Dog Community

Dogs and Heaven

Posted : 7/2/2009 12:08:18 PM

I was talking with a friend the other day who said she does not think dogs (or any animals) go to Heaven. Rather, they just "end", "stop", whatever. She doesn't think animals have souls like people do. She's never had any pets except for one cat.

I am interested to see everyone's honest opinions on the subject. I know the Rainbow Bridge is often talked about, but realistically, whether yoju are religious or not, what do you think happens to dogs when they die?

I whole-heartedly believe they go to Heaven, and *not* just because it's what I'd llike to believe. I think animals are very much God's creatures too, and who are we to say that we are more deserving of heaven than they are? Animals are like babies - totally innocent. We share our lives here with animals...why wouldn't we share the afterlife with them?

That's all I have to say for now.

IrishSetterGrl

Posted : 7/2/2009 12:09:53 PM

Oh, and I also wanted to say that I believe WE are animals too. We have more complex brains but we are a species of animal nonetheless.

micksmom

Posted : 7/2/2009 12:11:53 PM

IrishSetterGrl
...I whole-heartedly believe they go to Heaven, and *not* just because it's what I'd llike to believe. I think animals are very much God's creatures too, and who are we to say that we are more deserving of heaven than they are? Animals are like babies - totally innocent. We share our lives here with animals...why wouldn't we share the afterlife with them?
That's all I have to say for now.

Ever have a feeling you can't put into words? You just put my feelings on this topic into words. Oh, and, if animals don't go to Heaven, I don't want to go either. Just send me wherever the animals are, thank-you.

Anonymous

Posted : 7/2/2009 12:12:00 PM

I think whatever happens to us happens to animals.I mean why wouldnt they? Just because we dont have the same thinking capacities or skills as each other why wouldnt animals go wherever we go.

rwbeagles

Posted : 7/2/2009 12:12:14 PM

not being a religious person I do not believe in Heaven or Hell at all. We all live on once we're put into the earth, we enrich the soil and promote new life...that is what I believe.

eta: I will stop short of putting my mod cap on and just say I think that this is an interesting topic and that it's one I know we can all discuss civilly and respectfully.

brookcove

Posted : 7/2/2009 12:56:05 PM

I'm a Bible-believing Christian. There are certainly animals mentioned in the New World (the Second Creation - see Revelation). I don't see any reason to believe that physical death is the end for animals any more than it is for us.

The welfare of living things that God created here on earth was originally to be our main business (see Genesis 2) - why should it end in heaven? Many people to whom animals are important have echoed the statement, "If there's no animals in Heaven, then I want to go where they go." I think that's a feeling born of the love and concern instilled in us by the Creator Himself.

I have lots of other ideas about the relationship of humans and other animals but they are just conjecture. But the important thing that I have full confidence in, is that what is to come will take every joy we have here, and complete and magnify it to an extent that will make our time here seem like a mere dreary shadow.

One idea that I believe makes it hard to believe that there are no limits on the joy of the spiritual world, is that many people think of "spiritual" as synonomous with "ghostly" and "insubstantial." In fact, it is the physical which is limited, less substantial, hazy, and boring compared to what is to come. CS Lewis has a couple of interesting books that describe this better - a quick read is The Great Divorce, and Miracles addresses more fully the intersection of the "spiritual" with the "physical" world.

calliecritturs

Posted : 7/2/2009 1:18:58 PM

brookcove
The welfare of living things that God created here on earth was originally to be our main business (see Genesis 2) - why should it end in heaven? Many people to whom animals are important have echoed the statement, "If there's no animals in Heaven, then I want to go where they go." I think that's a feeling born of the love and concern instilled in us by the Creator Himself.

Emphasis mine - I couldn't have said it ANY better at all

brookcove
In fact, it is the physical which is limited, less substantial, hazy, and boring compared to what is to come. CS Lewis has a couple of interesting books that describe this better - a quick read is The Great Divorce, and Miracles addresses more fully the intersection of the "spiritual" with the "physical" world.

Again incrediblyl well said, Becca. We humans tend to have such a lofty idea of how superior our understanding is, but in truth it's pretty darned limited.

The only thing I will add is that I think "Rainbow Bridge" generally is as close as most of us will come to an understanding of the preparations I honestly believe are LOGICAL for the Alpha of all Alphas to make.

There are those who get really bound up in rules, regulations and no-nos -- and again I'm going to point to the fact that we, in our human finite minds, are typically pretty narrow in what we can comprehend.

For example -- there's a verse in Scripture that has had many scratch their heads for centuries: "In My Father's House are many mansions ..." and I've heard all sorts of squabbling over how that is to be "interpreted" (or basis for how unbelievable Scripture can be).

Then again, there was the 3rd grader in one of my classes once who read that aloud, looked up at me (he lived in a Project Housing are) and exclaimed "OH COOL -- does that mean We're all gonna live in a NICE BIG CONDO?????"

It all depends on how you look at it. ... suddenly a 3rd grader's "understanding" is pretty logical, huh? So why do adults think they have all the answers to all the questions?

Good quesion, by the way ISGirl!!

