Zone1 Do animals have souls?

[Carl in Michigan]

Yeah, I didn't say this in my post to Chuz, but I agree that we are 3 parts (tripartite).... body, soul and spirit. Some people combine the soul and the spirit and use those words interchangeably. But I believe they are two different things.

I always thought of the soul as the "software", the body as the "hardware".... and the spirit as the life, or "electricity." But I'm still open to learning about this topic, because it's very interesting to me.

There is clearly something more to sentient life than mere robotic programming, and that includes both human and at least higher animal life. Right now we can only guess how it all works. Eventually all will be revealed.

 

[Chuz Life]

I don't think you actually disbelieve in the existence of a soul, because the soul is just our mind, will and emotions. So unless you're saying that those things don't exist, what you're questioning is the existence of an immortal soul, or a soul that continues on after one's physical body dies.

Both really.

Semantically, I can see how a group of traits (like you decribed) can be lumped together and be called a "soul."

I believe traits exist. 100%

And semantically, if the definition of a soul is "this group of traits" ot "a group of traits?" I can see how someone might believe it so, even though it wouldn't answer the question of whether a child born with anencephalia (no frontal cortex) has a "soul" or not.

And that would have to be proven first and then we get into the "soul" living beyond and without the body stuff.

 

[DennisPTate]

Both really.

Semantically, I can see how a group of traits (like you decribed) can be lumped together and be called a "soul."

I believe traits exist. 100%

And semantically, if the definition of a soul is "this group of traits" ot "a group of traits?" I can see how someone might believe it so, even though it wouldn't answer the question of whether a child born with anencephalia (no frontal cortex) has a "soul" or not.

And that would have to be proven first and then we get into the "soul" living beyond and without the body stuff.

Thank you for that interesting comment.

For the moment one of the best ways to reach a significant number of people to get them interested in digging further into evidence for an afterlife may well be the research related to pets being seen during near death experiences.

[Jan Price] :

4. Her Love Connection with Her Dog Maggi​

As the density changed, becoming lighter and finer, I felt that I was being lifted to another level of awareness – and then I found myself in surroundings that appeared to be more substantial – Maggi was there. My beautiful dog, my beloved springer, came to me. She had died less than a month before, and John and I still ached from her absence.

I felt her presence, her love, and she appeared to me as she had when she was in physical form – only younger, more vital. She said: “You know that Daddy can’t handle both of us being gone right now.”

“Yes, I’m going back,” I replied. “Will you come soon?”

“When it is time, we will know. Now I will show you wondrous things. Let’s explore together.”

If you are having difficulty accepting the idea that my first encounter on the other side was with a dog, you aren’t the only one. While John thought it perfectly natural, one of our daughters became a little, upset when I told her about it. I think she would have preferred that her mother be greeted by Jesus, an angel, or at least by a family member. I did meet a Master Teacher – I’ll get to that later – but Maggi came first. After all, she had been close “family” for many years, and whoever is responsible for setting up the Welcome Wagon over there certainly knew what a delightful experience it would be for me to be greeted by her.

But I did understand our daughter’s reaction. If Mother was going to have the opportunity of visiting beyond the veil, the least she could do was make it awe-inspiring with some dramatic religious overtones. Fact of the matter is there is nothing particularly “religious” about the other side. Spiritual, yes, but nothing “characterized by adherence to religion or a religion” – to use Webster’s definition of the term. As Harold Richter Stark, M.D., said after his near-death experience and tour of the other side: “One does not go around in an ecstasy of religious fervor, but it is a place of ordered activity.” [1]

Jan Price's Near-Death Experience With Her Pet Dog - Near-Death Experiences and the Afterlife

Near-Death Experiences and the Afterlife profiles Jan Price's Near-Death Experience With Her Pet Dog . Did you enjoy reading this post, we have more!

near-death.com

 

[Chuz Life]

Thank you for that interesting comment.

For the moment one of the best ways to reach a significant number of people to get them interested in digging further into evidence for an afterlife may well be the research related to pets being seen during near death experiences.

I've seen so much death and near-death in my own family and never any stories like these.


During chemo, my dad did see his dog up on the ceiling once. . . Kidney infection, as it turned out to be.

Weird how the brain believes what it thinks it sees, even if it's not real.

 

[rightwinger]

All Dogs go to Heaven

 

[DennisPTate]

I've seen so much death and near-death in my own family and never any stories like these.


