Do you think...

[LV426]

Animals Have a Soul?

[holy_will]

Animals Have a Soul?

In my opinion; I honestly believe that they do. Animals are capable of emotions, they are capable of thought, they have thier instincts. What is stopping them from having a soul? Humans are animals too, if they have a soul, than wouldn't other animals have one too?

[Eliakim]

Depnds on how you define 'Soul', I guess...I don't have time to truly outline my definition, but...

I think only beings with the ability to reflect on themselves as a distinct entity have 'Souls', whereas *all* living things have Spirits. Yes, this mean I don't think animals like Ants, Bees, Slugs, or even Cows really have Souls. Now, when you start talking about Dolphins, Chimps...and of course, Wolves...then you gotta wonder.

[Wolffy13]

Absolutely. Besides, to think they are souless is kind of creepy.

[lordragoon]

According to Christianity, animals don't have souls. I don't really understand why, but it does say so. On the other hand, I don't think humans have souls, so I guess it doesn't matter, does it?

[lachrymal]

i personally believe animals have souls. i've spent my entire life around animals and in my opinion they possess a greater intelligence than the vast majority of humans and they obviously are cabable of feeling and expressing emotions...why wouldn't they have souls?

[Rhiakath]

Sure they have a soul, why wouldn't they?

[blueeyes]

I hope we do. Predators at least; the fanged can express themselves. As for prey, I have cut line at squirrels and cattle.

[ArcaneWolf]

I believe they do, to what extent I'm not sure. Mammals, Marsupials, Reptiles and Birds, I think share enough traits with use to say they have souls. Yet some of the other animal families....? I really don't know, hard to imagine a black widow spider has a soul. and yes I believe cattle have souls. There's nothing wrong with killing an animal for food, even if that animal has a soul. Nature proves that well enough. But what do we do? we put them into cages, grow them and then inhumanly butcher them. For all those who hate ted nugget ;) at least the guy actually hunts and respects the animals. he doesn't lock them in cages. I'm going off on a tagent aren't I? :shrug: In a perfect society we'd hunt for meat just like the native americans did (or for us were- we'll do it as we always have. Claws and teeth :)

[silenceowl]

Of couse animals have souls. They have spirits, emotions, they feel pain, and if you prick them do they not bleed.
The only thing we have that animals do not have is a high I.Q.
And that's not at all a big deal; I think the animals are better off than us. (Ignorance is bliss, wisdom is torment.)

[Ender]

What is a "Soul"? I would prefer if LycanthropicHowl could answer this, however anyone else's definitions would be more then welcomed.

[LV426]

What is a "Soul"? I would prefer if LycanthropicHowl could answer this, however anyone else's definitions would be more then welcomed.
I was referring to the Judeo/Christian version of the word,I myself do not even believe in having a soul, hence why I sold mine for a slurpee. Maybe your soul is that little dangling thingie at the back of your throat.

[MexicanJewLizard]

I was referring to the Judeo/Christian version of the word,I myself do not even believe in having a soul, hence why I sold mine for a slurpee. Maybe your soul is that little dangling thingie at the back of your throat.

lol :D

I don't believe animals have a soul.

[Ender]

Understood

[Xzengrim]

If you think about it, it seems fairly likely that animals have souls. I mean, if you've ever had a pet or spent a decent amount of time around animals, you know that they have feelings, they have certain ideas about certain things, they are just like human beings. Just not as smart, or as complex. If retarded people and invalids can have a soul, surely an animal does as well. You shouldn't have to be human or have a certain IQ to have a soul.

[MexicanJewLizard]

If you think about it, it seems fairly likely that animals have souls. I mean, if you've ever had a pet or spent a decent amount of time around animals, you know that they have feelings, they have certain ideas about certain things, they are just like human beings. Just not as smart, or as complex. If retarded people and invalids can have a soul, surely an animal does as well. You shouldn't have to be human or have a certain IQ to have a soul.