BlackLabbie

Posted : 7/2/2009 2:29:06 PM

I believe in reincarnation. I think all souls- people and animals- go on living forever, just taking different forms in physical bodies.

sl2crmeg

Posted : 7/2/2009 2:38:04 PM

Doing what I do (kennel tech @ the largest humane soc in my county) I see tons of pets PTS, every day...I HAVE to believe in the Rainbow Bridge or I'd go insane. I'm not particularly religious - but a girl's gotta do what she can to get through the day.

denise m

Posted : 7/2/2009 4:11:20 PM

I'm so ambiguous about life after death. My rational mind thinks much like Gina. (at least on this issue LOL!) It seems logical to me that the 'reward' is lived on earth. If a certain 2 people get together and you are created - that is the jackpot.

I like the idea of reincarnation. It has a scientific link to energy, so I get that. What I don't get however is where does all this energy go when there are soooooo many more people who have died on this earth than are alive at any given time. It must be a long waiting list.

Heaven? I never connected with the image of heaven despite being raised Anglican. I know it's not people standing around on clouds but that is what the church led me to believe and now I can't shake it.

Now animals and an afterlife. My only argument against it would be that an afterlife may be reserved for those who have a concept of immortality. Do dogs have this?

Anyways I getting along in years so I hope I figure it out soon!

mrv

Posted : 7/2/2009 4:16:07 PM

I believe in connectedness. Not sure heaven is a place maybe more a state of being..... not even close to understanding what is next but believe there is something coming,,,,cant fathom what ever supreme being has in mind.

fuzzy_dogs_mom

Posted : 7/2/2009 4:20:49 PM

denise m

My only argument against it would be that an afterlife may be reserved for those who have a concept of immortality. Do dogs have this?

Probably not but depending on their mental capacity, I'm guessing a lot of people don't either. All I can say is that if my dog isn't welcome there, I don't wanna go either.

Joyce

The Poodles

Posted : 7/2/2009 4:46:08 PM

This is my feeling about this subject. Some people think that when you die your dead, you don't go anywhere you are just dead. Then on the other hand maybe we just might go somewhere. I still just love this story.

Chris the Poodle Daddy

Dogs make the best People.

Remember ALL doGs go to Heaven

A man and his dog were walking along a road. The man was enjoying the scenery, when it suddenly occurred to him that he was dead.

He remembered dying, and that the dog walking beside him had been dead for years. He wondered where the road was leading them.

After a while, they came to a high, white stone wall along one side of the road. It looked like fine marble. At the top of a long hill, it was broken by a tall arch that glowed in the sunlight.

When he was standing before it he saw a magnificent gate in the arch that looked like mother-of-pearl, and the street that led to the gate looked like pure gold. He and the dog walked toward the gate, and as he got closer, he saw a man at a desk to one side.

When he was close enough, he called out, 'Excuse me, where are we?'

'This is Heaven, sir,' the man answered.

'Wow! Would you happen to have some water?' the man asked.

'Of course, sir. Come right in, and I'll have some ice water brought right up.'

The man gestured, and the gate began to open.

'Can my friend,' gesturing toward his dog, 'come in, too?' the traveler asked.

'I'm sorry, sir, but we don't accept pets.'

The man thought a moment and then turned back toward the road and continued the way he had been going with his dog.

After another long walk, and at the top of another long hill, he came to a dirt road leading through a farm gate that looked as if it had never been closed. There was no fence.

As he approached the gate, he saw a man inside, leaning against a tree and reading a book.

'Excuse me!' he called to the man. 'Do you have any water?'

'Yeah, sure, there's a pump over there, come on in.'

'How about my friend here?' the traveler gestured to the dog.

'There should be a bowl by the pump.'

They went through the gate, and sure enough, there was an old-fashioned hand pump with a bowl beside it.

The traveler filled the water bowl and took a long drink himself, then he gave some to the dog.

When they were full, he and the dog

walked back toward the man who was standing by the tree.

'What do you call this place?' the traveler asked.

'This is Heaven,' he answered.

'Well, that's confusing,' the traveler said. 'The man down the road said that was Heaven, too.'

'Oh, you mean the place with the gold street and pearly gates? Nope. That's hell.'

'Doesn't it make you mad for them to use your name like that?'

'No, we're just happy that they screen out the folks who would leave their best friends behind.'

BlackLabbie

Posted : 7/2/2009 4:48:37 PM

VIP's- that was a good story. I liked it a lot. Thanks for sharing :)

sillysally

Posted : 7/2/2009 6:05:26 PM

brookcove
I'm a Bible-believing Christian. There are certainly animals mentioned in the New World (the Second Creation - see Revelation). I don't see any reason to believe that physical death is the end for animals any more than it is for us.
The welfare of living things that God created here on earth was originally to be our main business (see Genesis 2) - why should it end in heaven? Many people to whom animals are important have echoed the statement, "If there's no animals in Heaven, then I want to go where they go." I think that's a feeling born of the love and concern instilled in us by the Creator Himself.
I have lots of other ideas about the relationship of humans and other animals but they are just conjecture. But the important thing that I have full confidence in, is that what is to come will take every joy we have here, and complete and magnify it to an extent that will make our time here seem like a mere dreary shadow.
One idea that I believe makes it hard to believe that there are no limits on the joy of the spiritual world, is that many people think of "spiritual" as synonomous with "ghostly" and "insubstantial." In fact, it is the physical which is limited, less substantial, hazy, and boring compared to what is to come. CS Lewis has a couple of interesting books that describe this better - a quick read is The Great Divorce, and Miracles addresses more fully the intersection of the "spiritual" with the "physical" world.

Very well said!! Smile