Animals in Heaven: Difference between revisions
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== Animals have souls == | == Animals have souls == | ||
The perennial philosophy of Thomas Aquinas, which is favored by the Church as the best tool for understanding her doctrines, is derived from Aristotle, who taught that [[the soul is the form of the body | The perennial philosophy of Thomas Aquinas, which is favored by the Church as the best tool for understanding her doctrines, is derived from Aristotle, who taught that [[the soul is the form of the body]]. | ||
From this perspective, all living things (plants and animals) have souls. Humans are a special kind of animal because God personally gives each one of us our identity, intelligence, and free will at the moment of conception. Those spiritual qualities of the human soul, in turn, make us immortal persons. | From this perspective, all living things (plants and animals) have souls. Humans are a special kind of animal because God personally gives each one of us our identity, intelligence, and free will at the moment of conception. Those spiritual qualities of the human soul, in turn, make us immortal persons. | ||
Revision as of 21:43, 5 January 2012
I've often been asked, "Will my dog be with me in Heaven?"
Peter Kreeft, one of the great theologians of our day, says "Yes." [reference needed!]
Animals have souls
The perennial philosophy of Thomas Aquinas, which is favored by the Church as the best tool for understanding her doctrines, is derived from Aristotle, who taught that the soul is the form of the body.
From this perspective, all living things (plants and animals) have souls. Humans are a special kind of animal because God personally gives each one of us our identity, intelligence, and free will at the moment of conception. Those spiritual qualities of the human soul, in turn, make us immortal persons.
Animals are not persons in that sense. They have an identity (this dog is not that dog), but they do not enjoy the power of personal immortality in the same way that we do. They are not destined by God for the Beatific Vision in the same way that we are.
This does not mean that there is not some other mode of eternal life granted to animals.