Dogs and Heaven

 I suspect there's no "requirement" to understand what's going on, to be a part of the spiritual world. In fact I'm pretty sure, since infants and small children wouldn't fall into that category either. Heaven isn't, in my thinking, the "reward" - it's merely a fulfillment of who we are - who we all are, as the children of the Creator - all life. Certainly animals can participate in that. Heaven isn't "becoming" immortal - we are already that, according to scripture.

It's not the "afterlife" (that's not a Biblical term and implies that "life" is only here and now). It's "the weight of glory" - "life with Him" - "present with God" - "The awakening" - "the triumph" - "the transformation" - "the liberation"- "the inheritance" - "the hope of His calling" - "a home not made with hands." And my two favorites: "knowing as I am known [by God]" and "mortality is swallowed up in life."

Ultimately, the scripture says there will be a New Creation. People will not be created over again. Why should animals? Or even plants? In fact, it even mentions trees that died long ago in this world, as being restored there.

If you are interested in perusing this further in Scripture, check out this link, which is to Bible Gateway version of 1 Corinthians 15. http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20corinthians%2015;&version=65;

I picked a modern version so I hope it's actually not a bad read. I'm wondering whether anyone else sees the implication that "heaven" or the resurrection will include life other than people? 

 I have an extremely deep respect for life. Life is life. All life is created by God, so isn't all life eternal? 

It isn't anywhere in me to believe that a creature that dies just ceases to exist. Plants, trees, animals, all of it.... 

jennie_c_d

It isn't anywhere in me to believe that a creature that dies just ceases to exist. Plants, trees, animals, all of it.... 

Yep, I'm hoping I have some really nice plants at the Bridge! I've killed off a ton.

I don't think I can express what I think and feel as one clear set of beliefs.  I know what I want to be true (that there is some way we can be reunited with loved ones who've gone before us - people and animals).  And there are many concepts that just seem to make sense or that feel right to me, while others don't.  All I can say now is that so many of the posts here are so thoughtfully expressed, with ideas and reasoning that resonate with me, even if I haven't thought of them in that particular way before.  Everyone has given wonderful insight into their own beliefs. 

Like others have posted, if our beloved animals aren't part of our experience after we leave the physical world, then I don't want that experience.

 My religious knowledge base says that Heaven and Hell are mental states we create for ourselves during the period between our death in this life and reincarnation in the next.  Given this, my view of Heaven is that it is what you make it.  Perhaps for some this is a fluffy cloud place with no creatures other than humans in their religious segment, for me however, it's Rainbow Bridge or something akin to that where all animals, plants, and people coexist in a wonderful, happy place. :)

I believe that our desire to have our beloved pets with us in the "afterlife" defines what we are as humans.  We are capable of more than just providing ourselves with food, shelter and the chance to procreate.  It doesn't really matter to me if a person believes any particular thing when it comes to religion or if they don't believe in any sort of higher power.  What matters is that we love the animals and all the living things we share our world with.  When you love something other than yourself it lifts you out of yourself and this is what gives us the ability to imagine "life" after our time here is over.

Meg, I'm sure there is a Rainbow Bridge for all the plants you hastened to an early grave.  I've sent a few there myself over the years. lol  May their roots grow deep and their flowers bloom eternally.

I believe in heaven for all things.  Heaven as a place where no one is in pain where everyone and everything is content and happy.  I would hate to think that people/animals that suffer in this world would not find peace and love in the next. 

Scripture tells us that God is preparing a place for us in heaven.  I believe that dogs and other beloved pets will be there, and the animals that were unloved and unwanted will be there also for us to enjoy eternally.

I don't belong to any particular church or faith. I was baptised a mormon, my mother was a born-again christian, my grandmother and step-grandfather are now catholic. I am a scientific person, preferring math, science, and logic. That being said, I know there is an afterlife from personal experience. And that includes pets. To me, the existence of a soul or clot of electrical cohesion in the brain is just as much a product of evolution as is the opposable thumb or dew claws. It is bound to happen when a being or organism reaches a certain level of complexity.

