God.

I then came back at her and said that if that is the case, then we probably didn't have a soul, considering we didn't have a sense of morality at one point in our lives. It's invalid to say that they can't go to heaven or hell because they don't know right from wrong, when we humans ourselves don't know right from wrong either...and just like us, they can learn from their mistakes.

I did my own research, and so far all the religious sites i've been to have said yes, because we were made from the same dust as animals, or that the Bible clearly doesn't state whether they do or not, despite the heavy symbolism towards animals throughout the book.

I mean, if they didn't have any importance, why did God instruct Noah to carry two of every animal? Was there no point, if they really weren't as signifigant as humans are?

PLEASE don't point at me and say i'm crazy for believing in this and that, and act rude about it. I know how people get with these religious topics.

This is about what you think.

Do you think animals go to heaven? What are your thoughts?
 

[Everleaf 541]

Well we will never know for sure but hope...

Edited May 27, 2014 by Everleaf

[Untitled Goose Q 5,137]

Well, given that I don't believe in heaven, I'd have to say no.

 

 

But assuming that I did, then i would say yes simply because if I cant meet up with my animal friends in heaven, then it is no heaven to me.

[Skeleton Kin 385]

If we imply that heaven does indeed exist then yes they must be able to go to heaven, just like a character once said "apparently everything has a soul even when its non-sentient" and what happens to the soul after their body can no longer live?

[Dattebayo 2,850]

Unless they also partake in your religion, I'm pretty sure you know the answer...

[AppleGearRising 526]

Just a quick question: do you follow a particular faith of your own? Cause if you do then you're the first person I've ever met to offer a constructive set of views and criticisms that don't involve, or rather end with, simple-minded slurs.

 

Hat's off to you if that's the case, if not then hat's off to you anyway

[Everleaf 541]

Well we do not know for sure but we can hope we are not even (sure) if Heaven exists or not I myself am not religious however I am cool with people who are and in fact I don't know if it is true or not no one does both religious and non religious will never know for sure sadly...

[Sugar Pea 2,682]

Just a quick question: do you follow a particular faith of your own? Cause if you do then you're the first person I've ever met to offer a constructive set of views and criticisms that don't involve, or rather end with, simple-minded slurs.

 

Hat's off to you if that's the case, if not then hat's off to you anyway

Actually, I follow the same religion. I'm just not a mindless drone, and have a mind of my own. ^^ I believe every word the Bible says, but it doesn't mean I can't question it and defend the unknown. Not with a simple, "They don't have a soul just because." 

 

PS. I'm not insulting my friend, she is a good girl. Sometimes, I wish she could come up with a better argument, along with my other religious friends.

Edited May 27, 2014 by Princess PeachBlink

[Arctic Night 884]

• Animals have enough natural morality not to kill off all of their offspring.

As with your question about whether animals go to "Heaven," (very abstract place) the answer, as usual, is probably not. Of course that also applies to humans, rocks, planes, golf clubs, et cetera, so there is no reason for your friend to feel so superior. 

[Untitled Goose Q 5,137]

Actually, I follow the same religion. I'm just not a mindless drone, and have a mind of my own. ^^ I believe every word the Bible says, but it doesn't mean I can't question it and defend the unknown. Not with a simple, "They don't have a soul just because." 

That makes three religious people I know who are not drones.

 

Of course, you can always follow the philosophy laid out in the Discworld books, in which the afterlife depends on what you believe is going to happen, so if you believe animals are going to be there, then they will.

Edited May 27, 2014 by The Questioner

[AppleGearRising 526]

Fair enough, I've no problem that can offer a coherent response when their faith is challenged or questioned. As you said, It's just the drones that make me sit there and sigh wearily whenever their mouths open that make me facepalm all the time .-.

 

So *brohoof* /)*(\

[Dattebayo 2,850]

 

• Animals have enough natural morality not to kill off all of their offspring.
• As with your question about whether animals go to "Heaven," (very abstract place) the answer, as usual, is probably not. Of course that also applies to humans, rocks, planes, golf clubs, et cetera, so there is no reason for your friend to feel so superior.

I've seen dogs kill their own puppies, friend. Bears do that too.

Hell, literally any male mammalian animal tends to do that.

[Mr F 1,522]

Well, I don't know much about this. If I am not mistaken we unlike animals can question our actions and so on, so I guess they don't go to heaven or the other option. If animals had gone somewhere they would probably end up the same place as me and all non-religious..... Sadly.

[Ziggy + Angel + Rain 11,302]

"All Dogs go to Heaven" PROVES that animals go to heaven. xD  Seriously, though...  I think it's just as likely that animals go to heaven as it is that humans go to heaven.  Because I don't believe in the existence of heaven lol.  Nor do I believe in the existence of a "soul."  We're all just animals, though.

