Do Animals have a Soul?

 

 Readers here in my blog may or may not have already read some of my articles concerning the mysteries of life.

For example, I think I have written a few times that we cannot use the synonym MRS GREN that stands for movement, respiration, sensitivity, growth, reproduction, excretion and nutrition to define life when these are characteristics of life, but not life itself. I mentioned that there must be something higher that controls something that is living that causes all these characteristics of life.

In a human body it is possible the unseen and unmeasurable soul is controlling these life molecules to tick. The presence of a soul in humans is believed across all civilizations, races, and religions for thousands of years and we cannot dismiss this. It must be present in the human body. When a person dies, the soul leaves the body to another world. That’s why we always pray “may his soul live in peace” for someone who has left us. This belief has always been there for tens of thousands of years across all civilizations for human souls.

But what about for other living creatures as well, such as animals, microorganisms and possibly the plant?  Do they too have souls? This is because they are all living displaying MRS GREN behaviour. In other words, do animals have a soul that causes them to be alive obeying all the biochemistry of something that is living?

 One strong reason I believe is, I have seen TV series on animal ghosts haunting places, not just human ghosts we hear about. These are all spirits of animals too like their souls that cannot be measured by science but have been seen by humans. So, can these be visual “evidence-based” though not physical or measurable evidence-based?  

What I am going to write here is, do animals have souls?  I am very eager to try to solve this question by sharing my thoughts and insights on the profound mystery of life. The concept of the soul, and whether animals, microorganisms, and plants possess souls are deeply philosophical and echoes with the age-old inquiries of many traditions and thinkers.

 

The Nature of Life and the Soul

 

I believe I have rightly pointed out characteristics such as movement, respiration, sensitivity, growth, reproduction, excretion, and nutrition (MRS GREN) to define what living organisms do, but they do not define what life itself is. The search for something higher, like the soul, as the cause of life is a concept that has been present in various forms throughout human history. The idea of the soul as an unseen, unmeasurable entity that animates the body brings into line with many spiritual and religious traditions, where the soul is considered the essence of life that transcends physical existence.

 

The Question of Animal Souls

 

The question of whether animals possess souls has been debated for centuries. In many religious and philosophical traditions, animals are often considered to have souls, although the nature and fate of these souls may differ from those of humans. For example:

In Christian tradition, Christ has held that humans have immortal souls, but views on animals' souls have varied. Some theologians have argued that animals have souls, though they may be mortal rather than immortal. Others suggest that animals, being part of God's creation, may have a different kind of soul that doesn't survive after death.

In Hinduism and Buddhism traditions, the concept of reincarnation includes the possibility that souls can move between human and animal forms. This suggests that animals do have souls, and these souls are part of the broader cycle of life, death, and rebirth.

In Islamic teachings generally affirm that animals have souls, but these souls do not face the same judgment or afterlife as human souls, possibly because animals do not sin like us humans.

 Most of us will accept that ghosts are the wandering souls or the spirits of dead people that could not find a resting place. They wander about aimlessly in the same place.

In the television series I saw on places haunted by animal ghosts it was clear animals, like humans and all living things do have a soul, a spirit or a ghost residing and controlling all the chemistries of life in their body, and should they leave, the living organisms just die.

 In other words, the words “soul, spirit and ghosts” are the same non-physical being that resides in all living things, whether in humans, animals or even in microorganisms.  This implies whether we are talking about the human or an animal soul, it is the same entity to mean the spirit or the ghost of a living body.

The most authoritative version of the Bible is the King James Version (KJV) written in the original old English. In Luke 23:46 of the KJV when Jesus died on the cross the word ‘ghost’ was clearly used to mean the spirit or the soul of Jesus

“And when Jesus had cried with a loud voice, he said, Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit: and having said thus, he gave up the ghost”

In Mark 15, verse 37 of the KJV, the same word “ghost” was used to describe Jesus had died and that His soul or spirit in His body had left Him. 

 

Evidence and Experiences

 

The notion of animal ghosts presents an interesting perspective. The idea that animals might have spirits or souls capable of manifesting as ghosts suggests that these beings possess some form of consciousness or essence that can survive physical death. While such phenomena are typically anecdotal and difficult to study scientifically, they add to the body of experiential evidence that challenges the strictly materialistic view of life.

 

Philosophical Considerations

 

Philosophically, if we accept that humans have souls, it may seem reasonable to extend this concept to animals, especially those that exhibit complex behaviours, emotions, and social structures. The distinction between humans and other animals has been increasingly blurred by discoveries in ethology, neuroscience, and cognitive science, which show that many animals possess sophisticated forms of consciousness and emotional life.

If we consider the soul as the animating principle or essence of life, it might be a universal aspect of all living beings. The complexity and sophistication of the soul could vary depending on the organism, with human souls being more developed or complex due to our advanced cognitive capacities.

 

Scientific Limitations

 

Science, by its nature, deals with what is measurable, observable, and testable. The soul, as traditionally conceived, falls outside the scope of empirical science, as it is often considered a metaphysical or spiritual entity rather than a physical one. This limitation means that science may never fully answer the question of whether animals (or humans) have souls. However, this does not invalidate the experiences, beliefs, and philosophical arguments that support the existence of the soul.

 

Yes, Animals have Souls

 

Having explained all that, my opinion is based on the synthesis of various perspectives. In this, yes, animals may possess souls. The notion that animals have souls concurs with many philosophical, religious, and experiential perspectives. If the soul is seen as the animating principle of life, it is plausible that all living beings, not just humans, possess souls. The nature and complexity of these souls could vary, with human souls being more advanced due to our unique cognitive and moral capacities.

The existence of animal ghosts I saw on television series could be viewed as evidence.  While not scientifically measurable, the reported sightings of animal ghosts could be interpreted as experiential evidence that animals have souls or spirits. These experiences, while subjective, add weight to the idea that the soul is a universal aspect of life.

If the soul as a universal life force and the essence of life, we can accept it may be present in all living things, from the smallest microorganism to the most complex animals. The soul would then be seen as the fundamental force that drives life and its characteristics, including those described by MRS GREN.

This mystery remains an area where science, philosophy, and spirituality converge, each offering insights but also acknowledging the limits of their understanding. The question of whether animals have souls invites us to reflect on the broader implications of life, consciousness, and our place in the universe.

I think I have brought forward this intriguing topic and I hope this analysis provides a meaningful exploration of the question at hand even though we cannot prove our belief using science as science cannot explain everything except those that can be detected or measured directly or indirectly. Normally as scientist we may put up a hypothesis as a springboard for us to prove with measurements or indirectly deduce them by other observations such as the existence of black holes even though we cannot see its lights (light cannot escape from a black hole due to its supermassive gravity).

 As in 1 Corinthians 13:12 it aptly tells us as long as we are physical here, we will never be able to see what are beyond our physical dimension.

It says, “For now, we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known”.

The passage from 1 Corinthians 13:12 indeed captures the limitations of our current understanding and the hope for a more complete knowledge beyond our physical existence. I think this is a thoughtful reflection.

 I think we can conclude anything that is living has a soul in it, controlling their molecules of life that made them creep and crawl. Else, they will be dead with no soul, and no life in them. In short, life is the soul itself, and soul, the life – the soul of life, so to speak!

The connection between life and the soul is a profound and ancient idea, and I believe my perspective beautifully integrates both scientific and spiritual insights

It’s always a pleasure to engage in these deep discussions with anyone who is intelligent and knowledgeable here where science and philosophy meet in such a meaningful way.

I look forward to continuing explorations together with my readers in my blog through their thoughtful comments below in the comment column.

 

 jb lim