Do animals have no souls?

[Grace2022]

I was reading my devotionals by JR Miller, i love his wisdom. On today's page he declares animals and birds have no souls.
I disagree. Watching the birds feeding their chicks, life in spring is beautiful. I have a dog, she gives such love and cares so much about us as we do for her.

The question is - what exactly is a soul and could really be true that animals do not have one? There are so many sentient beings apart from us, i am convinced they do have a soul and God cares for them. I think animals must be aware of creator God and may even worship Him. Why else do birds sing? Why do animals love life - look at puppies and kittens. They enjoy pure joy and love freely.

My dog means so much to me, i cannot possibly think she has no soul. I think she is better than many people - we say evil people are 'soul-less' - why do we say that?

To me my soul is who i really am. The essence of me. My soul is what matters most. This body is just a vehicle to be here on earth. Soul is immortal. That is why both God and the Devil want it, it is the priceless part of us. Jesus came and died so our souls have the opportunity to live forever with Him.

 

[Bible Highlighter]

Well, the Scriptures say that all life has a soul (Job 12:10) and that animals will go to Heaven (Romans 8:19-22) (Pay close attention to verse 21).

"In whose hand is the soul of every living thing, and the breath of all mankind." (Job 12:10) (KJV).

Romans 8:19-22 says,

19 "For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God.
20 For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope,
21 Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God.
22 For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now."

It's only logical that if animals have a soul, they have a spirit.

In fact, this is what Scripture says:

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

 

[Sketcher]

A soul is a spiritual element of our being. Animals can be wonderful (I'm partial to dogs myself), but in spite of their love and their eagerness and enthusiasm, none of that is evidence of a soul. They, and the birds and the whales and every other animal were created by God, and they have their own beauty and dignity as part of God's creation. They were created by God and for God, as were humans. There is human behavior that is patterned after animal behavior, but that the mental element of God's creation rather than the spiritual.

 

[honey badger]

the seed of the women is the Life of her ....

 

[trophy33]

Its complicated. I have a suspicion that the Bible uses the word "soul" in several different meanings. Sometimes referring to all life as such, sometimes referring only to humans (for example "they were xyz souls").

So, it would need to be defined, what you mean by the word "soul".

Generally speaking, everything that lives and moves has a spirit of life and I would guess that everyhing that has personality/emotions, self-conciousness is a soulish creature.

 

[Neogaia777]

See my thread here: The Great Spirits, etc...?

Each kind has a "Great Spirit", etc...

God Bless!

 

[Lost4words]

I definitly have a soul!!!

 

[Carl Emerson]

It's only logical that if animals have a soul, they have a spirit.

Can you support that assumption from scripture please...

 

[Neogaia777]

Angels, and many different aspects of human behavior, and group human behavior, use animal likenesses to depict or describe them, etc...

See my multiple posts in my thread link I posted...

If it acts and behaves like a living thing, and has emotions and feels like a living thing, then it probably has a soul or spirit, etc...

And in my opinion, a common one (lord) they all go back to when they die here...

Again, see my thread link...

God Bless!

 

[Carl Emerson]

The issue with this topic is that we need first to define what we mean by soul and spirit.
I guess I have taken understanding from the writings of Watchman Nee - the scripture itself seems to use these words in different ways.

 

[Neogaia777]

The issue with this topic is that we need first to define what we mean by soul and spirit.
I guess I have taken understanding from the writings of Watchman Nee - the scripture itself seems to use these words in different ways.

Figuring out the exact difference between what a soul is and what a spirit is very difficult, etc, especially when the bible seems to use them interchangeably, etc, but when we think of soul, most of the time we associate it with a person or beings emotions or passions or feelings, etc, and when we think of spirit, we mean what a person or being is, or what they have become, etc...?

Both, I think, are required to have a living person or being, or spirit or soul, etc...

God Bless!

 

[Carl Emerson]

Yes - Watchman Nee speaks of the soul comprising of the mind, emotions and will, and the spirit having conscience and intuition and the capacity to commune with God.

If these definitions were accepted then animals would have a soul but not a spirit.

 

[Neogaia777]

Yes - Watchman Nee speaks of the soul comprising of the mind, emotions and will, and the spirit having conscience and intuition and the capacity to commune with God.

If these definitions were accepted then animals would have a soul but not a spirit.

Well, I perhaps have come to know and define them a little bit differently maybe, etc...

Do you know where he gets those theories/definitions from...?

God Bless!

 

[Neogaia777]

Yes - Watchman Nee speaks of the soul comprising of the mind, emotions and will, and the spirit having conscience and intuition and the capacity to commune with God.

If these definitions were accepted then animals would have a soul but not a spirit.

Well, I think I know for a fact that animals have a conscience, and they most definitely have intuition and instincts, and I sometimes think they are very much closer to being in the will of God than we are, etc...

So, I think they have both a common spirit, and a soul, etc...

God Bless!

 

[Carl Emerson]

Well, I think I know for a fact that animals have a conscience, and they most definitely have intuition and instincts, and I sometimes think they are very much closer to being in the will of God than we are, etc...

