Posted on 05/18/2011 2:31:49 PM PDT by Salvation
Pets in Heaven? A question that comes up frequently is whether people will see their pets in heaven. Now the Catechism of the Catholic Church does not directly address this question. But it does hold principles which lead us in the direction of an answer. One principle is that all living things have a soul. Here soul is defined as what makes an organic body live. Now when any living thing dies, its soul is separated from its body. In the case of plants and animals the soul goes out of existence. But in the case of man, the soul remains in existence because it is a spiritual or immaterial thing. Consequently, it differs from the souls of animals in two important respects. First, it is the seat of intelligence or reason. For this reason a man is held responsible for his actions in a way that animals are not. Secondly, the soul is immortal. A thing which has no physical parts cannot fall apart or be poisoned or be crushed or be put out of existence. For this reason the souls of the saved will always be aware of themselves as enjoying the vision of God for all eternity. This enjoyment will be the result of having chosen to act on earth in such a way that one did the will of God rather than one's own will. And the souls of the damned will be aware of themselves as never attaining this vision of God because they have shown by their lives on earth that they did not wish this vision but instead preferred their own will. In the light of this essential difference between human beings and animals, it would seem that we would not see the souls of our pets in heaven for the simple reason that they do not have immortal souls and are not responsible for their actions. They do not have the intelligence which allows them to choose either God's will or their own will. There is, then, an incomparable distance, say, between the soul of the sorriest human being who ever lived and the most noble brute animal that ever walked the earth. Now a child might be heartbroken at the thought that he will never see his pet again. He cannot yet understand this explanation about the difference between the human and the animal soul. I suppose that one could tell the child that when he hopefully gets to heaven, he could ask God to see his old pets if he still wished to. There would be no harm in that. For we know that when a person finally sees God, he will not be concerned with seeing old pets or favorite places but rather will be captured in the complete fulfillment of the joy of which old pets and favorite places are but little signs. We adults know that, even if the child does not. For more information on how the Church sees animals in the lives of human beings, check the Catechism of the Catholic Church 2415-2418. You will learn, for example, that the Church, while it condemns cruelty to animals as an offense against the dignity of man, allow experiments on animals if done in a reasonable way. Again, you will learn of the tremendous difference that the Church sees between the lowliest of human beings and the most noble of the animals. It will allow animals to be used for food or clothing, but will defend the right of an innocent human being to live against Kings and Nations. The Church will demand that animals be respected as part of creation while at the same time insisting that the dignity owed a human being should never be given to an animal.
God is. Do you doubt His power?
i dont think the lion lying down with the lamb was in heaven. wasnt it here on earth?
One principle is that all living things have a soul.....
This brings up the question of the origin of souls of any kind, and why, if souls exist, why some would be more worthy than others. (Disclosure believe souls exist). Can anyone prove my Dog has no soul?
....a man is held responsible for his actions in a way that animals are not.
Very true. We hold dogs to a much higher standard than we expect Humans to live up to. We expect our dogs to obey every command, be patient, be there when we need them, cheer us up when we're feeling down, but if they dare bite another dog or, God forbid a human even once, we give the dog the death penalty.
....it would seem that we would not see the souls of our pets in heaven ~ They do not have the intelligence which allows them to choose either God's will or their own will.
I mean no disrespect, but this is a Catholic, right? Peter's church? Jesus’s teachings, right? To me, learning to be more like Jesus involves learning about love, and forgiveness.
It may be hard for some to understand why I see it this way, but some days I wish I could be the good person my dog is.
Job 20:19-20 speaks of evil-doers. It says:
“Drought and heat consume the snow waters: so doth the grave those which have sinned. The womb shall forget him; the worm shall feed sweetly on him; he shall be no more remembered; and wickedness shall be broken as a tree.”
Again, in Isaiah 65:17, after speaking of the judgment of the wicked and the blessings of the righteous:
“For, behold, I create new heavens and a new earth: and the former shall not be remembered, nor come into mind.”
Also, Psalms 112:6, in speaking of the prosperity of the righteous:
“...the righteous shall be in everlasting remembrance.” I believe then that the wicked/unsaved will not be remembered in Heaven.
There is no pain nor tears in Heaven. If I am to remember my lost loved ones when I am in Heaven, how else could there not be tears on my face, unless their memory is erased from me by God?
Anyway, that’s what I believe the Bible is telling me.
No, the guy and his dog go raccoon hunting against his wife’s wishes and both drown - he doesn’t know he’s dead at first, but it gradually comes to him and he almost enters hell but Rip warns him. Pretty heartwarming episode of a great series.
I don’t know what you mean, but I do not doubt His power at all. I just don’t know if animals/pets are in Heaven. I have never felt compelled to study that issue.
I’ve been thinking about this and I’m not going to try to pick up all the names on the thread, but WHY would we need pets in heaven.
Wouldn’t we be happy to be perfect and be in the presence of God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit?
Everything else pales at that thought for me. I would NOT need a pet in heaven.
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2721768/posts?page=107#107
Exactly — we will have full happiness in heaven just being with God. I don’t think there will be a need for a pet.
Live for eternity.....tomorrow may be the last dat of your life. Follow Christ in all ways.
“Love one another as I have loved you.”
Why would we need them. Wouldn’t the happiness of being with God far outshine any happiness of having a pet.
I think we are thinking as earthlings on this and not as God thinks.
Wouldn’t we be happy to be perfect and be in the presence of God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit?
Everything else pales at that thought for me. I would NOT need a pet in heaven.
********************************
What pets do you have? What do you think heaven is like?
I don't know.
alligators, lizards what about those?
Yuk, i don’t like those
I don’t know either. I hope that at some time I will know.
Do you pray. Do you listen for those answers?
THOSE are the emails from heaven.
Sometimes the messages come from the people around us. Are you living and listening as God would have you do?
I am praying that I will have my beloved animals with me in Heaven. At any rate I have had them cremated and their ashes are going in the hole with mine.
Because God loves pets too?
I didn’t realize that this was the Religion forum. Goodbye and best wishes!
Bttt.
What does God wish for eternity for His Creation? I have had (and still have) pets. Does that separate them from the others of their species? Does this thread imply that my two guinea pigs get to go to heaven, when the millions of natural guinea pigs who lived in the Andes for tens of thousands of years simply disappear?
Creation is not about man's need (except man's need for salvation), it is about God.
You don’t need mansions either. But there will be mansions.
You may be surprised at what God has in store.
What do you say to people such as myself who feel that Heaven will not be a paradise if our beloved animals are not there?
There are very few people I would like to see again (maybe two or three), but I would want to see all of my dogs (five, so far)!
I guess this is why I’m not a Catholic. The Church’s teachings are at variance with what I expect of God.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.