With all the concerns many of us share about the welfare of animals in this people-dominated world, I thought it might be interesting to ask readers whether they believe that animals possess a 'soul'. I know that I can say with some confidence, having grown up with a deep respect for the natural world, that I believe they do. Hunting, culling, intensive farming and other forms of animal cruelty are the result of some of us convincing ourselves that animals are soulless creatures and incapable of experiencing suffering in the same way that humans surely would in the same situations. This is clearly wrong thinking, isn't it? While some religions teach that animals do possess a soul, many assert that humans are the only beings whose soul is eternal. That is to say that, while animals might have a soul whilst alive, an animal soul does not carry on in some form after death. No heaven for animals? It's a suggestion that doesn't sit comfortably with me. Personally I challenge the idea that mankind is in some way superior to other animals. Certainly we have made more of an impact on the planet than have other creatures, though I doubt that the problematic result of human involvement in this world entitles us to the label of superiority, which by definition implies 'better quality'. With many people of faith - as well as those without religious beliefs - questioning our appalling treatment of animals, I would like to ask your opinion by way of a simple two click poll. Please feel very free to comment too! When all the results are in, I'll share them with you. Thanks, Jase
9 Comments
Don
28/4/2018 03:59:18 pm
An animal doesn't have to have a soul in order to experience pain and suffering.
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Eniko Dyer
28/4/2018 04:04:33 pm
The elephant cries with tears.Also it has a good memory,cannot forget.It remembers very well the person who hit him and if the elephant has the chance to take revenge,will do it.
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Trudie McDonald
28/4/2018 04:47:28 pm
Yes, Elephants must have a soul, which means all animals have one, breaks my heart to see an Elephant cry, it has a profound effect.
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Anna
28/4/2018 04:50:46 pm
Non-human animals and insects all possess souls; however, many human animals possess ugly souls. And they will continue to suffer until they make amends to the Earth and its Creator.
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Malcolm Daley
28/4/2018 07:40:57 pm
I don't believe that animals, or people, have souls. All this stuff about the afterlife is just a load of religious nonsense designed by priests to give them power over the people. When we die we die, no second chances. End of.
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29/4/2018 12:56:47 am
I am not religious & don’t know if there is such a thing as a soul but I do know that the incredible miracle that is life resides as completely in all animals - human & nonhuman. The difference between a live being & their dead body, of whatever sort, is extraordinary. That spark, that life, lives in all of us & extinguishing it is the same for all.
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Helen J Williams
29/4/2018 07:16:24 am
when i died from drowning at age 6 , i went to a place and all of my dead pets were alsop there and they most certainly embodied the version of the purest souls anywhere. So in my experiencxe there is no question. But I suppose it depends upon what one defines a "soul" to be comprised of. That would make the poll more accurate is first defining "soul"
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Cáitlín O’Reilly
30/4/2018 07:20:39 pm
I don’t know if humans have an “eternal soul”, so I don’t know if animal beings have an “eternal soul”. If you had left out the word “eternal”, I would have answered “yes”.
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Debbie Macmillan
20/5/2018 06:28:28 pm
Animals definitely have souls. They may look and act differently but they feel the same and understand much and in some cases know more than humans due to a sixth sense. We all need to treat animals with respect!!
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