Do Pets go to Heaven?

[spiritmech]

here (http://catholica.pontifications.net/?p=1144#comments), the Pontificator tells his story of how he had to put his kitty-cat to death when she had massive neurological failure.

So ... howbout it? I don't have any pets myself, so I'm more objective (:ahem:) than some of the crazy pet lovers out there (Teal, etc).

sm

[James Peter]

I can see the argument both ways. On one hand if you consider them part of creation then they will be restored along with the rest of it and could very well form part of the New Earth. I mean its as plausible that all the horses running freely up there once ran freely on earth...

Its equally plausible though to argue that as animals don't have souls the question makes about as much sense as asking if my computer will be in heaven...

I guess I'm sitting on the fence. I don't really mind either way...

[TuckEverlasting]

On one hand if you consider them part of creation then they will be restored along with the rest of it and could very well form part of the New Earth.

That is what I think, too. Maybe the first question to ask is 'will there be animals in heaven at all?' I don't see why there wouldn't be, if heaven is the Restored Creation. :nsm:

[norwegen]

Great. Just what I need in heaven. My cat staring malevolently at me while preparing chicken (not someone's pet fowl, mind you), and then scratching me to a bloody pulp when I don't share enough of it with her.

I might as well stay here.

[mossrose]

That is what I think, too. Maybe the first question to ask is 'will there be animals in heaven at all?' I don't see why there wouldn't be, if heaven is the Restored Creation. :nsm:
Well, Scripture says that the Lord returns to earth on a white horse, and the army of heaven with Him on white horses...so there must be at least a couple of horses in heaven.....depending on how big the army is......of course, these might be specially created horses too, or, sort of glorified horses.....looks to me like they can fly.....maybe.

Revelation 6:2.....

I looked, and behold, awhite horse, and he who sat on it had a bow; and a crown was given to him, and he went out conquering and to conquer.
Revelation 19:11...

And I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse, and He who sat on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and wages war.

Revelation 19:14...

And the armies which are in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, were following Him on white horses.

As for our pets, I personally don't believe they will be in heaven, per se. They will be renewed to live in the new creation, as well as the wolf that is laying down with the lamb, and the lion eating straw with the ox, and the viper's nest that the little child can place his hand in without harm.

I have no problem with dogs and cats and goldfish being in the new earth.

[Teallaura]

here (http://catholica.pontifications.net/?p=1144#comments), the Pontificator tells his story of how he had to put his kitty-cat to death when she had massive neurological failure.

So ... howbout it? I don't have any pets myself, so I'm more objective (:ahem:) than some of the crazy pet lovers out there (Teal, etc).

sm

:brood:

[TuckEverlasting]

Well, Scripture says that the Lord returns to earth on a white horse, and the army of heaven with Him on white horses...so there must be at least a couple of horses in heaven.....

Uh. You take those to be literal horses?

As for our pets, I personally don't believe they will be in heaven, per se. They will be renewed to live in the new creation

I guess I don't understand the difference... or I don't understand what you mean, anyway...? :shrug:

[Piebald]

I don't think that God created a bunch of throw-away life forms. I suspect that our pets will return (or are still around) in some form. But not just our pets, but every wild animal that has ever lived. I don't know if this applies to all animals or just "higher" animals.

[mossrose]

Uh. You take those to be literal horses?


Uh. Yeah. Why should they be taken to be anything other than literal horses? What, you think they are helicopters or something?

[TuckEverlasting]

Uh. Yeah. Why should they be taken to be anything other than literal horses? What, you think they are helicopters or something?

I forgot about your eschatological orientation. :doh: Anyway, you didn't explain the other part.

[mossrose]

I forgot about your eschatological orientation. :doh:

:hehe: Please note my postbit pet.......I am fairly certain THAT one is going to be in heaven.....

Anyway, you didn't explain the other part.

Yes, well, I am not sure I can explain it. I might have overstepped when I said "our pets", because that implies they will be resurrected or made new, which I don't believe.

