QotW - Do animals have souls?

iVillage Member
Registered: 04-22-2003
QotW - Do animals have souls?
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Sat, 01-14-2006 - 10:09am

Question of the Week


Do you think Fluffy and Sparky have souls?  Everything has a life force, but is that the same thing?  Is the domesticated dog different than a giraffe or any other animal in the wild in that department?  How about insects?  Where's the cutoff, if there is one?


Happy pondering!  Post your thoughts.


Bink




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iVillage Member
Registered: 12-20-2005
Tue, 01-17-2006 - 3:57pm

Depending on the use of the term 'soul'. Kinda vague I know... I'm going to take the long road in answering this question because I feel it isn't a clear cut yes or no answer I can give... but I do believe that every natural thing (trees and rocks included) have a 'life force energy', and that we humans can 'tap' into those force energies from time to time.

This entire planet is made from "Star Stuff" (to coin a phrase--Carl Sagan). Modern science has basically proven that everything came from the joining together of particles that were free floating out and about in the Universe. They came together and meshed and over time formed various things-planets, moons, plants, animals, etc... I believe that which we call a 'soul' was also formed in this way-made up of many different particles that were free floating and came together. Once all the energy of our outer shells (bodies) is expended, we expire, but the internal 'life-force energy' continues, meeting up with other free floating energies and proceeds until it takes another form. As you can probably tell, I do believe in reincarnation... I think it is rather arrogant for 'us' (humans) to think we are the only life being capable of having our 'souls' ascend anywhere.

Now, having said all that, I must reveal that I do not actually believe in a heaven or a hell. So I cannot say where exactly lil' Sparky would end up?? His life-force energy could meld with a (former)plant's energy and then move on from there and go...??? That's what the real circle of life is (to me anyway).

I hope I made sense there, I know what I wanted to say, but not always good at putting it to words, ya know?

tavi

Avatar for stormflower
iVillage Member
Registered: 07-11-2005
Tue, 01-17-2006 - 4:49pm

I totally believe that animals have souls. A few years ago my DH and I had to put a very beloved kitty to sleep because of cardiomyapathy. He had a couple of strokes and we just couldn't handle seeing him in such obvious distress. We were there holding him while the vet put him to sleep, and it was so hard seeing his spirit leave his body.

We also felt his spirit around the house for quite awhile afterwards. I could feel him waiting for me on the bath rug after I got out of the shower, as well as several other places. His was the only spirit that I have ever personally felt.

So yes, I totally believe that animals have souls.

Sarah

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Tue, 01-17-2006 - 6:12pm
Makes total sense to me Tavi, but then I tend to think along the same lines anyway.
iVillage Member
Registered: 04-22-2003
Tue, 01-17-2006 - 6:13pm

Ah! Your post reminded me that I too, felt Duncan around me for a while after I had to put him down.


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