Do animals have souls?
August 20th, 2008 by LeslieTough question, right?
In Hinduism, all life forms including animals and insects are sacred. Hindus believe in reincarnation, where animals and humans are on the path to enlightenment (or progression of the soul). If you are Hindu, you even avoid stepping on insects which may be reincarnated humans.
The Jewish, Muslim and Christian religions imply that only humans have souls.
What qualifies someone or something as having a soul? Does that mean you can show love, think, experience sadness, feel emotion, be compassionate, show altruism and mourn loved ones? I'm sure we all can find examples of these attributes in animals.
Elephants cry, mourning loved ones.
What about the cat who ran into a burning building six times to move her kittens to safety?
Binti Jua, a female lowland gorilla, at Brookfield Zoo in Illinois, saved a 3 year old boy when he climbed over the fence and fell 20 feet onto the concrete, knocking him unconscious. Binti walked over to the boy, keeping the other gorillas from harming him. She cradled him like a baby and carried him over 60 feet to an entrance so zoo personnel could take the boy to safety.
In one of James Herriott's stories, "The Card Over the Bed," the English vet comforts an elderly woman on her deathbed. She's afraid she won't see her animals in heaven because of the belief that animals do not have souls. Herriott reassures her that they do. Who can doubt they feel love and loyalty? Relieved by his answer, she passes away shortly after.
I cannot argue with one of my favorite authors. I believe animals have souls too.
August 20th, 2008 at 5:03 am
Look into your pet's eyes, how can anyone believe that animals don't have souls ? I don't believe that they are reincarnated human souls but their souls are purer than ours. Will we we see our pets in heaven ? We have to get there first to find out.
August 20th, 2008 at 7:57 am
Of course they do! There's no doubt about it.
August 20th, 2008 at 8:04 am
.....eyes are the windows to the soul......
August 20th, 2008 at 9:44 am
I think they do.
August 20th, 2008 at 11:50 am
Maybe it is because I am Buddhist but I believe that animals have souls. There are some wonderful books about this topic written by Beatrice Lydecker (spelling may be wrong) called What the Animals Tell Me and Stories the Animals Tell Me. When one of my pets passed away, one of the techs at my vet's office recommended the books to help me cope with their passing. At first, I was kind of skeptical about it but when I read the books (first I had to find them since they were out of print), they were very helpful in understanding the "meaning of life" for an animal. The books may not be for everyone but if you are privileged enough to share your life with a furry or feathered family member, you will enjoy it.
August 20th, 2008 at 2:17 pm
silly rabbit - of course animals have souls and go to heaven. didn't everyone see 'all dogs go to heaven'?
i just know bow wows Iki and Tiffy are keeping grandpa and grandma company in heaven, and when the time is right, they will be reunited with their pet parents!
August 20th, 2008 at 4:35 pm
Dear Auntie Leslie,
How can you even ask such a question? I have a soul. Brother Paco has a soul. We all have souls, regardless if we are felines, canines, rabbits or humans. We all go to heaven and we will be reunited with all of our loved ones, who are angels.
Love,
Chunky Monkey
August 20th, 2008 at 6:08 pm
Of course animals have souls. My Bella, a 1 1/2 year old basenji passed away this past May and the "Rainbow Bridge" poem that they give you when you cremate your pet really helped me. I believe that my beloved Bella will be waiting for me up in heaven. And how could anyone not believe that animals don't have a souls? Animals have personalities and they love just as much as humans. BTW love your articles I always read them. Love your dogs haircut too. =) Have a happy doggie day =)
Love,
Bella Mami
August 21st, 2008 at 9:19 am
hey roach. i believe animal lovers are good people and will go to heaven. anyone who shows kindness and love has goodness in them. i'm just glad that i'll see my loved ones (HUMANS and PETS) there.
my thoughts exactly!
August 21st, 2008 at 9:23 am
i'll look for that book today. thank you so much for sharing your thoughts.
hi alli: thank you for sharing your story. i too found comfort in that poem when my ginger passed. i know you are still grieving over bella's loss. i am praying that you find comfort knowing she'll never leave you.
August 21st, 2008 at 9:27 am
If all animals have souls, they why the need to kill them and eat them?
I find it interesting that 95% of Americans say that it is unnecessary to harm and hurt animals, but yet, 95% of Americans unnecessary harm and hurt animals by killing them for food?
August 28th, 2008 at 2:15 pm
Dear Leslie our good friend,
Without a doubt we believe that animals have souls. In 1997 when our Yuki passed on to heaven, we missed her so much - we cried often. We decided the bereavement gathering at the Hawaiian Humane Society would perhaps help guide and comfort us. We learned we were blessed to still have each other - Harris and I. Some people had no other family. When we returned home, feeling better to have shared with others, Yuki's new dog tags awaited us in our mail. I believe beyond coincidence that Yuki was communicating with us - sending her love and letting us know she would always be with us,
we still miss sweet Yuki-chan! Her brother Elmo is here for us! Jan xxoxo
August 28th, 2008 at 4:34 pm
hi jan: thank you for sharing your story with us.
yes, someone people do not have anyone to comfort them other than their pets. when their pets pass awawy, it's doubly devastating.
i too believe that it wasn't a coincidence that her tags came in the mail that same day.
September 1st, 2008 at 7:04 pm
Just want to correct some misinformation; Judaism and Christianity DO believe that certain animals have souls. The Hebrew words "nephesh" and "basar" imply "soulish". Furthermore, in the future, nature will no longer be "red in tooth and claw":
"The wolf will live with the lamb,the leopard will lie down with the goat,the calf and the lion and the yearling together;and a little child will lead them. The cow will feed with the bear,their young will lie down together,and the lion will eat straw like the ox. The infant will play near the hole of the cobra,and the young child put his hand into the viper's nest. They will neither harm nor destroy on all my holy mountain,for the earth will be full of the knowledge of the LORD as the waters cover the sea."--Isaiah 11:6-9.
September 1st, 2008 at 8:20 pm
steve..thank you for sharing. can you tell me which animals judaism and christianity believe have souls? i'd like to learn more.