Do Dogs Have A Soul And Where Does It Go After Death: Opinions Of Different Religions

2024 Author: Bailey Albertson | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 12:53

Do dogs have a soul and where does it go after death?

The loss of a pet is a tragedy. It may be easier to survive if the owner knows what happens to the pet after death. Do dogs have a soul and where does it go? To this question, adherents of different religions give different answers.

Do animals have a soul

According to the canons of Judaism, there are several levels of souls. Animals are endowed only with Nefesh - a bodily part. The man additionally received Ruach and Nesham. The first is associated with emotions and the struggle between good and evil. Neshama is related to the mind. There is a version that even inanimate objects are endowed with some part of Nefash, which allows them to exist. The Almighty gives this soul for a while and takes it back when the time comes.

For Christians, things are not so simple. It is believed that when the Bible was translated from Hebrew into Russian, many clarifications were lost, including the division of the soul into several levels. As a result, all three parts came to be called simply the soul. From this arose confusion and ambiguity: even priests do not always agree on whether animals have a soul and whether they end up in the afterlife after death.

There are direct indications in the text of the Bible that animals have a soul. However, many priests, referring to the original source, clarify that human and canine souls are very different. There is even a theory that animals that communicate with people are different from wild ones, since they ascended due to contact with the soul of a higher level - human.

One of the cartoons tells that all dogs will certainly go to heaven.

The Muslim translation is more correct, so the division of souls into levels is preserved. In general, the position resembles Judaism: dogs have a soul, but it belongs to the lower order. There are no direct indications that animals end up in the afterlife after death, however, it is believed that on the Day of Judgment all animals will be resurrected in order to redress their rights and achieve complete justice. Only after that will they turn to dust. Indirectly, this can be considered a confirmation that the souls of pets go somewhere, where they expect Judgment Day.

The adherents of Hinduism have the opposite opinion: the soul of an animal is equal to that of a human and also goes through many reincarnations. When she finally attains Moksha (liberation), she loses her individuality and dissolves into the Absolute. Do not consider this to be something bad. For adherents of Hinduism, this is rather the highest stage of development and the main goal of all living things.

The type of school must be considered when considering Buddhism. The Southern School supports the idea of the absence of an immortal soul in both animals and humans. It is believed that the presence of the individual “I” generates selfishness, attachment, passion and other impure thoughts. The followers of the northern school, on the contrary, believe in the presence of an immortal soul in both animals and humans.

Where do the souls of dogs go after death?

It is difficult to give an unambiguous answer to this question, since there are many versions. Someone believes that the soul of an animal is given to him only for the duration of his life, therefore after death it disintegrates. Others believe that there is a common vegetable and animal soul, to which all the dead join. At the same time, people retain their individuality. Adherents of Hinduism support the theory of reincarnation, that is, rebirth after death.

Some Buddhists argue that it is possible to encourage the soul of a dead dog to enter a puppy. However, this is considered a sin, because this soul has its own path, it must move to the next level, and it is being held back. The Indians believed that the spirits of dead animals kept them and helped in difficult situations. The theory is widespread that animals have the ability to go to heaven through the rainbow.

It is believed that only a loving owner can cross the Rainbow Bridge to reunite with his pet after death.

There is also a parable that cats and dogs are waiting for their masters in the afterlife to prevent or help the latter to get to heaven. According to this version, a person needs to climb the mountain. If the owner has treated their pets well, loving companions will lend a helping hand and make it easier to climb. But such a warm welcome does not await a cruel or indifferent owner. At best, he will have to climb up on his own, at worst, the pets simply will not let him in.

Video: the priest's opinion about the presence of a soul in animals

In any case, you have to decide what to believe in yourself. Unfortunately, many religions do not support the idea of the immortality of animal souls. However, there are other versions as well. For example, about the transmigration of souls or their life in the afterlife.