Do Animals Have Souls?

Nikki-chan and I were chatting, and this topic came up. I personally believe animals have souls, and have seen nothing in the Bible that contradicts this. Nikki says they don't, and, well, you'll have to ask her why. But it still begs the question...do animals have souls?
They feel emotions just as we do. Certainly, they are primative, and their emotions are quite basic, but they feel all the same. For example, why would a dog or cat protect a human? Because they love them. Why would they attack a human? Out of fear, or hate. Do we not feel these very emotions ourselves? If we have souls, why can't animals?

~Tobi~

We are animals. We have souls. End of story. [:

they do not have souls like
us people ~~~~~~~~~~~~

end of story

That's a good point, cheez...I didn't even think of that! Yes, we are indeed animals. Egotistical, narcissistic animals. We're just evovled from the other monkeys and bears and all...Love-chan, you've got no evidence. Why do you think that/what proof do you have? This is a debate, after all. Simple opinions aren't going to cut it... What makes animals so different? Why must they be soulless, even though they are God's creations, and therefore his children, just as we are?

~Tobi~

Genesis 1:27 So God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him. I believe they do not have souls. They weren't made to worship God like we were. It says man. Soul means the spiritual part of the body. Animals are not spiritual. They have emotions, sure. I love my cats with all my heart. Heck, if I could have a zillion of them if I could. Okay, I think they can sense affection. I'm not really sure if they give in off though. When cats rub against you, it's because it feels good to them or they are marking their territory. Dogs ....... I don't really know. My dog Chloe is pretty stupid to tell you the truth. Ha ha. But she likes affection. My mom or me would be lying on the couch and she will sit down and put her paws on us and look up and beg, as if she were a furry black child. Pretty weird and off subject. Look, it's y'alls opinion. I don't really care what you think.
~ A Pretty Irritated Nikki
P.S. We are not animals. We are humans. Human beings. We may be mammals, but we're humans. I'm not angry either.........
Night is the best time of day.
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Laughs Imagination Fearlessness Enthusaism

If you don't care what we think, why did you come to The Debate Place? Animals have souls. Souls are not just spiritual feelings, it's what controls reactions and emotions. So yes, animals do have souls.

animals have soul, because we have them and we are animals! WE are in the Kingdom Animalia, so there for we are alike in MAY WAYS. INCLUDING SOULS. Yeah that's write. I just out science you.

Also just to make your point mute Nikki( no offense) But yes god made us out of his image he created the animals too. The bible said that animals were made to be companions to ma so NO DUH. Why would we get have a companion that has no emotions wich is controlled by souls.

Which w puts the bible on my side.
For the record. All you soul haters have just been OUT BEASTED!

Go arrow! RepreSENT!

I think dogs, cats and other animals don't have souls (as we discussed in my last reply thingy ). They have the ability to love and express emotions. My dog and cats are so loving, wants to be around me, knows how to get upset when I scold them, they don't want to come near me for a while. I think that dogs are so intelligent, too bad, they can't verbalize what they're thinking.
Yes, animals can feel the emotions but doesn't have soul. Animals can feel the pain. Animals can love humans too. Some animals can predict the storm and earthquake that doesn't have in human. But humans are always first top level in terms of emotion and intelligence.
~Nikki
P.S. Please don't bring this up outside of The Debate Place. It kinda annoys me and makes me feel even worse about animals. Please and thank you!

Even if we are animals, we are unique. We were made to worship God and rule over lower forms of animals. So oh well, guess you were right 'bout the animal thing, cheez. Oh and a shout out to arrow. I like what you did with the 'Out Beasted' thing. Cause animals are sometimes called beasts and I'll stop talking now.....

But the ability to express love and emotions COMES from the soul, Nikki. yes, we were made to worship, but just because we need souls for that doesn't mean the animals that can't worship don't have them. I mean, of course they do. Dogs love their masters, cats love their food bowls, and hamsters love their little wheels. It comes from the soul.

And, love21, for future reference, keep the mocking to yourself. People of higher ranks than you should be respected.

Good point, cheez. My cat personally adores her food bowl, as well as the food itself~! So, are we gonna wrap up this debate or keep it open?