 

And you (the original poster) already made some good points, considering the context.  The feelings that animals seemingly can and do express are indicative of a personality and further separate them from inanimate objects; rocks and house plants, for example, aren't really known for exhibiting emotion.  You also made a good point regarding a human baby; that utterly new-to-the-world creature (the word "newb" could never be more apt) has no way to distinguish right from wrong.  Nor could it probably differentiate between food and its left foot.  Sadly, babies have died; as well as young children that may not have developed a moral compass as of yet.  According to scripture, don't little children still get a ticket into the kingdom of heaven??  Why not, at least, baby animals, then?  A newborn baby animal has had about as much opportunity to do evil as a human baby.

 

Really, looking at this from a perspective of "it doesn't matter anyway - there is no gleaming golden kingdom in the sky," you might as well permit animals in, as well.  And if a serial murderer can say, "Oh, gosh - I'm soooo sorry" at the last second and get in...  My darned cats shouldn't be discriminated against.

Edited May 27, 2014 by PegaMister

[Yellow Diamond 7,569]

To the best of my understanding, the classic Christian answer is that animals lack rational souls; therefore, they cannot be receptive to the grace required for salvation and subsequently cannot go to Heaven. In lacking a rational soul, animals are not given to good or evil in the same deliberate sense human beings are; as such, damnation would not apply to animals, either.

 

I once spoke to a theologian who said that while the Thomistic position (i.e., animals do not go to Heaven because they lack of rational souls) is the strongest, St. Bonaventure -- a contemporary of St. Thomas -- posited that Heaven comprises all good things. If we followed that logic, then certain animals -- such as our pets -- might be in Heaven by virtue of their presence being part of that which is good in our lives.

 

In combination with that argument as well as Romans 8, I'm inclined to believe animals may be in Heaven, though it would be an extension of our redemption by God's grace rather than animals warranting salvation through covenant and sacramental action on their own. In other words, since the Resurrection signifies the eventual restoration of nature to its full union with God, all creatures will come to benefit, even if not immediately or knowingly.

[yeet 2,027]

Frankly, no animals go to heaven or hell, since they don't exist.

If they did however exist, then all animals would go to heaven or hell.

[Envy 6,169]

I'll just say this: If there were a heaven, and my pets weren't there with me, I simply wouldn't be able to call it heaven.

Edited May 27, 2014 by Envy

[Arctic Night 884]

Well, given that I don't believe in heaven, I'd have to say no.

 

 

But assuming that I did, then i would say yes simply because if I cant meet up with my animal friends in heaven, then it is no heaven to me.

 

God: "Well Ghidorah, despite that you were an atheist, practiced witchcraft as a child, enjoyed reading the Hunger Games, and chose to be bisexual, we have decided to let you in."

 

Me: "Can I bring my cat?"

 

God: "No."

 

Me: "No thanks."

I've seen dogs kill their own puppies, friend. Bears do that too.

Hell, literally any male mammalian animal tends to do that.

I was aware. But if animals killed off all of their offspring, their kind would not exist.

[Discordian 6,015]

If a soul = a certain level of sentience then I have to wonder where that bar is and why it matters at all. Sentience is sentience and animals have most of the same emotions and instincts that we do, if not the same level of understanding.

 

If the sole reasoning is that "they aren't aware of the presence of God" then I tell ya, most of the human race is gonna burn in hell simply for the one fact that they don't know or believe he exists. Sounds pretty bullshitty to me.

[Khaoios 1,970]

Funny, I was just watching All Dogs Go To Heaven earlier today, .  However, I don't know.........its all unknown. 

[Dattebayo 2,850]

God: "Well Ghidorah, despite that you were an atheist, practiced witchcraft as a child, enjoyed reading the Hunger Games, and chose to be bisexual, we have decided to let you in."

 

Me: "Can I bring my cat?"

 

God: "No."

 

Me: "No thanks."

 

I was aware. But if animals killed off all of their offspring, their kind would not exist.

The only thing stopping them is the mother of said species

Not decency or sentience, or their commitment to Bear-God.

 

 

Bear-God is coincidentally my new band name, as well.

[Arctic Night 884]

Maternal instincts. Exactly. I never claimed that animals had the same morality as humans.

[Thrashy 2,800]

I don't believe in the Judeo-Christian interpretations of heaven, so no. I'd assume that whatever awaits human beings on the other side - whether that be reincarnation, wandering some realm of spirits, or simple nonexistence - probably awaits any other animals just as readily.

[Luna Jax 65]

Anybody want the mormon perspective?

 

We believe that God created everything spiritually before it was created physically and that all of God's creations are precious to him and bring him glory. He is glorified when his creations are saved and because animals are his creations it would detract from his glory if they were not saved. Therefore, animals going to heaven = yes

[Neon Fire 473]

I like to think so, yes.  It says in the Bible that in Heaven there will be stuff there that makes you happy.  And my dogs make me happy sooo...