Do animals have souls?

Wow, that's a lot of assumptions off my post! I didn't want to get too philisophical so yes, it did come off as very generalized.

I'm sorry, I should have made it more clear that it wasn't just your post, I was replying to, but to the more generalized position emerging from the thread, and the tendencies I often see in such threads. I certainly didn't mean to single your post out, nor to seem confrontational.

I do happen to believe that all animals -even sponges- and even plants in fact have souls though. I believe that more simplified creatures souls are not as awake or aware as "higher" creatures. I even believe planets have souls. We're all part of the divine as far as I'm concerned. We're certainly not all on the same wave length, but I believe the energy is there and that we're all connected in that way. But again... I was trying not to get too philisophical.

In the pantheist/Taoist "divine reality" sense in which all reality is an aspect of the divine, and true individuality is an illusion due to our limited perceptions, or in the animist sense in which individuality is still a valid concept, yet all animate and some inanimate forces (depending on tradition) have a 'spirit' of sorts?

...and this is you brain when your fiancee is an eastern theology student....

Especially since I don't post much, and since my last post was about homosexuality I hoped to avoid my next one being about religion... That's just not the rep I want. Oh well!

I know how that goes, and should just like to restate that my post wasn't directed at you specifically, but rather to a general attitude I often find in such threads.

Henry

Just this side of heaven is a place called Rainbow Bridge.

When an animal dies that has been especially close to someone here, that pet goes to
Rainbow Bridge. There are meadows and hills for all of our special friends so they can run and
play together. There is plenty of food, water and sunshine, and our friends are warm and
comfortable.

All the animals who had been ill and old are restored to health and vigor; those who were hurt
or maimed are made whole and strong again, just as we remember them in our dreams of
days and times gone by. The animals are happy and content, except for one small thing;
they each miss someone very special to them, who had to be left behind.

They all run and play together, but the day comes when one suddenly stops and looks into
the distance. His bright eyes are intent; His eager body quivers. Suddenly he begins to run
from the group, flying over the green grass, his legs carrying him faster and faster.

You have been spotted, and when you and your special friend finally meet, you cling together
in joyous reunion, never to be parted again. The happy kisses rain upon your face; your
hands again caress the beloved head, and you look once more into the trusting eyes of your
pet, so long gone from your life but never absent from your heart.

Then you cross Rainbow Bridge together....

Originally Posted by Mokele

I'm sorry, I should have made it more clear that it wasn't just your post, I was replying to, but to the more generalized position emerging from the thread, and the tendencies I often see in such threads. I certainly didn't mean to single your post out, nor to seem confrontational.

Oh, okay, I retract my defensive stance then!

Originally Posted by Mokele

In the pantheist/Taoist "divine reality" sense in which all reality is an aspect of the divine, and true individuality is an illusion due to our limited perceptions, or in the animist sense in which individuality is still a valid concept, yet all animate and some inanimate forces (depending on tradition) have a 'spirit' of sorts?

...and this is you brain when your fiancee is an eastern theology student....

Actually more of a bizarre mix of the two with some String (or "M") Theory being an extension of the Aum (or OM) concept thrown in there. I'm a strange eclectic sort of agnostic, no specific tradition just borrowing from whatever makes sense to me and adjusting my ideas as I learn more. Very cool about your fiancee! I have student envy! I'd love to take some real classes someday.

I know what you mean about threads often going in that direction, I just wanted to clarify my position there. No worries.

Namaste!
~Sheree

P.S.
Author unknown.
I also love this poem.
Victoria

I love that poem too... I made an icon based off of it as well.

This is the "Rainbow Bridge for Rescuers" I mentioned.....I assumed most everyone had seen the original, but this one is somewhat different..


Unlike most days at Rainbow Bridge, this day dawned cold and gray, damp as a swamp and as dismal as could be imagined. All of the recent arrivals had no idea what to think, as they had never experienced a day like this before. But the animals who had been waiting for their beloved people knew exactly what was going on and started to gather at the pathway leading to The Bridge to watch.

It wasn't long before an elderly animal came into view, head hung low and tail dragging. The other animals, the ones who had been there for a while, knew what his story was right away, for they had seen this happen far too often.

He approached slowly, obviously in great emotional pain, but with no sign of injury or illness. Unlike all of the other animals waiting at The Bridge, this animal had not been restored to youth and made healthy and vigorous again. As he walked toward The Bridge, he watched all of the other animals watching him. He knew he was out of place here and the sooner he could cross over, the happier he would be. But, alas, as he approached The Bridge, his way was barred by the appearance of an Angel who apologized, but told him that he would not be able to pass. Only those animals who were with their people could pass over Rainbow Bridge. With no place else to turn to, the elderly animal turned towards the fields before The Bridge and saw a group of other animals like himself, also elderly and infirm. They weren't playing, but rather simply lying on the green grass, forlornly staring out at the pathway leading to The Bridge. And so, he took his place among them, watching the pathway and waiting.

