Do Animals Have Souls Got Questions
In many passages God shows compassion for the beast or bird whether by the law or other means.
Do animals have souls got questions. Animals do not have an immortal soul created in Gods image. In Isaiah 116 we are told that during the Millennial reign of Jesus on earth The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb the leopard shall lie down with the young goat the calf and the young lion and the fatling together. As one dies so dies the other.
Genesis 27 footnote A soul is composed of two things. Humans have been given the choice of Free Will whether they choose Heaven or Hell. Solomon the wisest man states that both man and animals.
Numbers 3128 When the first man Adam was created he was not given a soul but became a living soul. The Bible says that both animals and humans are souls. Animals are considered souls according to the Bible and every living soul died in the sea Revelation 163.
Importantly this has a direct bearing on the question of whether humans and other living creatures have souls. Researchers were able to map the brains so-called play system using rat laughter a sound thats too high for humans to hear but sounds like bird calls when manipulated into the human hearing range. Though they do not have eternal souls they are part of Gods creation and they give Him His due worship.
The answer to whether animals have a soul is yes but only because of a technicality. It bothers me that certain Christiansdenominations dont believe that the animals that have lived here on Earth will go to heaven because they dont have a soul. During a recent public appearance Pope Francis comforted a boy whose dog had just died saying One day we will see our animals again in eternity.
In a long and fascinating letter the fourth Lubavitcher rebbe Rabbi Shmuel known as the Rebbe Maharash explains that although some Kabbalists were of the opinion that animals dont have immortal souls5 according to the teachings of the Arizal animals do in fact have independent souls and they do go to heaven6 The Arizal is generally considered the final arbiter for all Kabbalistic teachings. I dont think anyone will try to prove that they dont But heres a verse that specifically says animals have a spirit. The dust from the ground and the breath of life.