Do animals have an afterlife? Do they have souls?

If God hasn't given us insight about our pets then I think we can safely say that we cannot speak with authority on the subject. I notice whenever this question comes up that people will answer with great authority on the subject, despite that we're not really told one way or the other. If you google the subject you won't find too much of an answer. Even most theologians sorta stay away from this topic too much. That's probably because there isn't a whole lot of information on the subject one way or another. It's a bit arrogant for us mere humans answer with complete confidence what God doesn't really speak on in scripture. For all we know you'll see your pets again. No one wants to see her pet again more than I want to see my cat again. But I still can't give you an answer, even though I want it to be so with everything in my heart. Scripture just doesn't talk about our pets, but surely God will take care of all our needs when we're there. And who knows what awaits us!

I don't think there is ANY relationship between whether or not animals exist in heaven and whether or not your particular pet will be there. It's always amazed me that whenever this question comes up that people always ponder whether or not animals will be in heaven, as if the thought this could be true is too incredible to be believed. It's us who limit God.

I see some of answers here and I cringe, as if someone poured lemon juice in my eyes. You got some very bad advice about "Scruffy", and I would flatly dismiss it.

And to the person who made the comment about people caring more for animals than humans, some do, but most people actually care more for humans when it comes right down to it. Only a handful of fanatics actually care more for animals to the point they make them more important than humans.

I'm sorry you lost not one but two dear pets. My heart goes out to you. I pray that you'll find comfort from God.

Fiona01 said:

Is it wrong to believe animals have souls or have an after-life?
I realise some people say it's unbiblical to believe this, but the bible doesn't actually mention whether it's true or false. I certainly don't see how it's offensive to believe this.

I'm not sure what I believe, but after having lost two pets I love dearly within the last few weeks, it's an issue that crops up in my mind a lot. I've been very upset about it all.

It's hard to believe such beautiful creatures do not possess souls...

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zeener said:

It's always amazed me that whenever this question comes up that people always ponder whether or not animals will be in heaven, as if the thought this could be true is too incredible to be believed. It's us who limit God.

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Zeener, how you wrote (said) this made me think, and gave me some revelation.

Maybe just like some may think the thought of a their pet being in heaven is too incredible.

Perhaps we should at times think about how incredible it is, that we could be there.
Don't we at times, take it for granted, and don't remember the cost, HE paid for our love (to have us, to win us back, to redeem us).

Staggering.
Are some of us complacent - i think I am at times.

What is man that you are mindful of him,
the son of man that you care for him? Psalm 8:4

What is man that you make so much of him,
that you give him so much attention, Job 7:17

Don't know if what I rambling about makes sense?
But to me, it made sense. Thank-you!

-eric

The Exchanged Life

seeingeyes said:

I think that they have souls, but just not 'people' souls.

Our Father's purpose for this world is redemption. I see no reason that the creatures who are loved by His children would be exempt from that.

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Animals are nowhere in scripture refered to as God's elect. In fact it is man that is refered to as His elect. Just this alone pretty much screams tbe trutb.. Also it is offensive to me that anyone would suggest that God became flesh in order to die on behalf of animals.. That is blasphemy any way you put it..
Read the scriptures...

ezeric said:

YES!

For the creation waits in eager expectation for the children of God to be revealed. 20 For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope 21 that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the freedom and glory of the children of God.
22 We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. Romans 8

All creation means ALL.

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Right, so the tree outside my window has a soul, as does the wooden chair I'm sitting in, and my ceramic coffee mug...

Passage is figurative. Can't be used to assert that animals have souls, sorry.

GrizzlyMonKeH said:

Animals do not have souls.

And I am very, very, very tired of people who care about animals more than other human beings. It's sickening.

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I find it sickening and cruel that others come along and squash the hope of those that have pets pass before them that they are in heaven waiting for them.

GrizzlyMonKeH said:

Animals do not have souls.

And I am very, very, very tired of people who care about animals more than other human beings. It's sickening.

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I don't think anybody here, myself included, have said that animals are more important than human beings just because of asking a question about souls.

Zeener, thanks for your comments and response. It's nice to see that there are Christians who, whilst admitting we can never know what happens to animals we love, show that there is no wrong-doing in having HOPE.

In my opinion, whether animals have souls or not, they are amongst the most beautiful, enchanting and wonderful of God's creations, and He knew we would love them, and form many bonds with such beings.

