Pets in Heaven? (Especially on May 21st)

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

[Nowhere Man]

Heaven could not amount to much without animals.

Agreed. Without my cats, dogs and so on, I wouldn't want to go there. If I could be somewhere else in the Afterlife with my pets, family and so on, so be it. Still, I do believe God would want us to be happy with Him so He would have all of our pets with us so we all could share His love. Souls are life energy, they can never be destroyed so they go on.

Another reason for my take is that animals offer us pure unconditional love. If you take care of them and love them, they love you back. It doesn't matter if you're rich or poor, what color you are, where your parents come from, your job, gay or straight, messy hair or combed hair and so on, they will still love you.

[Hegewisch Dupa]

Obviously you can think what you want. I won’t pretend that the Lord made a universe of social beings in His image and then desires we spend an eternity apart from these other beings. If Heaven means no contact with other souls, send me to hell.

[Salvation]

There is a verse about different mansions in heaven.

Also one about not being married or unmarried.

Have you read any of the Near Death Experience anecdotes?

People are met by their families at the moment of the near death experience. And in those cases either sent back to earth by the angel accompanying them or by their family members.

My husband will be there. We will have a genuine relationship, but it won’t necessarily be a marital relationship — good friends, is what I have been told and read.

But there is also continuous adoration of God by the angels and those present in heaven. I can’t wait to be a part of that!

[Salvation]

 

Review

“Long answers skeptics . . . does a fine job of summarizing some of the transformative changes from NDEs.... The end result of all this testimony, according to Long, is ‘there is life after death.’” (Spirituality and Practice )

“If someone asked for proof that life after death exists, refer them to this book. Dr. Long and Paul Perry have gone way beyond faith and into science, providing us with well-documented proof of what we have known absolutely for 35 years - there is life after death.” (Dannion and Kathryn Brinkley, authors of Saved by the Light and Secrets of the Light )

“This important book about near-death experiences provides compelling evidence that mind and consciousness cannot be reduced to brain activity.” (Mario Beauregard, Ph.D., Neuroscientist at the University of Montreal and co-author of The Spiritual Brain )

“Is there life after death? ...Radiation oncologist Dr. Jeffrey Long argues that if you look at the scientific evidence, the answer is unequivocally yes. Drawing on a decade’s worth of research on near-death experiences... he makes the case for that controversial conclusion.” (Time.com )

“Dr. Jeff Long and journalist Paul Perry have done a phenomenal job in clarifying current events in the study of near-death experiences. Dr. Long’s work is leading us closer to a rational solution of the afterlife mystery.” (Raymond Moody, M.D., Ph.D., author of Life after Life )

[boatbums]

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

I understand the Buddhist belief that all life goes back to its source, but I do not agree with that concept in its ultimate end. We do have a personal God, our Creator, who has chosen to reveal himself to us and who took on human flesh to live among us. His name is Jesus and he is "God with us". He lived a perfect life and then gave himself to die for our sins so that all those who trust in him would have eternal life with God. He took all our sins upon him and died in our place to pay the price for all our sins. God did this because of his great love for us but not everyone will accept this gift.

Because God is love and because he is holy and just, those who reject him will separated from him for all eternity. We do have souls and these souls, once created are eternal, will live somewhere after life on earth is over.

I don't know the answer about if our beloved pets will join us in Heaven but I choose to rest in the goodness and mercy of God Almighty to do what is good and right. I trust him, completely. I loved what you said about our dear pets who die and how we continue to love them through other pets that come into our lives. I remember having to say a heartbreaking goodbye to a kitteh I had for fifteen years. She was a real comfort to me that I honestly believe God brought into my life while I was separated from my boyfriend (who now is my husband). He joked that I replaced him with a cat, but he loved her just as much. It broke his heart, too. Within a few weeks we got another kitten - though I was adamant that I still needed time to grieve. She really helped me heal and we now have another.