One of the newest arrivals at The Bridge didn't understand what he had just witnessed and asked one of the animals that had been there for awhile to explain it to him.

"You see, that poor animal was a rescue. He was turned in to rescue just as you see him now, an older animal with his fur graying and his eyes clouding. He never made it out of rescue and passed on with only the love of his rescuer to comfort him as he left his earthly existence. Because he had no family to give his love to, he has no one to escort him across The Bridge."

The first animal thought about this for a minute and then asked, "So what will happen now?" As he was about to receive his answer, the clouds suddenly parted and the gloom lifted. Approaching The Bridge could be seen a single person and among the older animals, a whole group was suddenly bathed in a golden light and they were all young and healthy again, just as they were in the prime of life.

"Watch, and see.", said the second animal. A second group of animals from those waiting came to the pathway and bowed low as the person neared. At each bowed head, the person offered a pat on the head or a scratch behind the ears. The newly restored animals fell into line and followed him towards The Bridge. They all crossed The Bridge together.

"What happened?"

"That was a rescuer. The animals you saw bowing in respect were those who found new homes because of his work. They will cross when their new families arrive. Those you saw restored were those who never found homes. When a rescuer arrives, they are allowed to perform one, final act of rescue. They are allowed to escort those poor animals that they couldn't place on earth across The Rainbow Bridge."

"I think I like rescuers", said the first animal.

"So does GOD", was the reply.

I wonder if there is any such thing as a soul, per se.

Perhaps it is a limitation of language, of not knowing the words to express verbally the life force that exists, to some degree, in all living creatures.

Is there a pecking order? Is there a system, a beginning, an end, a path to get there, wherever there is?

Even that sponge has life. Is life itself qualification enough to have a soul? What about all those bacteria, more soup than animal, no brain at all, and yet, as living creatures, do they equal man? Or canine? Or feline or what have you.

I get stuck on definitions. IF I have a soul, does that make me christian? If I have a life force, does that make me a follower of an Eastern Philosophy? If I believe that I have a spirit, a force of life, does that make me some wanna be injun? I adhere to no one particular faith but I will say this, "if some of my canine pals are NOT wherever I wind up next, there is going to be someone answering some questions from a seriously irritated guy."

Something makes us what we are. I think some of us, and I mean humans mostly but not exclusively, have more of this something than others. Some of our companions and roomates on the skin of this planet also have more of that thing than their counterparts.

Chi or what have you, there IS a thing, a force, a something that I simply cannot identify but is easly recognizable that I, for one, am sure does not have only one appearence in only one vessel.

Honestly though, I don't worry about it too much. It's there and nothing I say or do will change it and so far as I have been able to discern, nothing short of taking the next step will allow me to know what I can only guess at now.

Different is good! I liked it. I copied it and sent it to my mom thanks for posting it.
Victoria

I'm not sure about you my friends, but if animals have souls, and rodents are animals...I'm not sure what kind of a reception might be waiting for me!

Jokes aside, I enjoyed your post Cathy. I recently lost what was without a doubt my best animal companion ever (bone cancer that had spread to the lungs). She was always by my side even in the painful last few hours. In one last effort she joined me in her last trip to the clinic. This has been months ago and she will never be replaced.

Actually more of a bizarre mix of the two with some String (or "M") Theory being an extension of the Aum (or OM) concept thrown in there. I'm a strange eclectic sort of agnostic, no specific tradition just borrowing from whatever makes sense to me and adjusting my ideas as I learn more.

As an inside tip, you might want to adjust away from M theory; I've got a fair few friends (and a sister) in physics, and aparently it's looking a lot less compelling. Publications have been declining, and more physicists are beginning to speak out against the untestable nature of string and its related theories. Fortunately, the Large Hadron Collider comes online next month, and that might give us some clues either confirming or refuting it.

Very cool about your fiancee! I have student envy! I'd love to take some real classes someday.

Ironically, she actually wants to teach when she gets over to the US (as well as to breed herps).

Is there a pecking order? Is there a system, a beginning, an end, a path to get there, wherever there is?

Even that sponge has life. Is life itself qualification enough to have a soul? What about all those bacteria, more soup than animal, no brain at all, and yet, as living creatures, do they equal man? Or canine? Or feline or what have you.

These are exactly the big questions that are, I think, the most fun. They likely can't be solved, but IMHO, how we each reason about them can serve to not only hone our minds, but to give insight into ourselves and how each of our minds work.

Henry