If there is a Heaven, which is open to debate, and animals aren't allowed, which would be the most unfair thing imaginable, then I don't wanna go.
However, you are obviously asking from a Christian point of view. Most other beliefs have a closer relationship with animals, it is only the Christian belief system that encourages the belief that humans are so much more superior than animals.
Every generation has their own idea of Heaven. We don't know if animals understand the concept of death. But I remember when my dog died 7 mnts ago -- she knew something. She hide behind a wishing well in the farest corner of the back yard. When animals know their time has come they want to be alone. But I'm not sure if she knew she was going to die or she knew something was different. In the end Dakota just laid down and died. She was still alive when we took her to the vet, but she couldn't move and her bowels were fulled with blood. And in the end she kissed me on the lips, as if to say good-bye.
Did she know the concept of Death? I don't know.
The bible is unspecific about whether animals have souls or not. May fundamentalists say "no" - many wishy washy liberal interpretation-ists say "yes"
Bottom line - if animals do have souls and dont have free will - they are far more likely to get into heaven than you are under gods strict law.
Heaven is probably like a pet store with several thousand million animals and half a dozen people.
when animals die, do you think they go to heaven?
yes or no:
no, because I don't believe in heaven
no, because they are not allowed
yes, they are allowed
--
if you want to go religious on this (which the question states that it should be with the assumption there is a heaven) there can be only one clear answer... that or you can consider yourself a heretic from deviating from your religion (😉)
by coincidence, I'm currently working on the interaction philosophers had with the church and it subjects in the southern lowcountries at the prelude of the french revolution
taking into account that their vision has not changed from that point till now, the answer would be : yes
In the letter archbishop van Franckenberg wrote in 1782, he claims philosophers have as intention to make the humans like animals; with being voluptuous and amusement of senses.
Then he goes into explaining it more, and states further on:
"that these animals should not fear Judgement for they have no sins"
he was refering to "real" animals here (dog, cat, ... not persons "infected" with philosohpy)
so, taking that phrase, yes.. they do go to heaven and are sin-less.
(The letter was received by the pope and van Franckenberg received congratst for his currage against this desease)
Re: When animals die do you think they go to heaven?
Originally posted by Jackie Malfoy
I looked but did not see this anywhere so why not ask it!Anyway I think that they have a soul but don't go to heaven,
What are your thoughts on this?Any thoughts or anything you want to share?
See you around!JM 💃 💃 🤣
No, I dont think animals go to heaven; or any living being for that matter. The whole idea of going to heaven or hell is just fantasy. After u die, you become wormfood and slowly dissapear. Nothing else happens. Thats my oppinion.
Originally posted by Arachnoidfreak
Of course animals go to heaven! They are alive right? Plants too! I bet I'm going to see that rose I picked last week in heaven when I die. But that daisy is going to hell. Its a weed. 🙄
I have come across some weeds in my time that have made me feel like i was in heaven. 😄 I bet those weeds are defaintly in heaven marked as God's sweet stash.
Originally posted by Mr Parker
If anybody gos to heaven you can bet your house animals do.If anything,animals are more deserving of it than the human race.The way the human race has screwed up this world,makes me ashamed of being a human at times.
How can you say that? I mean, animals dont willingly choose to give their lives for another. Animals act on insticnt, they are not swayed by temtaptions of good and evil. for you non religous folk, good and bad. If their was anything that doesnt go to heaven, i would say it is animals. They are just here for our amuesment and appetite.
What are you talking about? Mr Parker was right, animals are much better than people. what person could be more faithful than a dog with its owner? none. Also, the man is the only animal who kills by pleasure or evilness, that is clear. So, if there are a heaven, animals should be there much more than humans. That is clear.
I had read somewhere in the bible that when one guy was taken to heaven he was flew up there with white horses.So if animals don't go to heaven then what were those white horses doing and how did they get there?
Anyone have any thoughts on this.Also if you know what I am talking about in the bible.What was the name of it and what was the name of the guy taken to heaven?JM
If animals had the same mental capacity as human beings, no one would be talking about the sanctity of animals. Yeah, Man is the only animal that kills in cold blood, but man is also the only other animal that will give it's life willingly for another, or risk everything to help a fellow human being. Animals dont act on choice, they act on instinct. Why should an animal get to heaven over a human when it is only acting on instinct. Sometimes people are faced with decesions that are heavily conflicted. The better decesion a person could make, may be a sin. A human beings behaviour isnt as black and white as many people make it out to be. By the way, Spot doesnt like you because your his master, he likes you becuase you bring him food, and stroke his belly.
Originally posted by Jackie Malfoy
Very interesting thought.And true too!But what about the white horses in the bible?Don't you think that proves that there are animals in heaven?JM
If i am going to get serious. I dont know if animals go to heaven. I dont see why they wouldnt. I know it says in the Bible that they dont, but the Bible says many things that contradicts itself. Animals sometimes resemble humans greatly. If infact we as humans did evovle from moneky's then i would have to say without a doubt that animals go to heaven, or atleast an animal heaven? I just dont think they should deserve a place in heaven because they act merely on instict and are praised as being more civilized as humans. Besides, many of the things in the Bible were written through interpertation, maybe what that person was seeing wasnt white horses,but could only be described at that time as white horses. then again who knows, maybe there really were giant grasshopers lined in iron romaing the world back then.
Originally posted by ragesRemorse
If animals had the same mental capacity as human beings, no one would be talking about the sanctity of animals. Yeah, Man is the only animal that kills in cold blood, but man is also the only other animal that will give it's life willingly for another, or risk everything to help a fellow human being. Animals dont act on choice, they act on instinct. Why should an animal get to heaven over a human when it is only acting on instinct. Sometimes people are faced with decesions that are heavily conflicted. The better decesion a person could make, may be a sin. A human beings behaviour isnt as black and white as many people make it out to be. By the way, Spot doesnt like you because your his master, he likes you becuase you bring him food, and stroke his belly.
I don't agree. I have read numerous accounts of animals saving humans, when they could have turned away and hid and saved themselves.
Dismissing this as mere instinct is too simplistic an argument. As for "man is also the only other animal that will give it's life willingly for another, or risk everything to help a fellow human being", that is patently false. Frequently there are accounts of of animals jumping into rivers to save human beings, or storming into a burning building to save a human being.
As for "giving it's life willingly for another", do yourself a favour and watch a documentary about mothers protecting their young. This might be described as "mere instinct", or giving it's life to save a human as "mere loyalty", but then, give me some more of this "mere loyalty" and a little less of "human mental capacity".
In the end, if there should be a "Christian God", I would expect Him or Her to judge us not on intellect, but on loyalty, courage and steadfastness.