I am a Christian, but I am very unsure about one question.Do animals have souls or not?Plus, what about animals that have complex cognitive abilities, such. like dolphins or shipnanzees?I believe in evolution along with Christianity, I believe that God chose this path to create people, but I am confused by this question.I often hear the argument: “God gave man free will, feelings, reason!”.But today, scientists are sure that animals have a mind.They have empathy.Animals are capable of creating works of art.In some cases, creativity is manifested for the sake of pleasure.It confuses me and I can’t figure it out.So we’re not unique in any way?
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Hi,
There is no mention of animals having souls in the Bible. Do they have beains? Can they communicate? Yes. But I find no reference to a soul in Scripture. I have been blessed to have four special dogs in my life, as well as three special cats. Will I see them in heaven? I am holding on to hope that I will based on this verse.
Psalms 37:4 Delight thyself also in the LORD; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.
Now this verse is not a guarantee. But if it is a desire of your heart, I think this verse holds open the possibility.
Blessings
Joe
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I think it depends on how you define a soul. My thought is that the soul is who we are. It is our thoughts, emotions, personality - it’s what makes us, us. Animals have personality, thoughts and emotions so in that sense they have a soul. What they don’t have is a spirit. Only man has a spirit.
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I like the way you worded that.
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Scripture does refer to animals using the same “living soul” terminology as humans at the lexical level
Yet Scripture also clearly distinguishes humans as uniquely bearing God’s image and as the objects of redemption
And regarding hope of seeing beloved animals again, that hope is not directly promised, but neither is it ruled out, since the biblical vision of the new creation includes animal life within God’s restored order.
J.
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I believe the Bible says plainly, @Timothy, that animals do not have souls that can relate with God personally but that they obviously have personalities. The following passages say that humans are a special creation of God in his image and likeness:
Gen 1:25 And God made the beasts of the earth according to their kinds and the livestock according to their kinds, and everything that creeps on the ground according to its kind. And God saw that it was good.
Gen 1:26 Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.”
Gen 1:27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.
Gen 1:28 And God blessed them. And God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it, and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over every living thing that moves on the earth.”
Gen 2:7 then the LORD God formed the man of dust from the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living creature.
Thus, humans did not descend from animals but were made to rule over them.
We need to look at science through the lens of the Bible instead of looking at the Bible in the light of science.
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I like this response, as a person who has had pets most of their life, I can honesty say each one has had it’s own unique personality, up to and including my newest, my son Percy the french bulldog (yes, my son thats my boy!)
we have a redeemable spirit, but I don’t think anyone who observes an animal can fail to see the life, emotion, and personality, nor look them in the eyes and not see their bright souls.
and honestly, why would they need a redeemable spirit, they are innocent. We sinned, not the animals.
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However, @BetterDays, when Adam and Eve fell into sin, the animal world was disrupted into “dog-eat-dog” life with each species killing and eating others, didn’t it? I watch wild animal documentaries.
Animals do have souls brother, it’s called (nephesh chayyah)… that hath חַיָּ֑ה H2416 chai·Yah;
נֶ֫פֶשׁ (ne.phesh) soul: animal (H5315K)
(noun common singular feminine absolute )
This word occurs about 771 x
Meaning
- soul, self, life, creature, person, appetite, mind, living being, desire, emotion, passion
1a) that which breathes, the breathing substance or being, soul, the inner being of man
1b) living being
1c) living being (with life in the blood)
1d) the man himself, self, person or individual
1e) seat of the appetites
1f) seat of emotions and passions
1g) activity of mind
1g1) uncertain
1h) activity of the will
1h1) uncertain
1i) activity of the character
J.
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God did not give man free will. Man, in his fallen state is incapable of choosing anything but his fallen and sinful estate which prevents him from doing anything of spiritual merit. This is fundamental in understanding God’s revealed will. I love my dogs. They make me happy. They are like people to me, but they don’t have souls. And that is how I know they will not be in Heaven. It somewhat important to note that dog is God spelled backward and they are the closest example of God on earth. They love you for who you are and are loyal to you as long as they live and that is the end for them. It makes me sad but I love how they mirror their name sake.
I’ve always found this a bit hard to define clearly.
The Bible definitely describes animals as living beings, but it doesn’t seem to explain their inner life in the same way it does for people. So I’m not sure it’s something we can fully pin down.
At the same time, when you spend time around animals, it’s hard to ignore that they have awareness, emotions, and their own kind of intelligence. That makes the question feel more complex than a simple yes or no.
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I do not believe dogs have souls nor does any other animal. I will not see dogs that loved me unconditionally in Heaven. In my view dogs best lived a life that showed God’s love. Unconditional and always at your side loving you.
@Johann I’m not sure, but I heard it in a documentary that God will redeem all creation..right? If that is true, then animals are included in that redemption..right? And, that there will be a reckoning..as in any animal that spills the blood of humans will face the reckoning. If any of these are true..where do we find them in scripture?
The documentary was done by a Christian biologist, and it was beautiful. I could watch it over and over again. His description of turtles, and God displaying a sense of humour in His creative works had me giggling.
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According to what I read, the animals have a kind of soul or life, but that life has a different degree, than the life of men, that is, it is a life in a lower degree. It has the traits resembling the life and features of the human soul, but only resembling those, but lacking their essence. And accordingly, an animal, due to its limitations, cannot be conjoined with God, as His Love and Wisdom, and thus live eternally. But a man can, due to the faculties given to him or her from God.
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I’ve always found this question a bit hard to answer with certainty.
Scripture seems to make a distinction between humans and animals, but it also speaks about all of creation being part of God’s work and care. So it feels like there’s more going on than we fully understand.
For me, it’s less about having a clear answer and more about appreciating that animals are part of creation in a meaningful way, even if we don’t know exactly what that looks like long term.
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