Written by Dana Ford, Relate Contributing Writer
Where do animals go when they die?
Some Christians believe that when they die, their souls enter a kingdom called Heaven. In Heaven, everything is perfect and life is eternal.
But some Christians wonder, “When I go to Heaven, will I see my pets?”
According to theologians, (experts who study religion) the answer is no. According to one simple Bible verse, however, Christians say, “yes!”
For decades, scientists have studied the intelligence of animals and have proof they possess intelligence beyond imagination. Gorillas are able to communicate to humans by using sign language, dogs are taught tricks and discipline and whales communicate through audible language.
Surely these signs of intelligence should constitute a soul. And if animals have a soul like humans, they will go to Heaven, right?
Theologians say no. They say humans are superior to animals, and regardless of intelligent life, God said, “Let us make man in our image, in our likeness, and let them rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, over the livestock, over all the earth, and over all the creatures that move along the ground.” (Genesis 1:26).
According to many verses in the Bible, it is interpreted that animals are granted the breath of life, but not immortal life in the same sense that a man’s soul has.
For example, in the chapter of Leviticus, God says animals are suitable for offerings but prohibits the killing of man.
This is because man was made in God’s image. He or she must not kill his or her own kind. This shows that if animals do have a soul, it is different than men, because only a man’s soul needs redemption. God’s son died on the cross to save man only.
However, some people don’t agree with this. They believe that God saved them and the desires of their hearts.
Its obvious humans have value and love toward animals. For the same reasons, you could interpret that Bible references show God loves and values animals just the same.
God says in Genesis 1:20-25, ” ‘Let the waters teem with swarms of living creatures, and let birds fly above the earth in the open expanse of the heavens.’ And God created the great sea monsters, and every living creature that moves, with which the waters swarmed after their kind, and every winged bird after its kind; and God saw that it was good. And God blessed them, saying, ‘Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the waters in the seas, and let birds multiply on the earth.’ And there was evening and there was morning, a fifth day. Then God said, ‘Let the earth bring forth living creatures after their kind: cattle and creeping things and beasts of the earth after their kind’; and it was so.”
So, some reason this shows animals are living beings with souls like humans, and God has value for them—that He wouldn’t invite someone to Heaven without making sure everything their heart desired was there.
To Christians, Heaven is nothing without God. What Christian would want to go to Heaven knowing God wasn’t there? What fisherman would want to spend eternity somewhere without fish? What cowboy or cowgirl would want to spend eternity in a place with no horses?
Theologians have studied the constitution of animal souls for ages, digging deep into the content of the Bible. But when it comes to content for many Christians out there, they stick to one phrase which gives them hope in situations like these which is, “With God, all things are possible.” (Matthew 19:26)
What do you believe?
