Question About Animals In Christianity
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Hi everyone,
Would like to ask a question...
Do animals have souls?
After animals die, will they go to heaven/ hell too?
Is there any clue or guidance about this matter anywhere in the Bible?
And what if the animal has a close emotional bond with a human? Say for instance, me and my pet, for example. Does that increase the likelihood of a reunion in after-life?
Many thanks... -
You should post this question in the buddhist forums too. Comapre and contrast the answers.
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I don't believe animals have a very big part to play in the Bible at least in the theological sense.
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Ec 3:21 Who knows the spirit of the sons of men, which goes upward, and the spirit of the animal, which goes down to the earth?Originally posted by Li Ka Shing:Hi everyone,
Would like to ask a question...
Do animals have souls?
After animals die, will they go to heaven/ hell too?
Is there any clue or guidance about this matter anywhere in the Bible?
And what if the animal has a close emotional bond with a human? Say for instance, me and my pet, for example. Does that increase the likelihood of a reunion in after-life?
Many thanks...
animals do have spirits. the difference however is in the direction they go after the body dies.
I do believe that man unlike animals is a trichonomy, that is, man is composed of body, spirit and soul. The animals only have the first two.
there is no record in the Bible that animals go to heaven or hell after death.
However, let it be known that when our Lord Christ died, He redeemed all things to God.
Col 1:20 and by Him to reconcile all things to Himself, by Him, whether things on earth or things in heaven, having made peace through the blood of His cross.
We thought that Christ came only to redeem sinful man. Yes, that is true but that is not the whole picture. When sin entered the world. it infected all of the universe: man, the earth, the planets, the heavenly bodies, animal life, plant life and etc.
that's why all around us we see defects in nature. three footed cows, two headed animals, and other defects.
But all that, Christ has redeemed. In the case of creatures other than man, it is not atoning. Because these are not moral creatures. It is only in the case of man.
When Christ will come again to rule for a thousand years, you will see creation being in its original beauty and splendor and glory.
Please read these verses:
Ro 8:19 For the earnest expectation of the creation eagerly waits for the revealing of the sons of God.
20 For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it in hope;
21 because the creation itself also will be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God.
22 For we know that the whole creation groans and labors with birth pangs together until now.
It was and still is the will of God that man should have dominion over animals and other creation in this universe. Man failed the first time. This will of God was never fulfilled by Adam or any of us after him. We could not since we too are infected with sin.
But God wants His will done. And so in the Second Coming of Christ with Christians, He together with redeemed humanity will fulfill this will where Adam failed.
Here's a picture of the Mellinium:
Isa 11:6 "The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, The leopard shall lie down with the young goat, The calf and the young lion and the fatling together; And a little child shall lead them.
Isa 65:25 The wolf and the lamb shall feed together, The lion shall eat straw like the ox, And dust shall be the serpent's food. They shall not hurt nor destroy in all My holy mountain," Says the LORD.
Isa 35:1 The wilderness and the wasteland shall be glad for them, And the desert shall rejoice and blossom as the rose;
2 It shall blossom abundantly and rejoice, Even with joy and singing. The glory of Lebanon shall be given to it, The excellence of Carmel and Sharon. They shall see the glory of the LORD, The excellency of our God.
The land whole land which will be desolate in the coming Great Tribulation will be restored like the Garden of Eden:
Eze 36:35 "So they will say, 'This land that was desolate has become like the garden of Eden; and the wasted, desolate, and ruined cities are now fortified and inhabited.'
There are other vivid and beautiful pictures written in the Old Testament about the coming Mellinium. Animals will lose its predatory nature, nature will be under man's domininon and etc.
Read Psalms 8, Psalms 148, Isaiah 11 and other Mellinial verses.
This was the kingdom offered by the Lord Jesus when He first came. A kingdom which ruleth all things. A kingdom of beauty and splendor and glory.
But the Israelites did not know what they were missing.
Who will enter into the Mellinial Kingdom? All those who have repented from their sins and trusted in Christ alone for salvation. -
nope. in the bible, God created everything, just by speaking. He spoke, and created trees, rain, sun, moon, stars.. animals, fishes, birds..
But for man, God created specially in His image, mould from clay, and breathed life into him. that was the spirit of man, which gave him life. which lives on even after the earthly body dies.
animals don't have spirits or soul which is eternal. it's a special gift only limited edition. only man have. -
If animal don't have soul then why the law still protecting the pets and animals? There was one guy gotten jail sentences for killing a cat.
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If animal don't have soul then why the law still protecting the pets and animals? There was one guy gotten jail sentences for killing a cat.