I don't know how long we will be blessed with their presence, but I do know our hearts are healed by loving again. Thank you for sharing your thoughts.

[Hegewisch Dupa]

That's all I'm saying - we must be able to meet our loved ones there. Makes no sense we are told to love one another only to have loved ones ripped from us for eternity. Like you say, the nature of the relationship necessarily must change. Once Heaven is opened up to a communion of souls, and not just The Lord and the angels, I can't really say that there wouldn't be any of our animal friends either. DOn't know if they will be, but have no reason to think it's impossible. Matter of fact, I'd bet a paycheck God could do it, if'n He wanted too...

[Secret Agent Man]

I agree with you He will do what is right and perfect. :)

[maryz]

it is hard for me to imagine that I would not sigh without my pets.

It's hard for me to imagine that God would not sigh without my Gus (for example). OK, flippantly expressed. But God is Love, He creates out of love, He created my Gus out of love; surely He loves Gus even more than I do -- the converse would be bizarre nonsense, that I could love anyone, even a cat, more than God does.

Anyway, that's how I see it . . .

[Nowhere Man]

Yeah, I admit I’m also influenced a bit by my interests in the paranormal, Hinduism/Jainism, Buddhism and toss in a little science fiction ala Robert A. Heinlein, Star Trek and Star Wars along with a pinch of Ray Kutzweil where he says all of this is basically a part of singularity with the Universe. I do believe in Jesus Christ as my Saviour, still I’m a bit of Universalist to where the main religions of the world are like spokes on the wheel leading to God and the truth.

[Nowhere Man]

Exactly, I always believe that God would want us happy and that would include any critters we have had in our lives and so on. If not, I’d be one angry and “sad Panda” (with apologies to “South Park”). I don’t think God would want us to be “sad Pandas” so there ya go.

[boatbums]

Yeah, I admit I’m also influenced a bit by my interests in the paranormal, Hinduism/Jainism, Buddhism and toss in a little science fiction ala Robert A. Heinlein, Star Trek and Star Wars along with a pinch of Ray Kutzweil where he says all of this is basically a part of singularity with the Universe. I do believe in Jesus Christ as my Saviour, still I’m a bit of Universalist to where the main religions of the world are like spokes on the wheel leading to God and the truth.

Yeah, I know that idea just sounds so, so nice. That everyone will find their way to God and it doesn't matter what way they try as long as they are kind and good. All roads lead to Rome was another. The only thing is Jesus himself said, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." (John 14:6). So he is either who he says he is - and IS the only way to the Father - or he was a liar or insane. Those are the choices. Doesn't it make sense that the Creator of all the world would make himself known to is creation? How better could he have done it than by becoming a man and living among us?

[Salvation]

Are the pets still here?

Are you still here?

Well, what do you know!

[RnMomof7]

Animals, unlike man, are not fallen creatures... they continue just as God had made them and ordered them ...

Augustine said “The trace of the Trinity is found in every creature” (De Trinitatae VI).

Aquinas indicated that animals live in heaven.He said “ It would seem that the souls of brute animals are subsistent. For man is of the same genus as other animals therefore the souls of animals are subsistent”. (ST Q 75, Art 3)

Pope John Paul II believed animals have souls and therefore will live in eternity

Martin Luther, John Calvin, John Wesley, St. Francis of Assisi, Dr. Albert Schweitzer support the belief that animals have souls and a place in Heaven.

Personally I hope to see all my beloved pets there as well as to enjoy the songs of praise from the birds singing

[sistabrista]

I love your statement: “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.” I rescue kitties for a local cat rescue in my town, and it saddens me the people who have absolutely no regard for their lives for one reason or another. I’m currently fostering a deaf cat that someone dumped. Guess the cat wasn’t “good” enough for them because it was deaf. So sad.

[Hegewisch Dupa]

nicely said

[Mountain Bike Vomit Carnage]

No pets in heaven? We will not hear of it!