I actually believe it would be wrong for us not to enjoy and respect God's beautiful works in creation.

wiremu.white said:

Right, so the tree outside my window has a soul, as does the wooden chair I'm sitting in, and my ceramic coffee mug...

Passage is figurative. Can't be used to assert that animals have souls, sorry.

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Some people's pets, they may have an eternal purpose. Since this specific issue isn't mentioned in the bible I don't make claims I can't back up with scripture either direction. The most common argument is that animals don't have souls so they won't be in heaven. Seems to me that they have something. But whatever they have doesn't need saving grace since they are not creatures who can sin, according to the bible anyway. So the whole argument that people's pets don't have souls is moot, it's immaterial to whether or not they might be in heaven one day. Only God knows if they will be in heaven. I suspect that if one of God's children delights the Lord that he could make an arrangement if He wanted, with or without making mention of a special acommodation in scripture. Bottom line, like you said, we don't know what we don't know. It's unfair to make strong arguments either way with people who's pet has just passed. What the OP needs is compassion and someone to run her thoughts by. Not you, but a few people responding here have been very thoughtless and rude.

Like you I also believe that animals are worthy consideration in God's kingdom, but specifically I'm talking about your pets. He did know we would love them. Either we have sinned and loved them wrongly, or God created them for us to love.

Here is Gabriel Boojal Scraggsworth - he wants to comfort you. He has loving eyes only a craftsman could have created. Behold I present him to you as a gift of love:

Fiona01 said:

Zeener, thanks for your comments and response. It's nice to see that there are Christians who, whilst admitting we can never know what happens to animals we love, show that there is no wrong-doing in having HOPE.

In my opinion, whether animals have souls or not, they are amongst the most beautiful, enchanting and wonderful of God's creations, and He knew we would love them, and form many bonds with such beings.

I actually believe it would be wrong for us not to enjoy and respect God's beautiful works in creation.

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What a beautiful picture, Zeener. Thanks for sharing. You passion and love for cats shines

I've really appreciated all that you've said and shared here.

Thank you so much.

ezeric said:

Zeener, how you wrote (said) this made me think, and gave me some revelation.

Maybe just like some may think the thought of a their pet being in heaven is too incredible.

Perhaps we should at times think about how incredible it is, that we could be there.
Don't we at times, take it for granted, and don't remember the cost, HE paid for our love (to have us, to win us back, to redeem us).

Staggering.
Are some of us complacent - i think I am at times.

What is man that you are mindful of him,
the son of man that you care for him? Psalm 8:4

What is man that you make so much of him,
that you give him so much attention, Job 7:17

Don't know if what I rambling about makes sense?
But to me, it made sense. Thank-you!

-eric

The Exchanged Life

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Exactly.

I used to draw a line very sharply between people and everything else in creation. After all, men are made in the image of God...spiders and bunny rabbits and goldfish are most decidedly not. We are the ones who have been given authority over all creation.

But now that I see what God's idea of authority is, I have quite a different sense of things. If He is willing to lower Himself to His creation - even to death on a cross - then who am I to scramble myself up the food chain of glory?

Will our Father not redeem all that I have destroyed? So how can I be surprised if even the series of ferns I have killed cry out in praise to Him on the last day? If by God's grace, I can be saved, then surely nothing else is out of His hand.

Perhaps Scruffy will be eating the scraps that fall from the children's table. But then, Scruffy wouldn't mind that. would he?

Animals are called 'souls' min the bible (gen 1:26, Gen 2:19). The trouble with using phrases like people and animals 'having' souls is coming from a Greek philosphical stance rather than a biblical one.
In other words, you don't have soul, you are one!

seeingeyes said:

I think that they have souls, but just not 'people' souls.

Our Father's purpose for this world is redemption. I see no reason that the creatures who are loved by His children would be exempt from that.

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Then they would be subject to hell as well, is that right?

I think a very strong biblical case can be made for animals having souls.

Heaven without animals, (lions and lambs coexisting peacefully) would contradict Isaiah.

Animals without souls would not be able to communicate (See Balaams donkey in Numbers)

If animals were not a part of mans obedient spiritual life, why do we see animals alongside humans
repenting in Ninevah? (See Jonah)

Fiona01 is correct.

If you want to know what heaven without animals would look like, imagine the Garden of Eden minus animals.

