Do animals have souls?

[NewCreation435]

There is an article on the web site ThoughtCo that asks the question Do animals have souls? Will i see my pets again in heaven?

here's the article
https://www.thoughtco.com/do-animals-have-souls-701974

What do you think? What scripture references would you give to support your viewpoint?

 

[atpollard]

Yes.

[Col 1:23 NIV] if you continue in your faith, established and firm, and do not move from the hope held out in the gospel. This is the gospel that you heard and that has been proclaimed to every creature under heaven, and of which I, Paul, have become a servant.

Why proclaim the gospel to “every creature” if they do not have a soul?

(I don’t actually believe this, but the other topics have become more fun since I decided to just watch the fighting from the sidelines. This seemed like the best way to stir the pot.)

 

[Andrew]

I would not want to spend an eternity as a possum lol

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[MennoSota]

I would not want to spend an eternity as a possum lol

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Possums eat all sorts of insects such as wood ticks that can transfer many nasty diseases. Possums are the Rodney Dangerfield of animal species...they don't get no respect.

 

[MennoSota]

 

[Andrew]

Maybe you can be one of the twelve opossums in heaven menno

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[MennoSota]

I count 13...14 if I make it...

Maybe you can be one of the twelve opossums in heaven menno

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[NewCreation435]

I would not want to spend an eternity as a possum lol

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The only possums i ever see are dead ones who have gotten hit by cars. They are ugly looking animals

 

[Josiah]

IMO, Scripture doesn't say. Nor does any Council.

MY (totally worthless) speculation is: probably not. But IMO, the issue should not be whether this cow I'm killing so that I can have a hamburger but rather my human neighbor. IF God has a relationship (and perhaps justification) for that cow, I suspect that's pretty much between the cow and God. Maybe cows have been given the Great Commission for each other. And maybe not.

 

[Andrew]

The only possums i ever see are dead ones who have gotten hit by cars. They are ugly looking animals

.

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[Andrew]

IMO, Scripture doesn't say. Nor does any Council.

MY (totally worthless) speculation is: probably not. But IMO, the issue should not be whether this cow I'm killing so that I can have a hamburger but rather my human neighbor. IF God has a relationship (and perhaps justification) for that cow, I suspect that's pretty much between the cow and God. Maybe cows have been given the Great Commission for each other. And maybe not.

My totally worthless speculation is:
The word 'animus' is latin for 'soul' 'mind' or 'consciousness', 'anima' is feminine for 'breath, wind'... The word 'animal' comes from the word anima/animus... we all breath the same air and are living creatures. Free will however is given to mankind alone as for animals they serve specific functions and share the same predictive personality according to their species... we name them and we have dominion over them.
A horse will die and the next horse will take its place with the same exact motive and cooperation as the former... this is still the same 'animus' flow as God willed it so and spoke it into existence. There is no scripture to support that they will ever cease to exist and thus its very likely they will accommodate us in Heaven, we won't die but just as the new Earth will be eternal im sure the grass plants and waters including sustainability of ecosystem "garden" (albeit even a better one) with animals, fishes, birds, bugs and livestock will be present with us indeed... as for "snowflake"... I'm sure there will be many more to come like him but the original snowflake will not be resurrected from the grave only the animus... IMO.

 

[psalms 91]

I do know from scripture that there are animals in heaven as for them having a soul I dont know