Do animals have souls?

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Permalink Reply by Reginald Jay Townes on September 17, 2009 at 1:20pm

Originally the word soul (in Hebrew: nephesh ) meant breath, or that which has been given breath, or that which is living. Physically speaking, the breath of life (life force) which all living things have comes directly and continuously from God the Christ. The latin word for soul (nephesh) is spiritus, and it also means breath. We get words like inspire and respiration(breathing) from this very word spiritus.

Now, the Bible is neither a science book, nor a history book. It is a book of faith and a book about the unfolding relationship between God and man and their quest to find reach other despite the obstacles. The stories of the old testament may or may not have occurred exactly as they are presented on its pages. Many parts of the Old Testament were passed on from generation to generation through oral tradition way before they were actually written down. People explained the acts of God, his dealings with men, and the predicament that man found himself in, using words, imagery, symbols, and explanations that their contemporaries could understand and relate to. As the events took place, or as they were handed down orally, or passed on from mind to mouth, and mouth to ear and so forth, they were inspired (breathed on) by God. God's inspiration(the presence of His Spirit) was in this process every step of the way revealing Divine Truth even at times when literally truth was lacking. "All scripture is God-breathed [inspired] and is useful for teaching..."--2 Timothy 3:16.

The book of Genesis, especially the Creation Story, presents us with several points of Divine Truth relating to the spiritual life of Man and animals and their differences. The heavens (the universe), the earth, and the creatures on the earth (animals), according to Genesis, were spoken into being by his Word. He said, "Let there be..." , and they came into existence. We use this same word after every prayer ( Amen = let it be) to call into existence or give reality to our petitions and desires.

This Word of God that speaks all things into existence or creation is an eternal person of God because whatever comes from God is God.(when you finally realize this, Lynda, it will definitely "blow" you away--what ever comes from God is God!) . "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God...All things came into being through Him...what has come into being in Him was Life."--John 1:1-5.

According to Genesis, man is unique and stands apart from the rest of creation that was simply called into existence and/or has life (lower case l)(the ability to reproduce after its own kind). Man has "Life" ( capital L)(spirit) and was not simply called into existence, but his being is directly from God. "God...breathed into his nostrils the Breath of Life; and the man became a living being."--Genesis 2:7b. "So God created humankind in His image."--Genesis 1:27. So what is God's image? St. John's Gospel says, "God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in spirit and truth."(24:4).

1. Animals do not have spirits or "Life" breathed directly from God. Animals evolved and have life (the ability to reproduce)
by the creative Word and design of God. They were "created" (through the process of evolution) to bring diversity, joy,
companionship, ecological sustenance to both man and nature, and to be links in our own physical evolution to
some extent. They were wonderfully designed and show the beauty of their creator.

2. Although our physical bodies have evolved like all living things. There came a point in our evolution when God was
ready to separate us from the other animals. From his very own Spirit he breathed into us spirit and we became
"Living Beings" just like him. Created not by his words but by his spirit (breath). The animals show the beauty of the
creator....but we arethe beauty of the creator and co-creators with him.

I hope this answers your question some what. And remember I will keep you in my prayers.

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Permalink Reply by Lynda Keen on September 23, 2009 at 8:57am

Paul Hawgood sent me two messages that included replies to this discussion so here they are:

Re the question about animals and souls there was a great piece in The Tablet about animals about 3 weeks back.sadly I cannot locate it. It was written by a lady who just lost her dog...and posed ideas about perhaps animals have consciences...like they know sometimes (!) when they have done wrong...and have this instinct about mood. They know better than humans about how you feel.
In the last 18 months I lost 2 dogs sadly....one was apparently fine and I noticed that one of dogs licked her all over thoroughly... a few days later she had a sudden and fatal illness. The same dog also licked my very old border collie (18) a few days before he died. This was uncharacteristic....but I guess maybe it says something.

...as to animals (which in my own case means especially dogs, but others cannot be excluded). The death of a dog is ordinary and natural ... just as we pass dead animals by the roadside. Yet our grief is personal and strong. We miss the rush to welcome at the front door, the little noses checking we are ok when we are asleep, the chasing of squirrels in the park.
The catechism does not think animals have souls I think...our prime aim is to humans. Right.
However the article in the Tablet suggested that they may have something like 'mind' which is plausible. There is some conscience...hiding under the sofa, the guilty creep, ears back, head down. Memory is over in a minute but guilt is palpable.
Instinct as I mentioned is huge. My osld collie always checked me and knew ehen I was not quite right even though I might have concealed it succesfully to people. If glum there was sympathy but never intrusion.
The other point I would have to make is the companionship. Running along together..exploring woods and water, sea and meadows; stepping through flowers and not on them; sharing a picnic. The sharing as 'equals in nature' (not an original expression).....the rough tongue and so on.
I wish I still had the article in The Tablet.... but I hope the gist in my mind helps a tiny bit!
Paul

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Permalink Reply by Reginald Jay Townes on September 23, 2009 at 11:42pm

I must say there is something unique about certain animals that would cause us to believe they have souls; especially dolphins, dogs, cats, whales, and elephants, manatees, primates,etc... They certainly have consciences and emotions. And some of them have large brains with great intelligence. I myself love dogs and often wonder if I will be able to see them in the next life. My question is this: Are they that way independent of us? Or, because we are so advanced emotionally and spiritually, self-knowing and conscientious, that we just perceive their natural, instinctual actions, responses, and emotions as evidence that they too are spiritual creatures? Do we want them to be because we admire and love them and because they give us joy and companionship? I really don't know!

I was reading the book of Jonah to find more animals for the Bible Trivia Forum. And to my great surprise I found out that in this respect God is just like us and we are just like God. God is an animal lover. He didn't want to destroy the city of Nineveh; not only because he pitied the people, but also because he didn't want to destroy the animals. (Jonah 4:11). St. Matthew's gospel records (6:26) Jesus saying, "Look at the birds in the sky! They don't plant or harvest. They don't even store grain in barns. Yet your Father in heaven takes care of them." And again (10:29); "Aren't two sparrows sold for only a farthing? But your Father knows when any one of them falls to the ground." What a wonderful animal lover! Even with his busy schedule controlling the vast Universe, he takes time to care for the birds and not one falls with out his knowledge! But he also goes on to say in St. Matthew 10:3, "You are worth much more than many sparrows!"

I am a firm believer that nothing is impossible for God and that we can't put God in a square box and say that he can only operate within its parameters. God is willing and able to do anything we ask because of our worth to him. If indeed we want to share the companionship of our much loved pets in the next life, he can and will make that possible. The Universe belongs to Us!

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