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| Do Animals Have Souls?; If they can go to heaven - can they be damned? | |
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| Topic Started: Wednesday, 2. December 2009, 19:57 (1,792 Views) | |
| Deacon Robert | Wednesday, 2. December 2009, 19:57 Post #1 |
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UNANSWERED QUESTIONS: DO ANIMALS HAVE AFTERLIFE OR AT LEAST A SPIRITUAL ASPECT? Do animals have an afterlife? Or at least, is there a supernatural aspect to them? Years ago an elderly woman we knew had a dream of her pet cockatiel fluttering into her bedroom as if to say good bye and found the bird dead in the morning. Dogs are known to howl when their masters pass on -- even if it is miles away. At Assisi, where the great animal lover St. Francis lived, doves congregate oddly on the arms of his statue. When the Blessed Mother has come in apparition, flocks of birds have been known to turn unnaturally silent. And so author Susi Pittman, a devout Catholic who works with animal organizations, in Florida, asks, "Animals in Heaven? Catholics Want to Know!" -- a book that tackles the question from a standpoint that is strictly obedient to the teachings of Catholicism. Despite common misconceptions, the Church has not decided on the answer to that question. http://www.spiritdaily.com/animals2.htm |
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The burden of life is from ourselves, its lightness from the grace of Christ and the love of God. - William Bernard Ullanthorne | |
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| Emee | Wednesday, 2. December 2009, 20:27 Post #2 |
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Yes, it's great isn't it - that the jury's still out! There's hope for my two best pals yet. |
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| Gerard | Wednesday, 2. December 2009, 20:47 Post #3 |
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The birdseed in the palm of the hand of the statue may contribute a teensy weensy bit to the phenomenon. Gerry |
| "The institutional and charismatic aspects are quasi coessential to the Church's constitution" (Pope John Paul II, 1998). | |
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| Emee | Wednesday, 2. December 2009, 20:51 Post #4 |
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Cynic! :) |
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| Deacon Robert | Wednesday, 2. December 2009, 21:13 Post #5 |
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Gerry, It can't hurt
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The burden of life is from ourselves, its lightness from the grace of Christ and the love of God. - William Bernard Ullanthorne | |
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| Rose of York | Wednesday, 2. December 2009, 21:44 Post #6 |
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If animals have souls is it a sin to kill a slug? |
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Keep the Faith! | |
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| saundthorp | Wednesday, 2. December 2009, 22:05 Post #7 |
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You are alright there, Rose, slugs aren't animals, especially when they are munching through your hosta or lettuces |
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Truth is still the truth even if no one believes it. Error is still error even if everyone believes it. (Archbishop Fulton Sheen) | |
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| Rose of York | Wednesday, 2. December 2009, 22:06 Post #8 |
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If a slug is not an animal what is it? A vegetable? |
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Keep the Faith! | |
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| Deacon Robert | Wednesday, 2. December 2009, 22:35 Post #9 |
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Rose are you winding me up? If we go to Bishop Fulton Sheen, all things have a soul, animals and plants have natural souls. Do we commit sin when we eat a Brussel sprout
Edited by Deacon Robert, Wednesday, 2. December 2009, 22:38.
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The burden of life is from ourselves, its lightness from the grace of Christ and the love of God. - William Bernard Ullanthorne | |
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| Rose of York | Wednesday, 2. December 2009, 22:41 Post #10 |
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No, Deacon, I am not winding you up. It is not for humans to decide which animals have souls and which do not. It is easy to believe the dog, an intelligent animal, has a soul. Ants have a system of Government. They take communal responsibility for public health, ensuring the ant heap is free of pollution. I think these posts should be split into a separate thread. The forum needs something new. |
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Keep the Faith! | |
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| OsullivanB | Wednesday, 2. December 2009, 22:48 Post #11 |
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Is it not relevant that only humans were made in the image and likeness of God? And there is no evidence of which I am aware that Jesus ever indicated that he had a mission to anyone but mankind. |
| "There is a principle which is a bar against all information, which is proof against all arguments and which cannot fail to keep a man in everlasting ignorance - that principle is contempt prior to investigation." Herbert Spencer | |
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| Angus Toanimo | Wednesday, 2. December 2009, 22:53 Post #12 |
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I remember we had this discussion on the old CyberForum - the answer I got through a friend from a Traditionalist priest was something like that animals do have a soul but they die when their life ends, they do not goto Heaven, Purgatory or Hell. Their souls are not the same as human souls. |
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| PJD | Wednesday, 2. December 2009, 23:08 Post #13 |
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"I remember we had this discussion on the old CyberForum" Yes I remember that also Patrick. The difference between an animal soul and a human soul is that the latter is immortal whereas the former dies when its body dies. PJD |
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| Rose of York | Wednesday, 2. December 2009, 23:23 Post #14 |
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How do we know whether animals have immortal souls? Is there scriptural evidence one way or the other? |
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Keep the Faith! | |
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| Deacon Robert | Thursday, 3. December 2009, 00:10 Post #15 |
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I would suggest you look to the Bishop and not some traditionalist preist. The subject is no defined by the church-- the debate is open. Second, I can find hundreds of church thoughts and some "teachings" that are not in the canon, yet come from other sources accepted by the church. We are not sola scriptura. I posted this only that it may give solace to those like myself and my youngest daughter who dearly wish our furred friends will be with us. Now, I will not do the research for you. I post these questions: In scripture there was a time when all humans and animals were vegetarian. When did this change and what was the command God gave to us? What is our obligation to those entities, animal and vegetable according to God's law and of course the law of the church? When does the taking of life ( again animal or vegetable) become murder and then become sinor acceptable before the Lord? Jesus came to humans for a reason. Why? Where does it say that God wishes to have any of his creation perish? Have fun, but no opinions, state only reasearchable data. Edited by Deacon Robert, Thursday, 3. December 2009, 00:13.
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The burden of life is from ourselves, its lightness from the grace of Christ and the love of God. - William Bernard Ullanthorne | |
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3:40 PM Jul 11