Creation & EvolutionForum for the discussion of this important topic. This forum is open to non-believers. There is a Christians-only forum in the Christians-only section too.
John 16:33 -- "...In the world you have tribulation, but be of good cheer! I have overcome the world!" Ephesians 5:14 -- "Awake, O sleeper, and ARISE from the dead... and CHRIST shall give you light!"
Animals certainly have feelings. If your asking if they have a soul, that would be a different question.
I think the most common misperception about animals is that they have an understanding and a fear of death like humans do. This would require a level or reason that animals do not posses. Many believe that it is the ability to reason that makes man "in the image of God."
Too often we anthropomorphize the human ability to feel terror or anguish over the prospect of death. Our fascination with Disney movies does nothing to help this view either, lol! While an animal will instinctively avoid or flee from danger, it does have the reasoning capacities to fear the "great unknown" (as those humans who don't KNOW often seem to).
I've had many pets and their ability to "feel", their instinctive reaction to my own emotions, and the obvious displays of their own, has never failed to amaze me.
John 16:33 -- "...In the world you have tribulation, but be of good cheer! I have overcome the world!" Ephesians 5:14 -- "Awake, O sleeper, and ARISE from the dead... and CHRIST shall give you light!"
I think animals are self aware. The animals I've encountered in my life certianly seem to be. As for a fear of death I doubt that they have it, but I fail to see how a lack of fear of death indicates a lack of soul. I have always simply thought that animals are not concearned with death due to their smaller brain size and inability to 'think ahead' very far.
__________________ Not all those who wander are lost. -- JRR Tolkien
I have seen experiments done with Dolphins where they look at themselves in a mirror and decorate themselves with various trinkets put in the tank.
There have also been documented cases of apes dying of grief. I remember one such incident where an older chimpanzee had a child, and they were very attached to eachother. When the mother died the rest of the tribe moved on, but the ape that was so attached to his mother saw her and then saty in a tree alone until he died. It is postulated that he was bascially so grief stricken that he fell into a depressioon and died of thirst/starvation.
Cats could never be so evil unless they had feelings to spite you with.
__________________ "If we begin with certainties, we shall end in doubts; if we begin with doubts, and are patient, we shall end in certainties."
-Marcus Aurelius
John 16:33 -- "...In the world you have tribulation, but be of good cheer! I have overcome the world!" Ephesians 5:14 -- "Awake, O sleeper, and ARISE from the dead... and CHRIST shall give you light!"
John 16:33 -- "...In the world you have tribulation, but be of good cheer! I have overcome the world!" Ephesians 5:14 -- "Awake, O sleeper, and ARISE from the dead... and CHRIST shall give you light!"
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