Why make the choice to not have children?

[sirrahved]

IMHO, there should not be a debate about which is more important, which you should save in a fire. I can respect the fact that some don't want/like children, but children have souls and animals don't. When choosing a life that already exists, the child is more important!

[2kitties]

Originally posted by sirrahved
but children have souls and animals don't.

Woah.

[sirrahved]

??? It's the truth. You don't have to believe it...

[2kitties]

Truth according to "your version" of "your religion." Other than your religion, how do you know it to be true?
Not all Christians believe this to be true.

[sirrahved]

Like I said, you don't have to believe it. No one else has to believe it if they don't want to! I just know it's true! And if a Christian doesn't believe this, then they aren't interpreting the bible correctly, IMHO.

[Denyce]

Just wanted you to know I deleted that thread.

[popcornbird]

Originally posted by sirrahved
but children have souls and animals don't.

WHAT?!?!?!?!?!

Every living creature has a soul. The thing that's inside our bodies that keeps us alive is our soul. Without our soul, we are *just* a body........not ourselves. Same with animals. If they didn't have a soul, they would be dead. Their souls may not be accountable for their deeds, etc. as our's are, according to most religious beliefs, but they STILL have a *soul*. I don't know how anyone could deny that.........its common sense.

As to saving an animal over a child in a burning building, that is just ridiculous. Saving a child is of course something one should do before going for the animals. I would try for both, but the child comes first.

[Desert Arabian]

Originally posted by sirrahved
but children have souls and animals don't.

That's absurd.

Every living creature has a soul. The thing that's inside our bodies that keeps us alive is our soul. Without our soul, we are *just* a body........not ourselves. Same with animals. If they didn't have a soul, they would be dead. Their souls may not be accountable for their deeds, etc. as our's are, according to most religious beliefs, but they STILL have a *soul*. I don't know how anyone could deny that.........its common sense.

Amen.

[wolf_Q]

Originally posted by sirrahved
Like I said, you don't have to believe it. No one else has to believe it if they don't want to! I just know it's true! And if a Christian doesn't believe this, then they aren't interpreting the bible correctly, IMHO.

Oh and you are an expert on how the bible should be interpreted, huh? I definitely believe that animals have SOULS so I guess I'm not really a Christian.

[sirrahved]

So can there be bad animals that go to hell?

I respect the fact that you have a different opinion. I just don't think you're right

[Desert Arabian]

Originally posted by sirrahved
So can there be bad animals that go to hell?

I don't believe in hell, so no, in my world bad animals don't go to hell.

[Glacier]

So if animals don't have souls & those of us who believe they do are intrepreting the bible wrong....Then how you would explain this quote from Pope John Paul...

In a public audience on January 19th 1990 Pope John Paul II declared "Also the animals possess a soul, and men must love and feel solidarity with our smaller brethren." He went on to say all animals are "fruit of the creative action of the Holy Spirit and merit respect." They are, he asserted, "as near to God as men are."

He pointed out that in Genesis "the way in which man was created suggests a relationship with the spirit or the breath of God. And one reads that after having created man from the dust of the earth, the Lord God 'breathed life into his nostrils and man became a living soul.'" He went on to say that animals have the breath of life and were given it by God. So, in this respect, man, created by the hand of God, is identical with all other living creatures.

this webpage has the full speech:
http://www.skepticfiles.org/krish/anima.htm

Just curious--I don't normally get involved in these types of issues, but I do firmly believe that animals have souls. If my dogs aren't waiting somewhere for me, then send me whereever they went!

[sirrahved]

I don't generally believe what the pope says (I'm not Catholic).

A soul implies eternal life. We have souls because we live or die eternally. Animals just cease to exist in my opinion.

[Cataholic]

Originally posted by sirrahved
??? It's the truth. You don't have to believe it...

Sometimes, I think you post solely for the reason to get the rest of us fired up.

Your idea of 'truth' is not universally supported by all christians. It is one thing to espouse an opinion. It is quite another to espouse a 'fact'.

Though I confess to getting the Harris family confused....with your similar names and all, weren't you the one that was commenting on how unpleasant people were being to you? If so, do you not see how some of your comments just might make people a tad bit offended?

[popcornbird]

Originally posted by sirrahved
So can there be bad animals that go to hell?

I respect the fact that you have a different opinion. I just don't think you're right

Uh.........just because they have a soul doesn't mean their soul is accountable for what they do, as they don't have the understanding of right and wrong as we do. Animals in this world HAVE a soul.............if they didn't, they would just be a dead body. The souls of mankind will be questioned. Animals won't from my religious beliefs, but they still have a SOUL.