Do Shelties Have Souls?

[Toffee's Mom]

I'm Catholic too, and I've always said if there are no dogs in heaven, I don't want to go there. Years ago when my kids were young, we had an old pastor who preached in church and religious ed that there were no animals in heaven. My children were devastated. What a horrible thing to do to a child. We changed parishes until he left.

Our pastor now is of a much different mind. He says the belief is that all God's creatures are in heaven, including our dogs, and I agree. As the saying goes, dogs make better people. Amen!

Hey! Thats my signature, because that was my Dad'd favourite saying! Thought it actually came from him!

Religious talks make me uncomfortable and other than Chris's beautiful ones, prayers make me squirm... Because so much evil is done in the name of religion...
Chris may make me think kinder towards religion, but I truly believe the world is a better place with dogs in it... If we believe humans have minds and souls, then dogs have them too!

 

[Jaynie]

I've really enjoyed reading everyone's different takes on the subject. No matter what we all believe of the afterlife (whether or not there is one, etc.) we all share the love of these incredible animals who almost seem human (or better than human) to us.

As someone else said, enjoy your kerpupniks, furbabies, puppers, and just plain old dogs while you have them! Their lives are all too short, and though it truly hurts when we lose them, it's been such a wonderful experience that we usually want do it all over again.

Happy Holidays, and give your babies an extra hug today!

 

[danisgoat]

I've really enjoyed reading everyone's different takes on the subject. No matter what we all believe of the afterlife (whether or not there is one, etc.) we all share the love of these incredible animals who almost seem human (or better than human) to us.

As someone else said, enjoy your kerpupniks, furbabies, puppers, and just plain old dogs while you have them! Their lives are all too short, and though it truly hurts when we lose them, it's been such a wonderful experience that we usually want do it all over again.

Happy Holidays, and give your babies an extra hug today!

I could not of said this better myself, and exactly what I was thinking each time I read it!

 

[granite]

I believe that dogs have souls.
No, I also can't envision a heaven that is not filled with the glory of nature with all of its tweets, roars, and barks.

 

[Oona35]

Spirit

Jaynie,

First, your loss and concern I fully appreciate.

While I believe that there are life mysteries I may never fully understand, I live in the belief that it is living in the present that holds the fullness of life, not living in what may be or could be or should be.

That your Neechee brought you joy and unconditional love in the present is what I would hold in my heart. For me, the collective moments spent with our animals, our friends and our families are the joy and the purpose of life.

I don't spend time reflecting on what might be or could be or should be. The beauty of our shelties is that they live in the present, as I also try to do. I have had this life lesson reinforced in the time I have spent caring for Nevis, a job I was not real keen on when I started.

Be of good cheer. Live as you know you should be called to be. Know that Neechee did that also in the radiance of your care.

Think of the gift that you have been given with these questions on life and existence, all because of your sheltie and your devotion to one another. What a gift to celebrate!

Oona and Nevis

P.S. I find your sheltie name choice, despite the spelling variation, most interesting.

 

[Bejilia]

For me the following is an important principle. It's the answer to the question: When does someone die? (Free translated quotation from a great anime series )
No one dies, when he is shot down. No one dies, when he is poisened. No one dies, when his heart stops beating. He dies, when you forget him.
And this is, what I think about souls - they live as long as you don't forget.

And I think, that everyone, who have lost a Sheltie and reads the poem I already posted or similar and looses only one tear, believes that animals have a soul - even if his religion doesn't.
Religion is just a reference - believing is, what you feel or know deep inside.

And this comes from me, who doesn't believe in God...

 

[Boos-dad]

For me the following is an important principle. It's the answer to the question: When does someone die? (Free translated quotation from a great anime series )
No one dies, when he is shot down. No one dies, when he is poisened. No one dies, when his heart stops beating. He dies, when you forget him.
And this is, what I think about souls - they live as long as you don't forget.

And I think, that everyone, who have lost a Sheltie and reads the poem I already posted or similar and looses only one tear, believes that animals have a soul - even if his religion doesn't.
Religion is just a reference - believing is, what you feel or know deep inside.

And this comes from me, who doesn't believe in God...

I like what you said & how you said it! I believe that only those who are forgotten die......one should never forget those who have brought love into their lives.

 

[Chris]

Hey! Thats my signature, because that was my Dad'd favourite saying! Thought it actually came from him!

Religious talks make me uncomfortable and other than Chris's beautiful ones, prayers make me squirm... Because so much evil is done in the name of religion...
Chris may make me think kinder towards religion, but I truly believe the world is a better place with dogs in it... If we believe humans have minds and souls, then dogs have them too!

Thank you -- it's just me, talking to my friend, St. Fwank.

 

[KarenCurtis]

And I will take your 'different take' one step further as a non-believer (a 6 on the Dawkins Scale).

I'm about a 10 on that scale

I would rather use my limited brain power on asking questions that have answers. Regardless of your opinion, believe, faith, etc., this is a question there is no answer to. I am comfortable with the idea of no afterlife, for humans or animals or any biological being. For many though, I know that prospect is scary.

Either way, enjoy your animals while you have them.

I too, am comfortable with the idea of no afterlife. The important thing is that we have limited time with our shelties. Knowing this, we love them all the more. It is the time we spend with them that counts. Their love for us is great, and they show it- that is everything and all that we need to know, I think.

 

[KarenCurtis]

SORRY for the double posting!! I was trying to re-do the format, as I thought it would be confusing. How long have I been on this forum? Duhh.