Although my dog may stare at me like I'm a deity, there's no evidence to suggest that non-human animals have religion. They don't worship, pray or believe in gods of any kind, but they do perform ritualistic behaviours, prompting some to speculate that animals could have a spiritual side.
Mysterious chimpanzee behaviour could prove they believe in God, according to scientists. New footage of ritual behaviour by chimpanzees, taken and analysed by researchers, shows they may be engaging in spiritual practices - and could even believe in God.
Summary: Humans are not the only ones who have beliefs; animals do too, although it is more difficult to prove them than with humans. Researchers have now proposed four criteria to understand and empirically investigate animal beliefs.
Introduction: From the beginning of the Bible, we see how important animals are to God. He blesses them, forms covenants with them, enjoys them, and calls them good. Yet, from the beginning of creation, there has also been a special relationship between mankind and animals.
Among other religions, Mormons have a clear position, declaring that yes of course animals can go to heaven. Here's what a few other faiths have to say about the issue. Islam offers no clear answer. In Islam all souls are eternal, including those of animals.
The Egyptian pantheon was especially fond of zoomorphism, with many animals sacred to particular deities—cats to Bastet, ibises and baboons to Thoth, crocodiles to Sobek and Ra, fish to Set, mongoose, shrew and birds to Horus, dogs and jackals to Anubis, serpents and eels to Atum, beetles to Khepera, bulls to Apis.
Although Hindus follow no single set of rules, reverence for cows can be found throughout the religion's major texts. Some trace the cow's sacred status back to Lord Krishna, one of the faith's most important figures.
The Rev. Dr. Billy Graham has noted, “The Bible teaches that we are not to abuse or punish animals in a cruel way. God has created them, and while mankind is given dominion over the animals, we are not to treat them cruelly.”
Ancient symbols adapted to be used in new faith
The lamb is perhaps the best known animal representing Jesus who is called the Lamb of God, which represents the eternal life brought to man by Jesus Christ.
Christians don't believe that "going to heaven" happens automatically; it's the result of conscious decisions made during one's life. While the Bible is very specific about the requirements for human salvation, it says nothing about salvation for animals.
The doctrine of non-violence or non-killing is taken from Hindu, Buddhist and Jainist philosophies. Muslims are taught that Allah has given people power over animals, yet to treat them badly is disobey his will (see review by Broom, 2003).
Animals have exactly the same soul as Humans , Electrons and chemical reactions in the brain .
Philippians 3:2: “Beware of dogs, beware of evil workers, beware of the concision.” Proverbs 26:11: “As a dog returneth to his vomit, [so] a fool returneth to his folly.” Luke 16:21: “And desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man's table: moreover the dogs came and licked his sores.”
The answer is YES! When a pet dies, they are still contactable and often want to continue to contact their people for many years. Even though they are not in the physical body, their spirit is alive and well. You can still see, hear, or sense your pet, even if for a fleeting moment.
And God saw that it was good” (Genesis 1:24-25). We know that God gave animals to us for a purpose, because in the days of Noah, before the great Flood, God preserved every kind of animal on the ark so they would inhabit the land again. Animals are among God's many diverse gifts to man.
Yes, animals have spirits (see D&C 77:2–3). Of course, there is a major difference between animals' spirits and our spirits—we are begotten sons and daughters of Heavenly Father, and they are not. And according to the Prophet Joseph Smith, there are at least some animals in heaven.
The traditional biblical (especially Old Testament) viewpoint among Jews and Christians is that God distinguished man from animals, and gave man control over animals to benefit man, but also that God gave man moral guidelines to prevent cruelty to - or needless suffering by - animals.
The scriptures and later Christian philosophy sometimes treat animals not merely as living possessions deserving diligent care but, by a relationship bordering on kinship, as close links to humankind - partly because both humans and other species came into existence as works of God.
There are many other examples of how animals are listed in the Qur'an and their benefit (See below article – List of animals in the Qur'an). Not only are animals Muslim because they submit to Allah's Will, but animals also worship Allah just as Muslims do.
“Bless the Lord, you whales and all that swim in the waters ... Bless the Lord, all birds of the air ... Bless the Lord, all wild animals and cattle; sing praise to him and highly exalt him forever” (Dan 3:57–59).
Origin of the soul
According to soul creationism, God creates each individual soul directly, either at the moment of conception or some later time. According to traducianism, the soul comes from the parents by natural generation. According to the preexistence theory, the soul exists before the moment of conception.
Apes are mentioned with gold, silver, ivory, and peacocks among the precious things imported by Solomon from Tharsis (1 Kings 10:22; 2 Chronicles 9:21). The "ape" of the KJV is what is called an Old World monkey today. "Apes" in the modern colloquial sense, like chimpanzees and gorillas, were known of only later.
There are later descriptions of creatures in the Bible that could be referring to dinosaurs. One example is the behemoth of Job 40:15-19. Even in fairly modern history there are reports of creatures which seem to fit the description of dinosaurs.