The answers can certainly be questioned when it comes to the metaphysical, imo. But your answers and reasoning won't be based on scientific logic.
I can question my beliefs and adapt them as need be.
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Do animals have souls?
- Thread starter Eddi
- Start date
The answers can certainly be questioned when it comes to the metaphysical, imo. But your answers and reasoning won't be based on scientific logic.
I can question my beliefs and adapt them as need be.
dybmh
ויהי מבדיל בין מים למים
It's not really scientific, but, a soul can be described through a thought experiment.
Focusing only on animate living creatures, there are certain attributes about us that are eternal. For example, I am Daniel son of father's-name and mother's-name. That's true, and always will be true. Nothing can change it even after I pass on, even after my parents pass on. I have certain natural affintites and aversions, certain natural talents, and natural flaws. I will always have these same qualities. After I die, I won't be able to express them, but when I am remembered, if I am remembered accurately, these qualities are part of my identity forever.
The same things can be applied to inanimate objects. If you have children, they probably have or had a favorite cuddly, or favored cuddlies. These cuddlies get named, and the circumstances of how they were added to the family are part of their identity. My daughter had a favorite cuddly named, ba-ba. We had two of them one of them in case one got lost, or needed to be washed. But of course, my daughter could tell them apart, and they became ba-ba and mrs. ba-ba. These were unique because she had them since birth. Just like me, the name, and the origin are part of ba-ba's soul.
Ba-ba has affinities and aversions, talents and flaws as well. Ba-ba handles spills and messes and getting dirty without any complaints or problems at all. However, ba-ba does not do well in the dryer... shrinkage, and the fuzz can melt. These attributes are part of ba-ba, they never change, are always part of the story, always connected to my daughter. And in that way, ba-ba has a soul, given to it from my daughter, when she named it, and loved it for all of these years.
So, there is no real scientific evidence for a soul. But, there is a way to understand it, and observe it as a thought experiment. Are there attributes which define objects, people, animals, plants which are eternal, and always define them? Yes! It begins with a name, and an origin. And what follows from that are distinguishing characteristics which are obvious to those who are in close contact with each of these things.
From my Vedic (Hindu) and Theosophical studies, I think animals have group souls meaning a species or group has one soul they reincarnate from.
Humans have individual souls and typically reincarnate again as another individual human.
That is why animals have such amazing instincts that are not taught but humans have to rely more on individual learning each life.
Humans have individual souls and typically reincarnate again as another individual human.
That is why animals have such amazing instincts that are not taught but humans have to rely more on individual learning each life.
Trailblazer
Veteran Member
I believe that animals have an animal spirit but that is not the same as a human soul. I believe that only humans have souls.
As far as an afterlife is concerned, I believe that animal spirits continue to exist after their bodies die. I do not know where they go after they die, and some may remain earthbound, as @Sgt. Pepper said.
lukethethird
unknown member
The idea of a soul is airy fairy, but having said that, certain black singers have soul, but that's about as far as it goes.
cataway
Well-Known Member
Wildswanderer
Veteran Member
No. They go back to the dirt. That's all
They aren't exactly innocent either, they are amoral.
And you can certainly teach an animal by using punishment.
Secret Chief
Veteran Member
Innocence and morality are human constructs. You are anthropomorphising.
Research indicates that punishment is often accompanied by unwanted significant negative side effects. Not a good way to teach at all in fact, whatever the animal, human or non-human.
Wildswanderer
Veteran Member
I disagree.
If a dog or toddler is never made to understand that some behavior is unacceptable you will end up with a person or animal that can't control themselves.
Secret Chief
Veteran Member
And the best way to achieve understanding is not by punishing. Students who are regularly the object of punishment may often show a drop in positive attitudes toward school (resulting in poor attendance and work performance), have a more negative perception of teachers, and adopt a more punitive manner in interacting with peers and adults (Martens & Meller, 1990).
vulcanlogician
Well-Known Member
The Latin word "anima" is often translated as "soul"... it's where we get the words "animal" and "animate" to begin with. If what we mean by "soul" is that something is "animated," I think animal certain qualify as having one.
Conversely, we could consider the Greek concept "psyche" which is more aligned with mind and (nowadays) consciousness. Are animals conscious? They are. So if that's what a soul is to you, I guess that means animals have one.
If by "soul" you mean some airy fairy thing that God puts into things (that affords them life after death) your guess is as good as mine. I tend to think things like that don't exist.
Conversely, we could consider the Greek concept "psyche" which is more aligned with mind and (nowadays) consciousness. Are animals conscious? They are. So if that's what a soul is to you, I guess that means animals have one.
If by "soul" you mean some airy fairy thing that God puts into things (that affords them life after death) your guess is as good as mine. I tend to think things like that don't exist.
Sgt. Pepper
All you need is love.
The animal spirits I see are translucent, just as most of the human spirits I see are translucent. I've never seen a solid one that could be mistaken for a living animal, just as I've seen a human spirit (a full-body apparition) that could be mistaken for a living person.
As a psychic medium, that has been my experience. It's crowded in my house with my deceased pets hanging out with my living pets, and occasionally the spirit of a neighbor's pet will pop in and stay awhile. In fact, I have a new resident spirit in my house, and it's the spirit of my neighbors' dog, Molly. Sadly, my neighbors had to put her down because she was very sick, and now she's come to stay in my house. I told my husband that I had thought about leading her back to her house to be with my neighbors, but she seems to really like it here better, so she can stay. I really don't mind the animal or human spirits that come and go in and out of my house every day.
We believe all living beings have a soul. The soul is subject to the cycle of rebirth ... humans, animals, birds, reptiles, fish, insects, possibly even microorganisms and plants. Being reborn as a lower or higher life form is a result of the soul's karma. "O Arjuna, I am the Universal Soul, seated in the heart of all living entities. I am the beginning, middle, and end of all beings." - Bhagavad Gita 10.20 Such is the general Hindu belief.
RestlessSoul
Well-Known Member
If everything in the universe is an expression of the will of the same creative intelligence (more an eastern than western perspective, but not imo incompatible with Christianity imo), then it follows that everything in that universe is a physical manifestation of the same underlying spiritual reality. As for inanimate objects, they are not really inanimate at all, they, just as we, are
a temporary convergence of phenomena involved in a constant process of change. A rock, a plant, a person are all in the process of becoming something else.
RestlessSoul
Well-Known Member
There isn’t one. Do you consider science to be the only source of insight, wisdom or understanding available to humans?
VoidCat
Use any and all pronouns including neo and it/it's
This reminds me of how in certain belief systems a name holds power because its connected to the person's identity. A lot of stories and traditions I can think of regarding names having power and being connected to the soul. I dont really think a name is needed for a soul however...but perhaps that's off topic.
@Eddi
In my tradition the soul has many parts and in humans mostly resides in the head. The soul being in the head is why I cover my hair. Could not the souls of animals and plants have different parts then a human soul?
syo
Well-Known Member
Yes.
Madmogwai
Madmogwai
Your confusion may stem from the fact you following several Religions at once that are ver different.
You talk about Reincarnation and then mention the Garden of Eden.
The Animal does not need to know anything, the soul enters the Animal for whatever reason karma chose for this life, it will get from it what’s intended and reincarnate elsewhere, not necessarily as an Animal again.
You are an animal. If you think you have a soul, then you think animals have souls. If you think animals don't have souls, then you don't have a soul.
Animals "understand" more than you think they do. Many, including vampire bats, have shown that they understand repriprocity and fairness, and respond appropriately.