While we're on the topic of religion...

for example before my nan died she said she was coming back as a seagull to poop on everyone who annoyed her and the day she died a seagull started hanging around the yard...

 
[sm=biggrin.gif]  that was funny!

The phrase "if there aren't animals in heaven, then I'm not going" is quite ridiculous, but it makes me sad that some people actually believe that.

 
You must keep in mind that your beliefs are only yours, and there is nothing to say that they are right and others' are wrong. Maybe I think it's sad that you believe in your God..... but I wouldn't state that because how would I know what is true and what isn't?

What???? dont tell me this movie is not true!!!![]



Dogs have souls, if not there would be not reports of people that have seen the ghosts of former pets, aaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhh think about it []

This thread makes me a little bit sad, because I am a born-again Christian and I see some misinformation out there about Christianity and God's call for humans to be stewards to the animals.  When God created the world, He gave humans dominion over the animals - because He made us the smartest and gave us the ability to manipulate the world around us.  His call to us is for responsibility and stewardship - not to dominate and abuse.
 
That said, one of my dear friends who helped bring me to Christ has a great link on her website about scriptural basis for animals in heaven. 
 
[linkhttp://www.woodhavenlabs.com/animals-heaven.html]http://www.woodhavenlabs.com/animals-heaven.html[/link]
 
It was humans, not animals, who fell from grace.  Animals have a "pure" nature and do not sin as we humans do.  Thus there is no redemption in Christ Jesus necessary for our pets to be with God after they die.
 
After all, God made everything in the world, and He said, "it is good".  And therefore, everything in the world is good. 

ORIGINAL: LoveMyDogCassidy

Maybe some of you believe that people and animals are the same, but the difference is that people have souls.....and I don't believe that animals do. The verses in Isaiah are what I believe could mean that animals go to heaven, and that's what I hope, but it could also be referring to the time of Christ's 1,000 year reign, that the animals would be there. I can't help but say this too, for the people who say they don't want to go to heaven if animals aren't there. Do you think once you die, you're going to have a choice where you get to go?   The phrase "if there aren't animals in heaven, then I'm not going" is quite ridiculous, but it makes me sad that some people actually believe that. Also, to say that you would rather go to hell, is, in fact, a very foolish thing to say. It means that you don't understand what it will be like. It's not a big party place where you can go and be with your friends. This is hell: "The sea  gave up the dead which were in it, and Death and Hades delivered up the dead which were in them. And they were judged, each one according to his own works. Then Death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire." (Revelation 20:13-15) This makes me shudder reading it. Hell  is going to be eternal fire, not a party place. I'm not trying to make this sound preachy, just trying to let you understand what it's really going to be like. 

That he&& place sounds like a place with no dogs (since they would not have done anything so heinous as to deserve residency in a place so horrible as you describe), and so if dogs have no souls, apparently they don't go to heaven either.  So, that simply leaves me the spirit world, where I am quite happy to go, if the dogs are there.  As to someone not wanting to go to heaven, or wanting to go to he&& if they can't have their dogs with them in the afterlife, count me in that number, and please don't patronize me by "feeling sad" for me.   I am quite happy to share the fate of my beloved dogs, whatever it is.

to grok

 
I see you've read Heinlein.
 

My friend, Lee, once had a talk with a catholic priest at some function. He told the priest that he was a frisbeetyrian. When he dies, his soul goes up on the roof and you can't get it down. This got a chuckle from the priest.

g33 - Good reply - I`m with you. I`m a born-again Christian too and proud to be one.
 
Amen

ORIGINAL: mollymoo

g33 - Good reply - I`m with you. I`m a born-again Christian too and proud to be one.

Amen

Actually, I'm a bit offended by some of the material on the woodhaven site.  How dare anyone assume that dogs worship Jesus?  What if the dog is a Buddhist or a Jew?  In point of fact, in this house, if the dogs worship anyone beside me, my bets are on the Great Spirit, but it also wouldn't matter to me if they chose Manitou or another deity either, so long as they are good dogs. []

Aho.

but it also wouldn't matter to me if they chose Manitou or another deity either,

 
Good point. Even though I am not chukchi and the word, heaven, was an english translation of their concept of afterlife, I still value their proverb as it does speak to the importance of the dog-human relationship.
 

ORIGINAL: spiritdogs

ORIGINAL: mollymoo

g33 - Good reply - I`m with you. I`m a born-again Christian too and proud to be one.