We love our pets, and our pets love us...For animals, life is a fight for survival, but I don't see how humans are any different in that aspects. We follow our instincts on almost everything, do we not? Thinking from your religious stand-point, Nikki, love and emotions do come from the soul, because the soul is where the true heart resides.

It is not instinct that allows animals to love us, it is emotions. For example, if you had a pet dog, and it pushes you out of the way of a speeding car at the cost of its own life, that is certainly not survival instinct. Despite how hippy-like it sounds, it's all because of love~!

~Tobi~

That's basically an elaboration of what cheez said, isn't it? Ah, well...

... ... ... ... ...
... Animals. :]

Awesomely awesome, arrow~! Pwnage~!

Nikki. It sounds (and I'm only saying it 'cause it's true) very, very narcissistic of us humans to think we're totally superior to animals. They're just primative. Do you think special Ed kids are lacking in souls because they are unable to develop fully? And I am NOT saying anyone thinks that, it's just something I wanted to point out.

Your dog can love you. Your cat can hate you. Your horse can feel insulted by you. You can have an on/off relationship with your parrot. These same human/animal relationships are the same as human/human relationships. Your parents can love you, your siblings can hate you, your friends can get insulted by you, and you can have on/off relationships with pretty much anyone.

~Tobi~
I put the previous post, then discovered I had a lot more to say...sorry 'bout that!

i was searching the web and it sad that Theologians say no but they do have emotions and they relate to human .

Theologians don't know. Souls aren't something you study, they're something you know is there. Abstract nouns. Like love, or hate. So yes, animals do indeed have souls.

well i think they do not have souls like me and you . i think dog souls and stuff like that !!!!

Well the point of a debate is to CONVINCE. You have to CONVINCE the judges that your view is the correct one. Love-chan, you can't just state your opinion and not back it up, I'm 'fraid, that's kinda beside the point. So theologists say animals don't have souls. What proof do they have? We can't put much stock in theologists if they can't prove their theories, after all.

~Tobi~

Hm. In this case, we're gonna need a judge or two to resolve this...

Well, I think it would be fair to have Tobi-chan and I invest in judging. I know that Tobi-chan will not let he view of things phase the way she judges. Perhaps we could have the Admins do judging for all debates :]

Where in the Bible is the word Soul used? I'm not saying it isn't, just asking. Because context matters. Be very careful with word choice, have we all forgotten the word Spirit? What's the difference? And your mind? Your conscience? What do they belong to?

Sort out all definitions, guys, before you debate. Otherwise you're all debating about a PIG when one half thinks a PIG is a primate, the other a fish and neither have ever seen the bacon!

Well said, hero. That's exactly why I didn't even bring the Bible into the conversation :]

Wow, guys! This was a good debate! I personally do believe that animals have souls. Of course they do. But, what, exactly do you guys think a soul is? I just want to see what you guys think... You have so many opinions, so I want to see if you guys think the same way about this. I think that a soul is your ability to feel emotionally and physically. Also, I think it is what gives you life. Every living thing has a soul. Trees, grass, fungi, flowers, even bugs and worms and other creepy crawlies. If it lives, it has a soul. That is my personal opinion. I really won't be mad if you guys don't agree. So please, let me know what you think.

~Grace1096

Well said, Grace! I was just thinking that about the people who disagree: Are they using the same definition? I personally don't think that EVERY living thing has a soul, but anything that can express basic emotions does. Such as Fear, Love, and Hate. However, once we get to the more complicated ones, such as Jealousy, Hope, and Confusion, I think we'll leave to the more intelligent animals. Humans, Primates, Cat, and Dogs. So yes. Animals do have souls.

We all have souls! Animals came before humans, therefore making it possible for animals to have had souls. Also, if the trees didn't have souls, then their leaves wouldn't whisper to the wind when it passes. If animals didn't have souls why would their curious eyes follow us, when all we make is danger for them? If they didn't have souls, why would every generation forgive us for crating them, taking them away from their families, and killing them for their exterior pelts? Why would they forgive us for rationing lives that aren't our own(and saying that, don't let them go extinct though!)? Telling them what's right for them and when they try to fight and get away they are sentenced to death for being "dangerous".

They have souls because only souls are capable of such forgiveness

Agreed 100%, arrow.