During chemo, my dad did see his dog up on the ceiling once. . . Kidney infection, as it turned out to be.

Weird how the brain believes what it thinks it sees, even if it's not real.

Or could it be that the off the scale brilliant Emanuel Swedenborg may have been correct that in our final hours, days, weeks and months we are all progressively humbled and prepared for our shift into the afterlife?

1. About Emanuel Swedenborg​

Emanuel Swedenborg (1688–1772) was born in Stockholm, Sweden, and was quite renowned in his day for his contributions in various fields of natural science. His writings were first oriented towards anatomy, physiology, and psychology for which he gained substantial recognition. Later in his life, he experienced a religious crisis and began to write of experiences of being in communication with spiritual entities. His later spiritual writings abound with vivid descriptions of what life after death is like. The parallels between his out-of-body spiritual experiences and NDEs are quite remarkable. So remarkable, in fact, that in Dr. Raymond Moody‘s ground-breaking book on near-death experiences, Life After Life, has an entire section devoted these parallels. In this article you will learn these parallels and read an excerpt from Swedenborg’s most famous work entitled Heaven and Hell which was translated into the book entitled Awaken From Death. NDE expert Dr. Kenneth Ring (www.kenring.org) also wrote an introduction to the Swedenborg Foundation’s edition of Our Life after Death: A Firsthand Account from an 18th-Century Scientist and Seer which is also published here. Swedenborg’s vision of the afterlife also corresponds with St. Teresa of Avila who once said, “After you die, you wear what you are.”

Emanuel Swedenborg - Near-Death Experiences and the Afterlife

Near-Death Experiences and the Afterlife profiles Emanuel Swedenborg . Did you enjoy reading this post, we have more!

near-death.com

 

[DennisPTate]

All Dogs go to Heaven

That idea made for a good cartoon movie....
but it also seems that our dogs, cats, horses and other pets have been sent on a mission to mentor and assist us to be willing to go into the higher energetic dimensions of heaven.

 

[Chuz Life]

Or could it be that the off the scale brilliant Emanuel Swedenborg may have been correct that in our final hours, days, weeks and months we are all progressively humbled and prepared for our shift into the afterlife?

Sure. . . and the painful, disorienting kidney infection was just an integral component of the way that works.

I probably overreacted by getting him on some antibiotics.

 

[DennisPTate]

Sure. . . and the painful, disorienting kidney infection was just an integral component of the who what that works.

I probably overreacted by getting him on some antibiotics.

All of us are on a mission in this life....
your dad volunteered before he was even conceived to take on that type of illness toward the end so that he would have a higher level of empathy and compassion once he would get into the afterlife.

Nothing that happens to us is merely chance and probability. At least that is what I understand from what I have dug up so far anyway.

{John J. Davis] :

"

Life Review​

There is a building in Turkey called the Temple of Artemis, which looked very much like the orientation building—this beautiful Greek building with columns. I don’t know why, but so many of the buildings my guide took me to looked like they were made of marble. The places he took me to seemed almost like being on a college campus, with separate buildings for each department. My guide only took me to a small area of the other side, so what I saw wasn’t everything in totality—it was only a small part. A lot of the buildings he took me to looked like they were made of marble in the Greek type of design.

He took me to many different places. The first place he took me to was another beautiful Greek-looking building. It was rectangular and had columns all along the sides and the front. I cannot express how large these buildings were, but we have nothing like them here on Earth. They were absolutely gigantic.

He took me to the outside so I could see what it looked like, and then he took me inside into one of the rooms there. I was in a large, round room that looked like a traditional theater that we have here. Instead of having a screen in the front, the movie screens were all on the top in a big circle. There must have been fifteen or twenty of these screens.

My guide said, “Everybody has a life review.” As soon as he said that, all of a sudden, each one of these screens lit up. It looked like there was a movie playing. As I looked closer, I realized that every one of these screens had a different period of my lifetime. One was of me as a little toddler. Another screen showed me as an adolescent. Another screen showed me the first day of kindergarten. Every screen was playing a different aspect of my life up to the age that I was at 21.

The reason for that is you want to see how you did. Did you accomplish everything that you set out to accomplish?

Here is the wonderful thing about my experience: I was raised Catholic, and I had a lot of worries and fears about judgment. I found out that nobody judges your life except for you. You are the only judge of your life. The only person who goes with you during your life review is your spirit guide, because they are the ones who helped you plan your life. It was an amazing thing to realize that your lifetime isn’t judged—you’re the only one who judges it.

