[HarleyD]

For one thing, the Bible teaches that animals aren't guilty of sin.

Hmmmm...I heard a message by Sproul not long ago in which he stated that he believed that animals are, in fact, capable of sinning. To support this premise he pointed to some Old Testament passages in which if, say, an oxen was to gorge a person to death that oxen was to be put to death. He equated this with judgment being brought upon an animal for his sin. I thought this was rather interesting.

Also, FTD had an excellent verse from Ecclesiastes about animals to the ground. This leaves the impression that animals do not go to heaven. I can't find it at the moment and I'm heading out the door. I'll look for it during my Sunday School lesson. :O)

[Gamecock]

The whole point here is that I've heard so many pet owners say "if my dog isn't in heaven, I don't want th go there either.

Like the article says: You definitely will not see your pet in heaven unless you go there yourself! Are you going to heaven? That's the real question!

[BibChr]

Okay, fine -- so while I was writing my post, you and Gamecock said the exact same thing!

[Tax-chick]

an ox were to gore a person to death, that ox was to be put to death

Couldn't that simply be a practical matter of eliminating a dangerous animal?

The notion that the ox has sinned in this situation implies that it has the capacity to choose disobedience to God's commandments, which is an odd take for a theologian who (iirc) doesn't even believe that humans have free will.

[fortheDeclaration]

For one thing, the Bible teaches that animals aren't guilty of sin. Hmmmm...I heard a message by Sproul not long ago in which he stated that he believed that animals are, in fact, capable of sinning. To support this premise he pointed to some Old Testament passages in which if, say, an oxen was to gorge a person to death that oxen was to be put to death. He equated this with judgment being brought upon an animal for his sin. I thought this was rather interesting.

Animals cannot sin since they do not have a rational will.

They suffer judgement because the creation is judged due to the sin of man (Gen.3, Rom.8)

Also, FTD had an excellent verse from Ecclesiastes about animals to the ground. This leaves the impression that animals do not go to heaven. I can't find it at the moment and I'm heading out the door. I'll look for it during my Sunday School lesson. :O)

Eccl.3:21