Perhaps what I should have said was that domestic animals, generally, will be in the new earth, along with all those other animals mentioned. I don't think my cat that I had when I was three will be there. Nor do I think my present pets will be Raptured and transformed. Assuming they don't die before the Rapture comes, of course.

Does that help?

:teeth:

[gharfish]

I hope so. I hope to see my cat, that was such a dear companion to me over 16 years of my life. Her help was invaluable. - - I hope to see my childhood dog, who suffered so terribly in her latter years. My heart aches to give her back what we selfishly, heartlessly took from her. Is this too personal ? (Of course it is.) I feel deep guilt about her. If only God will give me -our entire family- a second chance to love her in action, as was the unspoken promise we made when we took her as our's, I would do everything to undo and make-up for her travails.

So I hope that God will give us -all we humans- such a chance to redeem what we did that was wrong, and that which was wrong in having not been done.

I have personally seen too much cruelty to animals, that should have been lovingly cared for by their human owners, but were thought to be mere things -their real pains of neglect and from (overt) abuse counted as little or nothing.

"Pet" animals who were loved, and those who sadly never experienced this deserved pleasure, both should be given a heavenly life as a compensation -especially those who suffered at the hands of cruel men, and fate. It would be enough for me if I knew that God had a special separate heaven for them all...

.......even if/though I'd never again see my own, past (known), earthy animal companions. Just to know that they were happy, at peace, all made right again -or for the first time for so many, many others (& all with finality) ...would do my heart great good.

What a blessing from God; these wonderful domesticated creatures that can love (or show apparently real affection) for us. Their 'only condition is that' we physically and emotionally see to (their) care as we should ...that we not intentionally inspire fear.

Their hearts are discerning about the condition of our's.

[David Hayward]

I rather like the story of the little boy who was distraught when his pet dog died, and asked his local priest if the dog would be waiting for him in Heaven.
"Do you need him to be there?"
"Yes."
"Be assured, in Heaven God provides everything you need."

[sambo]

Why the separation of human and animal? Does this go back to the original separation in The Garden?

I tend to lean towards more accepting faiths such as the American Indian beliefs which include animals at the same par with humans (if not higher) or the Eastern beliefs of all living things being equally sacred and thus not to be harmed.

Middle Eastern beliefs seem to set a strict dichotomy though. Don't know why. Maybe the separation in The Garden? Either way I think there are multitudes of critters in Heaven! Just think of the millions and billions of dinosaurs that would be up there! Those animals were here on earth for 650 million years. That was Kerouac's arguement in his poem, "Heaven."

[Ruth]

What about the racoon I ran over on the way to work this morning? Will it go to heaven?

[gharfish]

What about the racoon I ran over on the way to work this morning? Will it go to heaven?You're a trip, Ruth ! Score one more !

Yes, He will. Especially him.

[technomage]

I rather like the story of the little boy who was distraught when his pet dog died, and asked his local priest if the dog would be waiting for him in Heaven.
"Do you need him to be there?"
"Yes."
"Be assured, in Heaven God provides everything you need."
That's very sweet.

[Sparko]

My feeling is that God wants us to be happy in heaven and in the new earth. So I will be happy if he gives me my favorite pets to have with me. whether they have souls that survive death I don't know. Even solomon didn't know, but he did seem to suggest that they do have spirits...

[/url] [url="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?book_id=25&chapter=3&verse=21&version=31&context=verse"]Ecclesiastes 3:21 (http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?book_id=25&chapter=3&verse=21&version=31&context=verse)
Who knows if the spirit of man rises upward and if the spirit of the animal goes down into the earth?"


But even if not, God can always recreate them for us. complete with memories and personality.

[Ruth]

Yes, He will. Especially him. I feel much better now. Maybe I should have run over the other one that was behind it. (they're like mormons, they travel in pairs)

[gharfish]

I feel much better now. Maybe I should have run over the other one that was behind it. (they're like mormons, they travel in pairs)I'm sorry about that, that you lost such a good opportunity. Today's a new day though; another chance to act not with anger and bitterness.

Well, it too now has passed. How did you do ?