In Gen, man was made steward of all creation therefore he has a responsibility to act as a responsible steward and not abuse his authourity which his Creator has given him over the animals in this case. -
the lack of a spirit, doesn't justify the merciless killing of an animal, especially if its for fun, or perverse pleasure.Originally posted by grandeur:If animal don't have soul then why the law still protecting the pets and animals? There was one guy gotten jail sentences for killing a cat.
God loves all His creation. shouldn't we love them too? -
Can a person regarded as loving animals but still eating them for food?Originally posted by dumbdumb!:the lack of a spirit, doesn't justify the merciless killing of an animal, especially if its for fun, or perverse pleasure.
God loves all His creation. shouldn't we love them too? -
Much thanks for your posts everyone....especially to 'Ironside' for the research.....
But Im still curious....let's say if a person and an animal have close emotional bond.....erm, will this increase the likelihood of a reunion in after-life? -
...edit...
(double post) -
we dun believe in afterlife..cuz only our body died..we our soul don't die..Originally posted by Li Ka Shing:Much thanks for your posts everyone....especially to 'Ironside' for the research.....
But Im still curious....let's say if a person and an animal have close emotional bond.....erm, will this increase the likelihood of a reunion in after-life?
no one will know about this..as to where animals will go..maybe they don't have a soul in the first place..just body.. -
This is just my own opinion on the matter regarding your question. The Bible is really silent on this issue.Originally posted by Li Ka Shing:Much thanks for your posts everyone....especially to 'Ironside' for the research.....
But Im still curious....let's say if a person and an animal have close emotional bond.....erm, will this increase the likelihood of a reunion in after-life?
I believe there will be no reunion in the after-life between the pet and the human being.
although i believe that animals have spirits, i don't believe it is a spirit capable of having personal conscious interaction with us humans. It is a different kind of spirit from what we humans have. Way different.
Actually, scholars are varied in their interpretations with this verse:
Ec 3:21 Who knows the spirit of the sons of men, which goes upward, and the spirit of the animal, which goes down to the earth?
[this is one of the most difficult verses, if not the most difficult to interpret, in Ecclesiastes]
The NIV translates the word 'spirit' there as breath. So some scholars just say:"it is not saying the animal has a spirit, 'spirit' there just means breath"
But that interpretation although plausible, still has problems. We will not go into that for now.
No. my friend. I believe there will be no reunion in the after life between the pet and the human being.
just my two cents.
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The Jews draw a distinction between soul and spirit. I think you'd agree soul is not synonymous with spirit.Originally posted by dumbdumb!:nope. in the bible, God created everything, just by speaking. He spoke, and created trees, rain, sun, moon, stars.. animals, fishes, birds..
But for man, God created specially in His image, mould from clay, and breathed life into him. that was the spirit of man, which gave him life. which lives on even after the earthly body dies.
animals don't have spirits or soul which is eternal. it's a special gift only limited edition. only man have.
Anyway, animals have soul. Man has soul and spirit. -
i believe only lambOriginally posted by Chin Eng:I don't believe animals have a very big part to play in the Bible at least in the theological sense. -
actually also got dove lah.... lion also.... serpent also.... dragon also.... but end of it, these either describe Christ or Satan.... and used only as metaphors...Originally posted by coffeeortea:i believe only lamb -
I think animals play a big part in God's plan, but it's a part that is very, very different from our own. Let's not mistake it as something less important. C.S. Lewis did discuss a bit on what part animals play in God's plan for us. Truth is, they glorify Him as well... in their way.
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Yes.Originally posted by SingaporeTyrannosaur:I think animals play a big part in God's plan, but it's a part that is very, very different from our own.
Just look at that poor serpent. -
god love animal, that's why he said animals are meant to be eaten by human. got it?Originally posted by grandeur:Can a person regarded as loving animals but still eating them for food? -
Do you mean god love you, that why you can be killed and be eaten by others?Originally posted by justdoit77:god love animal, that's why he said animals are meant to be eaten by human. got it? -
death isnt always bad.Originally posted by grandeur:Do you mean god love you, that why you can be killed and be eaten by others? -
Life isn't always bad as well.Originally posted by coffeeortea:death isnt always bad. -
Buddhist -> Animals have souls, can be enlightened like humans; same.
Christians -> Animals does not have souls, own different roles; different. -
Hi,Originally posted by grandeur:Do you mean god love you, that why you can be killed and be eaten by others?
IMHO your god doesn't love me, he only love his creator.
Anyway, if he said animal are meant to be eaten by human, it means he doesn't love animal also.
regards, -
more of like.. for your consumption for surivival and needs, which is natural. he created this formulae of nature.Originally posted by justdoit77:Hi,
IMHO your god doesn't love me, he only love his creator.
Anyway, if he said animal are meant to be eaten by human, it means he doesn't love animal also.
regards,
not commit beastility.
not dat i wld care though.