I don't think retarded people have souls either. It would seem a little unfair that whoever designed the human race, or what leads it on, would allow someone with severe mental incompacity, to have a soul and take responcibility for their actions. Animals have never shown me a sign of having a soul. Compassion yes, but it's the way you train your pet. Your computer works a certain way, doesn't mean it has a soul.

[Ender]

Your computer works a certain way, doesn't mean it has a soul. :GASP:

:p

(joking) :pats moniter:

[MexicanJewLizard]

:GASP:

:p

I had the same reaction when I was informed. ;)

[Ender]

Oh... thought I was about to lose a perverbile eyeball, what is the word on my cdplayer... souless? :( heh

[blueeyes]

Before the letters IQ are thrown out again, I do wish to say something. Animals can have a higher IQ than humans; IQ only measures the ability to learn, not how much has been. Case in point: not so long ago, an ape was administered an IQ test, the same format as is given to preschool year old humans, relying on colors and patterns, rewarded with food. The result monkeyed with researchers; the ape acheived a 105. Of course, such tests are not perfectly accurate.

The answer depends on the definition of the soul;
the ability to feel emotion: all animals feel emotions, the swirl of chemicals and electrons through their brains.
the ability to chose one's actions: fate or future. If humans do, then animals do. (humans are just as 'trained')
the ability to be responsible for one's action: humans win here. When extinction is only one hunt away, it is not possible to focus on yesterday or tomorrow.

[Whystler]

Depnds on how you define 'Soul', I guess...I don't have time to truly outline my definition, but...

I think only beings with the ability to reflect on themselves as a distinct entity have 'Souls', whereas *all* living things have Spirits. Yes, this mean I don't think animals like Ants, Bees, Slugs, or even Cows really have Souls. Now, when you start talking about Dolphins, Chimps...and of course, Wolves...then you gotta wonder.

This is very interesting. How do you differentiate between spirit and soul?

-Whystler...

[Whystler]

I was referring to the Judeo/Christian version of the word,I myself do not even believe in having a soul, hence why I sold mine for a slurpee. Maybe your soul is that little dangling thingie at the back of your throat.

LOL nice idea!:) The epiglotis as the holder of the soul. Let me meditate on this... ;)

-Whystler...

[wolfheart]

If animles dont have souls then how could we ever feel conected to them in any way? Of corse they do

[MexicanJewLizard]

If animles dont have souls then how could we ever feel conected to them in any way? Of corse they do

Steve??????????? ~shakes her head~

People need animals like they need Jesus... company.

[DarkMercury]

Hmm very good question. Well if you believe the Buddhist they think they do because animals are people reincarnated in different forms. Some start in the lowly position and work their way up, for transgressions in past lives. It's all a matter of the karmic wheel. Even in some forms of Hinduism they believe animals have souls. Even before current "modern" Christianity the Gnostics acknowledged animals has spirits, maybe not a soul but something similar. Who's to say? As for a comment Blueeyes stated that she drew the line at squirrels and I think she also said cows, well I saw a mother squirrel go nuts trying to protect her baby from my cat. She was making this wild noise I never heard come from a squirrel. She was obviously distressed. I felt bad for the mother squirrel and the baby so I chased my cat away. Now if that was instinct yes I do believe that, but doesn't a human mother do the same thing if their child is in danger? Surely, just because we can't comprehend everything an animal does doesn't make it dumb. What about the story, it's true too, about the elephant that stood in front of a moving train to save another elephant? Instinct and souls are different I agree. I'm not confusing the 2. Why do so many native cultures respect the animals? I think they were closer to the source than most "modern" religions are. I think everything has a soul, even rocks and trees and water. The rock breaks down to soil, the soil has vital nutrients plants take from the soil to grow, the animals eat the plants, animal eats other animal, we eat the animal, unless your Vegan. I think everything does have a soul, maybe we just need to try to be more aware?