Soul refers to that essence or life force in a living entity. In many ancient cultures, there was no distinction between human and non-human animals or trees, rivers, plants, mountains, or heavenly bodies. All things were alive. The ancient Egyptians called this life force Ka. As humanity becomes more technology-based, its belief in a living natural world has given way to systematized religious dogmas. Somewhere along the way, much of your spirituality has been lost or abandoned, replaced by an unquestioned belief in science, a science that provides answers.
For many, there is a sense of great loss. Others are seeking a return to the spiritual and certainly among these efforts is the belief that animals have souls and that those souls migrate to a world of existence in the afterlife. When you look at a young kitten, what do you see? Do you see a living being with a soul? Many people believe that their dogs have souls. What do you see in this when you see a dog? Do you take a look at that essence that gives life? And let’s not leave out our feathered friends.
What do religions say about animals having souls? There is a wide divergence of opinion, even within the various branches of religions. There is also disagreement about whether the souls of animals are immortal, that is, if they survive the death of the body.
The following statement from Pope John Paul in 1990 may surprise many. He said. “… Animals have a soul” and “In this sense, the man created by the hand of God, is identical to all other living creatures.” A few years later, in 1998, during the Lambeth Conference, the Anglican Church declared that “human beings are partners with the rest of creation” and “God’s redemptive purpose in Jesus Christ extends to all creation”.
Vasu Murti in his They Shall Not Hurt or Destroy reveals an extraordinary litany from the Bible that supports the idea that animals have souls. Here are some textual references: Genesis 1:21,24, Genesis 2.7, Genesis 1:30, Numbers 16:22, The Book of Judith, Ecclesiastes 3:19-20.
Those who adhere to the Mormon religion find in the texts of the Church of Latter Day Saints a very specific statement: “We believe in an afterlife for all mankind, as well as for the animals.” It can’t be any clearer than that.
Judaism, on the other hand, indicates some uncertainty. One of the reasons for this is that in Hebrew there are five different words that translate as soul: nefesh, ruach, neshamach, chayaah, and yechidah. Judaism, however, indicates that the soul of an animal is at a lower level when considering the soul of human beings. Both survive the death of the body.
In Islam, we find a somewhat different view of animal souls. Animals live after death, but on Judgment Day, “the bodies of animals will turn to dust after the statement of account, but their spirits will live forever.” The religion that takes the basic question head-on is Hinduism. The Hindus have a god named Ganesh, who is part human, part elephant. For Hindus, animals live on after death. Herein lies the belief that all animals have souls.
Buddhism holds to the notion of the rebirth of all life but not necessarily as an individual. There is a rejoining of the universe and a rebirth as someone or something else.
The question about whether animals have souls has been answered. The question does not end with that conclusion. A new question arises: do the souls of animals go to “heaven” and will they be reunited with their human counterpart? What do you think? Will you see your pet in heaven?
Norman W. Wilson, Ph.D.