"And God said, “Let the water teem with living creatures, and let birds fly above the earth across the expanse of the sky.” So God created the great creatures of the sea and every living and moving thing with which the water teems, according to their kinds, and every winged bird according to its kind. And God saw that it was good"
Genesis 1:20-21 (NIV)

Why would it matter?

If Not For Grace said:

Then they would be subject to hell as well, is that right?

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No, because redemption is a much bigger idea than 'hell or 'not-hell'. Redemption is restoration. It's about making things right.

I, myself, am not the sort of person who grieves enormously if my cat dies. I appreciate my cat's role in keeping my lap warm and catching mice, and I accept my responsibility for caring for him since he is under my roof, but if he dies, he will be missed for a while and then I'll get a new cat. In other words, I don't really 'mourn' my pets. I'm just not that animal-lover type.

But I have brothers and sisters in Christ who most definitely are. There are those whose lives are enriched by the individual animals who come through their lives in a way I can only imagine. God brings comfort to them through His creations, and praise the Lord for that.

Now it would seem very strange to me that this God who will wipe away every tear, would nevertheless leave a few of their tears unwiped. When we stand before His throne, will He tell them, 'Oh sorry, you loved Scruffy way too much. Time to get over, kid."

I doubt it.

Which means that He will redeem the situation somehow, and one possible way is to restore those beloved creatures to His children who were comforted by them.

seeingeyes said:

No, because redemption is a much bigger idea than 'hell or 'not-hell'. Redemption is restoration. It's about making things right.

I, myself, am not the sort of person who grieves enormously if my cat dies. I appreciate my cat's role in keeping my lap warm and catching mice, and I accept my responsibility for caring for him since he is under my roof, but if he dies, he will be missed for a while and then I'll get a new cat. In other words, I don't really 'mourn' my pets. I'm just not that animal-lover type.

But I have brothers and sisters in Christ who most definitely are. There are those whose lives are enriched by the individual animals who come through their lives in a way I can only imagine. God brings comfort to them through His creations, and praise the Lord for that.

Now it would seem very strange to me that this God who will wipe away every tear, would nevertheless leave a few of their tears unwiped. When we stand before His throne, will He tell them, 'Oh sorry, you loved Scruffy way too much. Time to get over, kid."

I doubt it.

Which means that He will redeem the situation somehow, and one possible way is to restore those beloved creatures to His children who were comforted by them.

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Preach it sis!

I think the church (us called out with our focus on JESUS) if they could begin to see the magnificant vastness of total restoration.
JESUS will undo all that Adam ever did.
JESUS will then do all that we couldn't hope or even imagine!

(and it starts NOW!)

LOVE it....There is a purpose, there is a dream/vision, there is joy and eternal pleasure!

You have made known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand.
Psalm 16:11


-eric
The Exchanged Life

Yes, animals have souls, but the animal should not be compared to the human, for the human was made in the shape of the Lord God, and animals are not. But just as there are good and evil people, the good going to heaven and the evil to the lake of fire, so too there are good and evil animals, the good will be in heaven, but the violent will not be in heaven. Both kinds of beasts are upon the earth, the cruel and the docile, and Noah took both upon the ark to repopulate the earth, but in heaven there are no malicious animals.

Just my view again but I think all to often we try to reason with ourselves things to feel better. Like by telling ourselves are pets are in heaven. Its common with all humans religious or not. We have to rationilize things so we feel better.

Look at the mentally ill who kill their children then themsselves because God told them to do it so they could all be with their wife/mom in heaven. Sometimes we just need to accept we either don't know the answer or that the truth is the truth. In this case I want my pets to be in heaven and tried rationalizing it for years. But now I accept they probably won't be. They were here on thsi earth to help me get past my trials.

xfreakazoidx said:

Just my view again but I think all to often we try to reason with ourselves things to feel better. Like by telling ourselves are pets are in heaven. Its common with all humans religious or not. We have to rationilize things so we feel better.

Look at the mentally ill who kill their children then themsselves because God told them to do it so they could all be with their wife/mom in heaven. Sometimes we just need to accept we either don't know the answer or that the truth is the truth. In this case I want my pets to be in heaven and tried rationalizing it for years. But now I accept they probably won't be. They were here on thsi earth to help me get past my trials.

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Why, though? What leads you to believe that?