Amen

Actually, I'm a bit offended by some of the material on the woodhaven site.  How dare anyone assume that dogs worship Jesus?  What if the dog is a Buddhist or a Jew?  In point of fact, in this house, if the dogs worship anyone beside me, my bets are on the Great Spirit, but it also wouldn't matter to me if they chose Manitou or another deity either, so long as they are good dogs. []

Aho.

Because we believe that there is only one god, therefore there are no other gods for them to worship. If there is only one ladies room wouldn't you assume if I had to go then I would use it?
It sounds closed-minded, but why should anyone care if others are being closed minded as long as they are not harming you?
 

Thank you g33 for saying that.   You know, I have noticed lately  that a general public attitude has occured that anyone can "worhsip whoever they want to, and it's ok", Unless it is The Lord, the one and true living God.
 
"They" who want to worhsip whatever of their choosing all gang together and wink at each other saying "worship whatever you want".  But, if someone is a true Christian, then they all gang up on that person and says that the Christians are "forcing" their beliefs on them.  No one can force anyone to believe anything.  That is why we are judged on an individual basis - we are judged on whom we choose to worhsip.  So, if all of these people get so offended at a Christian, then,  ummmm, maybe that person who gets so offended does realize deep in their souls what the truth is and doesn't want the mirror put to their own face.
 
My point is that it is so ironic that "everyone is free to do what they want", yet hackles rise from these same people when someone says their trust and belief is in Jesus.
 

I find it hilarious that the huge, ruling, controlling majority is trying to convince everyone else that they're the oppressed minority. Talk about marketing!

Christmas is a national holiday in the United States. It's the ONLY religious national holiday. Jews don't get Yom Kippur off; Muslims have to fast at work; Hindus have to take leave to celebrate Diwali, etc, etc, etc.

Our money, leaders, and oaths say "God"--don't kid me you don't know WHICH god they're all talking about.

Christians are not an oppressed group. Everyone else is just trying to squeeze in alongside them. And I'd like to note that the groups the Christian right reviles most, like the ACLU, have repeatedly stood up against the infringement of Christian's rights, including fighting cases allowing nativity scenes and the like on private property. They just don't want them forced upon the Muslims, Jews, Hinddus, Buddhists, atheists, pagans, etc, etc, etc who HAVE to go to school and use public courthouses. Do you really think that's a bad stance?

As spiritdogs said, it's the assumption of Christianity. It's great that you, and your dogs even, are Christian. But not everyone is, and the constant, unending barrage of God this, God that gets annoying after CENTURIES of Christian dominance, OK?

It's lines like this: "The Lord, the one and true living God" that start to turn people against some Christians. To YOU, that's true. To non-Christians, it's offensive. You're just discounting the beliefs of billions of people. If I went around saying "Maybe you're just defensive because you secretly realize the truth, that Allah is the one true God and Mohammed is his prophet," or "You'll find out in the end that you should have listened to Buddha," wouldn't you be offended? Well, that's what it sounds like when Christians say things like "maybe that person who gets so offended does realize deep in their souls what the truth is."

Isn't it hubris to assume you know the truth, anyway? I don't think any deity is reputed to like that sort of thing.

Littlemousling: Why do you get offended? I honsestly don't get offended when people try to shove diferent rilligions down my throat. I don't care if someone said I would burn in hades for believing like I do, because I KNOW that isn't true.  What do you know? The truth shall set you free.  I don't care if someone puts up a hanuka thing. I'm not offended. I don't stop talking to someone because they use Jesus as an explitive.
I am not trying to dictate what you believe, just trying to live up to my beliefs.  If people don't want to be offened then they should become hermits, because human nature is offending.

And now I shall shut up before a mod warns us to stay on topic.[] You can start a topic on offending if you want to discuss this further.

My point is that it is so ironic that "everyone is free to do what they want", yet hackles rise from these same people when someone says their trust and belief is in Jesus.

 
No, I dont' believe anyone rushed in and said "oh you believe in Jesus, well we have a problem with that, etc".  What bothers non-Christians is when you say things like "it's sad that you don't believe what I believe. Your thoughts and beliefs are silly". That is insulting and I certainly wouldn't say that to a Christian, even if I disagree with your beliefs. You don't see Buddhists, etc, posting things like "why do you people believe all that nonsense? Here is a website you should all read and understand because my religion is the right one." THAT is the type of stuff that is insulting and frustrating.