So, I think they have both a common spirit, and a soul, etc...

God Bless!

But not a soul that lives on into eternity?

Certainly not with the capacity to receive the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit and eternal life... ?

 

[Neogaia777]

But not a soul that lives on into eternity?

Well, I don't know if any creatures souls live on into eternity absolutely eternally, but their spirits are/do...

And I also think your maybe mincing definitions also maybe, no offense...

Certainly not with the capacity to receive the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit and eternal life... ?

Man's common spirit is God's Spirit, and animals common spirits might be Angels, etc, which are parts of God's body/Spirit that use to be in perfect harmony with one another, etc...

Again, see my linked thread/post link, as I go into this in a little bit greater detail in that thread/posts, etc...

God Bless!

 

[Theologyofone]

I had the same question when studying In short Human are Living Souls the infusion of the spirit from God into a Body in Genesis 2:7 man became a living soul. Here is a list of many verses that pertainent to the subject.

The spirit is given and taken away by God Ecclesiastes 12:7

It is formed by God . Zechariah 12:1

God is the God of the spirits of all flesh Numbers 16:22

God is the Father of the spirits of the saved. Hebrews 12:9

At death God gathers the spirit to Himself. Job 34:14,15

When the time comes, man cannot retain it. Ecclesiastes 8:8

Ananias and Sapphira surrendered their spirits Acts 5:5,10

Stephen commended his spirit into Jesus' keeping. Acts 7:59

Jesus dismissed His Spirit Matthew 27:50, etc.

Once the spirit has left the body, the body is dead. James 2:26

The spirit departs with the last expiration of breath Gen 25:8,17; 35:29; 49:33;

and Job 27:3; 34:14,15

The spirit is given with the drawing of the first breath Genesis 2:7; Job 27:3

In any resurrection from the dead it is the spirit

which returns to the body. Luke 8:55; Ezekiel 37:5

The spirit made perfect is kept by God waiting

to be clothed with a resurrected body. Hebrews 12:23

It is the spirit, not the soul, which is born again John 3:3,7

The flesh lusts against the spirit not the soul Galatians 5:17

The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak Matthew 26:41

We are to glorify God in spirit and body 1 Corinthians 6:20

The body may be lost but the spirit saved 1 Corinthians 5:5

Cleansed in body and in spirit 2 Corinthians 7:1

Humans are a spirit/body entity

theologyofone

 

[disciple Clint]

I was reading my devotionals by JR Miller, i love his wisdom. On today's page he declares animals and birds have no souls.
I disagree. Watching the birds feeding their chicks, life in spring is beautiful. I have a dog, she gives such love and cares so much about us as we do for her.

The question is - what exactly is a soul and could really be true that animals do not have one? There are so many sentient beings apart from us, i am convinced they do have a soul and God cares for them. I think animals must be aware of creator God and may even worship Him. Why else do birds sing? Why do animals love life - look at puppies and kittens. They enjoy pure joy and love freely.

My dog means so much to me, i cannot possibly think she has no soul. I think she is better than many people - we say evil people are 'soul-less' - why do we say that?

To me my soul is who i really am. The essence of me. My soul is what matters most. This body is just a vehicle to be here on earth. Soul is immortal. That is why both God and the Devil want it, it is the priceless part of us. Jesus came and died so our souls have the opportunity to live forever with Him.

Animals have souls–and so do plants. Does this answer sound like something out of the New Age movement? Don’t worry–it isn’t. Rest assured we’re not saying animals and plants have souls like ours. Do Animals Have Souls like Human Beings?

 

[Neogaia777]

Animals have souls–and so do plants. Does this answer sound like something out of the New Age movement? Don’t worry–it isn’t. Rest assured we’re not saying animals and plants have souls like ours. Do Animals Have Souls like Human Beings?

I disagree with many things in that article, animals have a common spirit they go to and rejoin with just like man, it is the combination of body and spirit that makes a soul, which both man and animals have, or can have, etc.

Our spirits are greater than the animals, yes, as our common spirit is God and not angels, etc, but man can have and express many animal or angels traits, etc, but man is greater than both, etc, but can encompass many or all or both, etc, and in that way he is like God, etc, when things are "perfect" anyway, etc.

Animals have a conscience and a sense of right and wrong and morality, etc, and therefore have a sense of "justice" also, etc, and it thinks and therefore reasons, etc, and anyone who has had animals, or currently has animals as pets knows this, or should know this, etc.

I don't know just what it is about man who wants to think that he is so superior to them, even though he is, especially religious men, etc, and/or because in our fallen state we are actually much further away from God than they are, etc.

Anyway, your article is wrong.

God Bless!

 

[Neogaia777]

Animals have souls–and so do plants. Does this answer sound like something out of the New Age movement? Don’t worry–it isn’t. Rest assured we’re not saying animals and plants have souls like ours. Do Animals Have Souls like Human Beings?

Oh, and I see now that it is a "Catholic" article, etc...

I guess that tells me a lot or answers a lot of my questions, etc...

Anyway,

God Bless!