Life Review - John J. Davis Near-Death Experience

There is a building in Turkey called the Temple of Artemis, which looked very much like the orientation building—this beautiful Greek building with columns...

johnjdavisnde.com

and....

[John J. Davis] :

The English Gardens​

As the counselor woman finished talking to the man, he had changed back to his normal appearance on the other side. He had remembered everything about the other side—where he was from. He stood up and walked off to the right and down three marble steps between the columns into what I call The Gardens. I don’t know if that is what they call them over there, but they looked like an English manicured garden. Absolutely, breathtakingly beautiful. I remember the grass was so green. I’ve never seen grass that looked like that—it was emerald green. And all the flowers and the trees and the plants they had in these gardens were absolutely gorgeous.

Well, it turns out that after you have your orientation and you’re finished talking to the orientation counselor, you walk into these gardens. That’s where you have what is called The Reunion. All of the people this man had known in his lifetime who had passed—friends, family, acquaintances—were all there waiting for him. They were clapping and applauding, hugging him and telling him that he did a good job.

My guide told me that the reason we have these reunions is it’s a really big deal to have a lifetime on Earth because it’s so hard here. This is the hardest place of all the other planets that we can have lifetimes on. There are many, many souls who don’t want to come here because it is so hard. When you finish a lifetime here on Earth, it’s a big deal. That’s why all these people are there to greet you.

I learned that everybody you lost in your lifetime is not really gone. They are just in a different place, and they are all going to be there when your time comes—when you finish your lifetime and go back to where you are from.

The Orientation Center - John J. Davis Near-Death Experience

The minute that I died, I opened my eyes, and I was standing in the most beautiful building I had ever seen.

johnjdavisnde.com

 

[Chuz Life]

All of us are on a mission in this life....
your dad volunteered before he was even conceived to take on that type of illness toward the end so that he would have a higher level of empathy and compassion once he would get into the afterlife.

Nothing that happens to us is merely chance and probability. At least that is what I understand from what I have dug up so far anyway.




and....

I don't usually appreciate or partake in mind-altering substances. . . So I doubt I'll ever see whatever that is you just described.

 

[DennisPTate]

I don't usually appreciate or partake in mind-altering substances. . . So I doubt I'll ever see whatever that is you just described.

Near death experience account are definitely different from LSD trips, [ but apparently some drugs can produce something like an NDE].

I regard NDE accounts as the most profoundly encouraging and inspiring type of literature that I have ever found.

Apparently within seconds of when we pass on all mysteries are revealed that our forgetting was one important part of our mission here.

1. Introduction To Missions and the NDE​

Near-death experiences (NDEs) challenge the idea that life is random or meaningless. NDErs often return convinced that they were sent back because of an important “mission” still remaining for them to finish. NDE testimonies show our mission is a purposeful plan developed by us in spirit realms before birth, lived out in life on Earth through free will and destiny, and reviewed in the light when this life ends. This sense of mission is revealed in many ways: through encounters with a Being of Light, Jesus Christ, a “presence”, angelic beings, spirit guides, departed loved ones, a Council of Elders, an inner voice, or even vivid memories of existence before birth or between lives. The details may differ, but the core message is that every soul comes to Earth for spiritual growth that matters not only personally, but collectively and divinely.

Life's Mission and the Near-Death Experience - Near-Death Experiences and the Afterlife

Near-Death Experiences and the Afterlife profiles Life's Mission and the Near-Death Experience . Did you enjoy reading this post, we have more!

near-death.com

My belief is that even our pets are on a true mission from heaven for us.

 

[Chuz Life]

Near death experience account are definitely different from LSD trips, [ but apparently some drugs can produce something like an NDE].

I regard NDE accounts as the most profoundly encouraging and inspiring type of literature that I have ever found.

Apparently within seconds of when we pass on all mysteries are revealed that our forgetting was one important part of our mission here.




My belief is that even our pets are on a true mission from heaven for us.

Ok.

I'll let you know when I experience any of the above, myself. . If that's possible.

Until then, I hope you accept and understand that not everyone else shares in your "beliefs."

 

[JustAGuy1]

I don't want to anywhere my animals don't go.

 

[DennisPTate]

I don't want to anywhere my animals don't go.

Good point, many of us may begin to take the idea of heaven or paradise much more seriously once we see evidence that our pets are already there.

