Pets in Heaven? (Especially on May 21st)

EWTN.com ^ | not given | Dr. Richard Geraghty, PhD

[Persevero]

“Look we are going to have to agree to disagree.”

I am content to do so; I wouldn’t go to the wall over this issue. I think our right understanding of God; man; and creation are very important. But God already has it sorted out, even if we have a hard time on occasion with the details. He will do what is perfect and right. Of that I am certain.

[Persevero]

“When God reforms the new Earth, do you believe it will be so much unlike the current earth that there will be no animals? “

No, my presupposition is that there will be animals there.

What I’ve been trying to address is the notion of a particular animal (my dog Joe) getting resurrected, making a personal appearance in heaven, and become part of the New Heavens and New Earth. I think only souls are eternal. I don’t think Joe has a soul.

However, I don’t deny there could be dogs on the new earth. Just not Joe in particular. I think he’s going to die like the trees and the fish. Not get resurrected and etc.

[Fawn]

If your dog Joe is anything like my (specific) dogs and cats I owned, THEY are a HUGE part of MY soul. So, if MY soul goes, so do they. It can’t be separated.

[Persevero]

“If your dog Joe is anything like my (specific) dogs and cats I owned, THEY are a HUGE part of MY soul. So, if MY soul goes, so do they. It can’t be separated.”

It is statements like yours that show the danger inherent in the whole “our pets go to heaven” theology. It has warped your understanding of who you are, and what your soul is.

I don’t mean to undermine your affection for your pet or be harsh. But reading what you said above confirms to me that it is a dangerous doctrine and I am glad I oppose it.

I have read others saying that if their pet doesn’t go to heaven, they don’t want to go either. That is another example of the error of this belief, and its bad fruit.

[Fawn]

Well, everyone is entitled to their opinion.....My intuition tells me there is no question that if pets were an important part of your life, heart and soul, that they will be going with you....

[Titan Magroyne]

>>> A dyslexic, insomniac, atheist was lying in bed one night staring up at the ceiling thinking, “I wonder if there really is a dog?”

LOL, that is a great line!

[Titan Magroyne]

>>> It has occurred to me to wonder, as I watched my dog sitting at his ease, is he aware of God’s presence? Is he worshiping in his own way. Would he be amazed to know that my sin prevents me from apprehending God as he does?

Mr. Dean Koontz, izzat you? Love yer books!

[Very cool way of putting that, BTW.]

[Fawn]

It has occurred to me to wonder, as I watched my dog sitting at his ease, is he aware of God’s presence? Is he worshiping in his own way. Would he be amazed to know that my sin prevents me from apprehending God as he does? You mean like like the kids who die young, the uneducated all over the world, the kids or people who have no mind of their own (retarded, mental issues)---
THe animals are here for US....they are part of many of us, so they stay with us forever. They don't have reason or awareness...

[Hegewisch Dupa]

Before I answer that, answer yourself this - why do you need other SOULS in Heaven - God ain’t enough?

[boatbums]

No, haven't seen that book but I have read Pub 78 and F990 where inquiring minds can broaden their educational horizons and discover reality. Have a chance to peruse these tomes yet?

Why, you wouldn't be stalking me across threads now, would you? You DO know that is not allowed behavior. This is the second or even third or fourth place that you have asked me about something I told you I was done discussing with you. Please stop with the bullying.

[Mad Dawg]

Certainly. I am confessing a failure in hope and in imagination. God does not need anything but Himself to make me happy.

[beebuster2000]

whats the back story on that marvelous dueling signs?

[boatbums]

But God already has it sorted out, even if we have a hard time on occasion with the details. He will do what is perfect and right. Of that I am certain.

On that, I will agree with you. Shall not the God of all the earth do right?

[austingirl]

It wouldn’t be heaven without animals.

[Slings and Arrows]

Just a joke somebody put together with photo editing software, I’m afraid. Snopes has a page on it.

[bronx2]

One should refrain from unfounded allegations which are completely without merit. One should not ascribe intent to another when one has no empirical evidence to offer save, self serving testimony. Specious rants serve only to demonstrate a lack of Christian charity.

One would be well advised to remember Jesus commanded us not to judge. Most of the 30,000 cults probably would adhere to that admonition.

[netmilsmom]

>>What about socio-paths?<<

Actually, they do know right from wrong. They chose to ignore it, without remorse.

Animals do not know right and wrong, just as babies don’t.

[Salvation]

I don’t need other souls. God is enough for me.

Likewise, I don’t need the pets. God will be awesome in his abundance.

[Nowhere Man]

And God gifts us with animal companions. I don't love my husband any less because I love my two kittehs, I don't love either more than I do God. Why not just admit you don't know for sure and allow people to hope?

Well, there are always "people out there who would always wiz in the pool" for whatever reason as I always say. Myself, I told the story in my last post here about one of my cats, Boo (Buddha) coming back to me where we had a conversation where he told me that they all have souls and we will be together in Heaven (or the Afterlife) one day but they will always be with me too, even in spirit. He said too that we love them though the pets we have now and in the future. Everytime I get bummed out about my past pets, I remember that and that does help. It was the weirdest thing, it was like an out of body experience to me and I remember snapping back into my body after that.

I remember in the late 1990's, my maternal grandmother died and Art Bell and his "Coast to Coast AM" guests on the Afterlife, near death experiences and out of body experiences were a great comfort me as well as my religious views.

Call me weird but I do believe there is an afterlife for all, from us down to the tiniest animals and plants.

[Nowhere Man]

I believe they will get this ability back when God sets things right again. They lost it somewhere along the way, probably around the time God put fear of man into their nature (after we could eat animals for food, after the flood).

Yeas, it's like my story where my cat came back in spirit and spoke to me. I do wish animals would do that now though, I would be a great help knowing which horse to put my money on to win the Preakness and Belmont. B-D