I could be wrong but it is harmless to feel that pets continue to the Bridge and it makes our lives better knowing that they are there. But, as I have often said, atheists are in for the biggest surprise of all. By atheists, I don't mean people who doubt the existance or divinity of a God entity, I mean those who think our awareness ends when our body does. I have no proof I can give in a laboratory but my belief harms no one and it inspires me to do good things, when I can.

Others have faiths that stretch out too far for me. For example, believing politicians can help. Ba-doomp, tsh! Thank you very much.

One-liners aside, I think those who say that all existence ends with the last heartbeat are just as clueless as how they might think of us. And, for some reason, they are more comfortable thinking that there is an end to all of this. For they have no proof that physical death is the end. All they have is the abscence of proof to the counter. That is, without proof of an afterlife, they assume there is none, which is not what the true skeptical analysis should bring. The true analysis would be "undecided" or "not enough info."

So, I will continue to be provincial in my own way. There is an afterlife and there is certainly a Rainbow Bridge. Anyone who tells there is not probably has less of a clue than I do and that should boggle the mind.

I don't know. I mean, I hope so, it would be great if we could go on living in some way with those who we've held close to our hearts here on earth.  But I don't know. I was raised catholic, I had some 'psychic' experiences, I now am leaning toward science and logic- solid proof.  I am not sure I believe in the bible anymore, but I still hold to me a sense of spirituality- connectedness to all things on earth, if that makes sense.  

Pretty much, I'm quite confused about the 'right' thing BUT at the same time I'm leaning toward calling myself a "humanist" which, essentially means do the right things and be a good person.   I have a VERY Strong connection to the animals, is something I've been drawn to forever, since being a toddler! And if there is a 'heaven' I would definitely would want the animals who have shared their lives and love with me to be there as well.

I believe also in an afterlife with people and animals all there. Maybe there are times when a person or animal is reincarnated, when it fulfills some purpose known only to our Creator. But for the thinking that to some we as people are more deserving, then I think we will all lose to the animals, especially dogs. If it is about purity of heart, loyalty, faithfulness, and pure love, I don't want to go up against my dog for a place in Heaven. :-) But I believe that one day I will see Kota waiting for me, and we will enter together. Just my two cents.

I too have a unorthodox view of religion, and I tried lots of different kinds of standard religions, but could never fit all my beliefs into one of them, and did not sit well with someone telling me what I should believe. SO I have found peace in my own spirituality and relationship with our Creator. I also really enjoyed reading a boook called The Shack, which mirrored a lot of my thoughts.

I also have to commend the people here for sharing on such a personal subject and keeping it respectful and open. Julie

 I'm an atheist, and I believe that at the end, we just stop. I don't believe in heaven or hell or the bridge, but I would love it if I were wrong.

The Bible is very clear on the fact that there will be animals in heaven.  Here are two of many verses that support that fact.

 Isaiah 65:25 (New International Readers Version):

Wolves and lambs will eat together.
      Lions will eat straw like oxen.
      Serpents will not bite anyone.
   They will eat nothing but dust.
      None of those animals will harm or destroy
      anything or anyone on my holy mountain of Zion,"

   says the Lord.

Revelation 5:11 (New International Reader's Version):

¹¹ Then I looked and heard the voice of millions and millions of angels. They surrounded the throne. They surrounded the living creatures and the elders.

2shelties

 I'm an atheist, and I believe that at the end, we just stop. I don't believe in heaven or hell or the bridge, but I would love it if I were wrong.

And bless your heart for keeping an open mind. You only believe what can be proven, yet you don't discount what hasn't been proven or disproven. That's a tough road to walk.

Some of my best mates are atheists, and it seems to me that they are atheists for the same reason I'm not. They share my wonder and awe for the natural world and that's all they need. Gods are superfluous. I respect that.

Personally, I believe every soul goes where they want to go when they die. I can't imagine my animals wanting to be with people. Sure, we fed them and loved them, spent time with them, made their lives happy, but we also prevented them from doing whatever urge took them, and often I was the killjoy, the force to pit their will against, the one thing that could stand in their way. Then again, my great uncle married twice. Who gets him when he dies? I can only assume you get to spend eternity with everything you love about someone rather than the someone themselves.