[Near death experiencer Robert Marshall] :

Question:

Will our Pets be in Heaven?

I am happy to say absolutely! Yes!
Those who read the book “44 HOURS IN HEAVEN” already know the answer and why I am so sure. For those who have not had the chance to read the book, I am excited to share how and why my answer is yes.

On May 19th, 2024, I died 3 times and went to Heaven each time I died. When I died the 2nd time, I went to Heaven instantly. Just like the first time I went to Heaven, I experienced the love and peace, the beauty, the smells in the air, and the feelings of being connected to everything and everyone and they were a welcoming familiarity of coming home.

Unlike the first time, I was standing at the edge of a beautiful field of tall grass that had the same beautiful trees scattered throughout. Looking to my left, in the far distance, I saw the inner courtyard and my dad was still there, but this time, my mom was there.

I looked around, still in amazement at how beautiful everything was, how magnificent and bright the colors were, how warm and loving the light, sounds, and smells that filled the air were, and how peaceful and calm it was.

159
It was at this time I was treated to a surprise. Our pets that we love are in heaven!

Two horses and three dogs greeted me. The horses were Carol’s and mine; their names are Shakush and Nugget.

Shakush is a pure white Arabian who has the personality of a playful clown. He would get in the arena without Carol on his back and jump and play with her like a playful dog would do, except he was a horse and much larger, but just as gentle. Carol raised and trained Shakush herself and was the only person who rode him. Carol was and still is an excellent horseperson and rider. She glides when riding, and it is a thing of beauty to watch. When Carol and Shakush were both younger, she would show him at horse shows, and they often finished in the top 3. When Carol would ride him, he was always a perfect gentleman, and they would ride for hours in the arena and open fields. While running uphill on a trail he would buck, tossing his head in absolute joy. Regardless of the hill, the gait, or his mood, Carol could always brace herself for a joyful exuberant buck.

Nugget is a buckskin quarter horse and absolutely beautiful. She did not have the same personality as Shakush, but rather, she always acted very regal and gentle. Carol would ride Nugget, and on a rare occasion, she would share Nugget with me for a trail ride. Nugget was raised and trained by Carol just like Shakush. Both Shakush and Nugget were magnificent horses and were truly a gift and blessing from God.

160
Three dogs greeted me with our two horses. Two of the dogs that greeted me are named Fudge 1 and Fudge 2 because they are dark brown and sweet, just like Fudge. We named all of our dogs Fudge, so we don’t get their name wrong when a new pet joins our family. There was a third dog that approached me in Heaven with the others, but I did not recognize her. I later learned the dog was named Annie and was Carol’s dog before we met.

Fudge 1 was a rescue dog that was a sweet little dog that would run and play his game of catch me. Of course, it was only when he decided to let us catch him that we were able to. Then he would cuddle up like the sweet dog he was. It was his way of playing.

Fudge 2 was used as a bait dog prior to our rescuing him. He wanted to be sweet and loving but had some prior issues as a result of his abuse before he became part of our family. There were times he would snap or have a flashback. It took a long time and a lot of love before he would trust us. However, he eventually did, and he turned out to be a sweet little boy. He would jump around like a kangaroo. He was unbelievably quick and would spring around like a bouncing ball. He still had flashbacks occasionally, back to when he was abused and treated so meanly. When this happened, it was as if he recognized what happened and was sorry for snapping at us, that was when we got the most loving and cuddling from him. Our best efforts did not erase his abuse on earth. In heaven he’s no longer like that. He is a happy puppy running and playing.

161
The third dog's name was Annie. I didn’t know the third dog's name until I was out of the hospital and was telling Carol about going to Heaven and our pets being there. It was when I described the dog I did not recognize that she said it was her dog, Annie. Carol had Annie before I even knew her. Mystery solved.

We currently have a dog, and of course, that is Fudge 3. He is a spitting image of Fudge 2, only sweeter.

So, when I say that our pets are in Heaven, it is not just a hopeful desire; it is an eyewitness account. I saw our horses and dogs, and they were as happy as they could be, waiting for us to come home.

[Robert Marshall, 44 Hours in Heaven].

44 Hours In Heaven Ministries

Official channel of '44 Hours In Heaven Ministries'. A global evangelistic ministry through public venues and audio/video podcasts.

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My Walk With Jesus audio | 44 Hours In Heaven

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