I remember reading an article in Dog World a few years back about this subject. Actually it was a question about whether dogs have souls. They interviewed a rabbi, a Protestant minister and a Catholic priest. (Almost sounds like a joke coming on.) Anyway the rabbi was the only one that said no. The other two admitted to not knowing but agreed that it was possible.
With the scripture verses - isn't the beast the devil when it is spoken of in that term. Other wise you see something like a beast of burden when talking about oxen. I wish my dad was still alive. He was a minister and had the most down to earth explanations of the Bible.
My own personal feeling is that it is possible that we endow our pets with souls by loving them and caring for them. Perhaps not all animals can go to Heaven but if my dogs aren't there I ain't going. |