Do animals (such as pets) have souls?

[naisho]

I can't vote without my religious beliefs coming into place here, and we've been asked by the OP not to discuss religion here. Frankly, soul and religion are intertwined. There's no two ways about it, so it's hard to even say anything here ...

Same here.

Just go the other way about it. If religion is a no-zone, science logic still works.

 

[Bottesini]

Just go the other way about it. If religion is a no-zone, science logic still works.

Christians have very strong feelings about the soul. It is a central part of their religion.

 

[naisho]

Christians have very strong feelings about the soul. It is a central part of their religion.

Yeah, I have relations to Christianity. But I'm not letting that affect the argument.

 

[Reba]

Just go the other way about it. If religion is a no-zone, science logic still works.

To which "soul" do we refer in this thread?

Dictionary.com

soul

–noun
1.
the principle of life, feeling, thought, and action in humans, regarded as a distinct entity separate from the body, and commonly held to be separable in existence from the body; the spiritual part of humans as distinct from the physical part.

2.
the spiritual part of humans regarded in its moral aspect, or as believed to survive death and be subject to happiness or misery in a life to come: arguing the immortality of the soul.

3.
the disembodied spirit of a deceased person: He feared the soul of the deceased would haunt him.

4.
the emotional part of human nature; the seat of the feelings or sentiments.

5.
a human being; person.

6.
high-mindedness; noble warmth of feeling, spirit or courage, etc.

7.
the animating principle; the essential element or part of something.

8.
the inspirer or moving spirit of some action, movement, etc.

9.
the embodiment of some quality: He was the very soul of tact.

10.
(initial capital letter) Christian Science. God; the divine source of all identity and individuality.

11.
shared ethnic awareness and pride among black people, esp. black Americans.

12.
deeply felt emotion, as conveyed or expressed by a performer or artist.

13.
soul music.

 

[naisho]

To which "soul" do we refer in this thread?

I'm still trying to figure that out since yesterday..

No answer on it yet, question was asked on first page a few times.
Instead, have been working with other's definitions (aside from OP)

 

[Reba]

I'm still trying to figure that out since yesterday..

No answer on it yet, question was asked on first page a few times.
Instead, have been working with other's definitions (aside from OP)

Unless we all had an agreed upon definition, there would be no way to make the "yes-no" survey question valid.

 

[naisho]

Yep, that's what I tried to say about Person A with X view, B with Y, etc. No answers.

For lack of simpler terms, this is what I mean.

Person A sees "X"
Person B sees "Y"
Person C is introduced to the argument, sees answer as "Z" but the question isn't on "Z", so chose "X" (yeah, we all know "X" =/= "Z").

I want to be Person D seeing either "X" or "Y" before voting, not "Z" or some other view.

Hope that made sense..

Like I said, has nothing really to do with whether animals do or don't have souls.

 

[AndyE9503]

Except that OP wanted to see what other people thought about the subject.

 

[BLeGal2]

I think all you have to do is just have a pet and you know they have one. They are amazing. Well at least in my opinion and I am very far from religious so this comes from experience of having tons and tons of animals in my life.

 

[Steinhauer]

Well, that's for another topic regarding human morality.
This is about animals and a penchant towards their tendency to contain what is described as souls.

I think it is my strong point that there is a difference between domesticated animal preying habits (see references to Tilki and Travis) in stark contrast to the untamed. Human on Human intervention is not related to the subject, so it was not feasible for input. :|

Not trying to nit pick but I wasn't the one comparing animals to humans.

I am not sure I would go so far as to say animals have "souls" but I do know that they are capable of much more compassion than **some** humans.

 

[freckles]

Beautiful story!...Ur Cat loved you very much.

thank you robin. he was a brave three-legged and my only beloved orangie. I miss him so much like he died few days ago.

come on naisho, if you can do a "deep thinking," you can opt out some of defintions in reba's list .. as for me, I see it leaves us to 3 or 4 for animals and they all are pretty much the same ... you see, #8 because of #6, #11 because of #8 and so on .. not so hard to figure out. you're really making a foolicious out of yourself.

Yep, that's what I tried to say about Person A with X view, B with Y, etc. No answers.

didn't I toldja? once again, this IS AD forum..

that's from non-christian.

 

[freckles]

besides that, the OP is asking YOU, of what YOU think, not what you will think because of others' definitions ... otherwise you're implying (agruing) they don't at all. just the way I see it.

if you must know, definition for animals can be (domestic/tamed/service) pets; animals are any/all creatures and all of them are pretty much same (mammals, don't speak english, etc). don't start with their intelligence, has nothing to do with soul. but looks like OP have emphasized "such as pets" twice then again talking about how other person (her 'old friend') didn't think so, etc.

plus, comparisons will never do you any good. basically, what came to your mind first and raw is/will be your original definition...so, yes or no pretty please?

 

[Reba]

...so, yes or no pretty please?

I can't because my explanation would be considered "religious."

The way the survey is set up, Christians can't answer it.

I'm not complaining, just explaining.

 

[naisho]

How can we decide what's right or wrong in her case?

The way I see the issue is like it is court, we are the jury testifying on the actions (which we don't know the details yet).
Personal experience should not be the motivator for the verdict!
Well, atleast not for me because that's the way I do things..

Unless the focus is just to play this debate easy and state your personal experience.

 

[freckles]

I can't because my explanation would be considered "religious."

The way the survey is set up, Christians can't answer it.

I'm not complaining, just explaining.

oh that was for naisho...you've pretty much answered the question. (I guess you could say no or yes without stating why like you did above. just a thought. unless it's both). and with kindness too. unlike naisho.

 

[naisho]

Alright, alright already. I know you wanna paint me as the evildoer. But believe me, I have done no evil!

 

[freckles]

How can we decide what's right or wrong in her case?

The way I see the issue is like it is court, we are the jury testifying on the actions (which we don't know the details yet).
Personal experience should not be the motivator for the verdict!
Well, atleast not for me because that's the way I do things..

Unless the focus is just to play this debate easy and state your personal experience.

she've said it. in details as well. logically. bottom line, what's the difference between a cat and a big cat? cat with a jigsaw of soul and big cat with polar soul? *smh...pats your shoulder* that's alright.

in response to your reference 316334 (#85), nuh nuh! not until you answer me first. namaste.

 

[naisho]

I dunno what she sees as a soul though, she just said it's something humans have. I am nit-picky cuz of my field with bio ..and with the classification of animals if you've noted that - which cost steinhauer some sand in his face.. !

316334?
saigo kamosirenai daro, dakara, zenbu hanasite okitainda.

 

[jazzy]

Yep, they do have soul unless I am crazy I see them in spirit world. When I pray for our puppy and she was healed then I was showed by vision. She was being healed by thru our prayers. If people does not believe animals have souls then how can we pray for the animals to be healed if they do not have a soul?

 

[whatdidyousay!]

When the shark attacks you in the ocean, you get caught in a tangled mess of man-o-wars and die.. Or the elephant stomps on you.. Or, you accidentally get drowned from killer whales like the Sea world trainers. Or, a stingray shoots a needle into your chest.

I am guessing they would have no change in emotion if you died.
Maybe it'll know you are dead, or slightly proud it has food. Do you consider that as a soul?



I don't really mean to get too much into a debate in here, I am just trying to spread the concepts of an animal are not just limited to pets..

I am speaking for my dog , and I think he has a soul or spirit whatever people call it . I almost die and saw my dad spirit and I saw the light ,I was at peace and felt myself leaving my body , it was the most peaceful feeling I ever had. I think everything has a spirit . God made everything so they have a spirit .