Anonymous wrote:Energy can not be created or destroyed, it can only be transferred. Maybe anything that has energy also has a soul. And if Einstein was correct, when the body dies, the soul lives on.

FruminousBandersnatch wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The soul is key though, for without one there would be no salvation. And if any non-humans have souls the commandment to not kill takes on an entire different meaning. Because as humans we kill many things every day just driving to work.

This post reminded me of this old story. While I don't believe in the concept of a soul (or god, for that matter), if we did have souls, I'm pretty sure my dogs would have them, too.

A Man and His Dog

An old man and his dog were walking down a dirt road for quite sometime when they finally came to a beautiful marble wall with a golden gate. The person standing guard was dressed in a white robe and said, "Welcome to Heaven!"

It was then the old man realized he and his dog were dead and traveling down Eternity Trail. They both were hot and very thirsty as they had been walking for a long time. The old man was so happy to be at Heaven's gate.

He started to enter with his dog following him but the gatekeeper stopped him and said, "I'm sorry, but dogs are not allowed in Heaven so he can't come in with you," as he gestured towards the man's dog.

The old man replied, "But my dog has been my faithful companion all his life. If my dog can't come in with me, then I will stay out too. I will not desert him now, not even to enter Heaven."

The gatekeeper replied, "Suit yourself, but I must warn you, the Devil's on this road and he'll try to sweet talk you into his area. He will promise you anything to get you to enter. So if you don't leave your dog now and come in, you will spend eternity on this road hot and thirsty or end up in Hell."

But the old man still refused to enter and continued walking along the dirt road with his dog.

After walking a long ways further, the man and his dog came upon a rundown fence with no gate. He saw a man dressed in old ragged clothes just on the other side, standing next to a large shady tree. The old man called out to him saying, "Excuse me, sir. My dog and I have been on this road all day and are very hot and thirsty. Would it be okay if we took a rest under your shady tree?"

"Of course", the other man replied. "There's some cold water under the tree too. So please come in and help yourselves."

The old man asked, "Are you inviting my dog too, because I won't come in without him. In fact, that's why I chose not to go to Heaven because I was told dogs are not allowed."

The man smiled and said, "Welcome to Heaven, and bring your dog!"

The old man exclaimed, "You mean this is Heaven? And dogs are allowed? How come that fellow down the road said they weren't?"

"That was the Devil and he gets all the souls who are willing to give up a life long companion for a few small comforts. Those who choose that route soon find out their mistake but it's too late. The dogs always find their way here and the fickle people who abandoned them stay in Hell, for eternity."

"You see my friend, God would not allow dogs to be banned from Heaven. After all, He created them to be man's companions in life, so He would never separate them in death."

FruminousBandersnatch wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The soul is key though, for without one there would be no salvation. And if any non-humans have souls the commandment to not kill takes on an entire different meaning. Because as humans we kill many things every day just driving to work.

This post reminded me of this old story. While I don't believe in the concept of a soul (or god, for that matter), if we did have souls, I'm pretty sure my dogs would have them, too.

A Man and His Dog

An old man and his dog were walking down a dirt road for quite sometime when they finally came to a beautiful marble wall with a golden gate. The person standing guard was dressed in a white robe and said, "Welcome to Heaven!"

It was then the old man realized he and his dog were dead and traveling down Eternity Trail. They both were hot and very thirsty as they had been walking for a long time. The old man was so happy to be at Heaven's gate.

He started to enter with his dog following him but the gatekeeper stopped him and said, "I'm sorry, but dogs are not allowed in Heaven so he can't come in with you," as he gestured towards the man's dog.

The old man replied, "But my dog has been my faithful companion all his life. If my dog can't come in with me, then I will stay out too. I will not desert him now, not even to enter Heaven."

The gatekeeper replied, "Suit yourself, but I must warn you, the Devil's on this road and he'll try to sweet talk you into his area. He will promise you anything to get you to enter. So if you don't leave your dog now and come in, you will spend eternity on this road hot and thirsty or end up in Hell."

But the old man still refused to enter and continued walking along the dirt road with his dog.

After walking a long ways further, the man and his dog came upon a rundown fence with no gate. He saw a man dressed in old ragged clothes just on the other side, standing next to a large shady tree. The old man called out to him saying, "Excuse me, sir. My dog and I have been on this road all day and are very hot and thirsty. Would it be okay if we took a rest under your shady tree?"

"Of course", the other man replied. "There's some cold water under the tree too. So please come in and help yourselves."

The old man asked, "Are you inviting my dog too, because I won't come in without him. In fact, that's why I chose not to go to Heaven because I was told dogs are not allowed."

The man smiled and said, "Welcome to Heaven, and bring your dog!"

The old man exclaimed, "You mean this is Heaven? And dogs are allowed? How come that fellow down the road said they weren't?"

"That was the Devil and he gets all the souls who are willing to give up a life long companion for a few small comforts. Those who choose that route soon find out their mistake but it's too late. The dogs always find their way here and the fickle people who abandoned them stay in Hell, for eternity."

"You see my friend, God would not allow dogs to be banned from Heaven. After all, He created them to be man's companions in life, so He would never separate them in death."

Anonymous wrote:OP, an interesting take on the age-old question: which religion is true?

From the Judeo-Christian point of view: God made man in his image and only humans have souls.

This is based on the Bible and, to Christians, the teachings of Jesus Christ in the Gospels/ New Testament.

Therefore, to answer your question, it would seem to me that you need to understand why the Bible itself is truth. That is not the same thing as saying it should be interpreted literally word for word, I hasten to add, but as God's revelation to his people throughout the ages.

And for that, you need to start a whole new discussion: How do we know the Bible is the truth?

Anonymous wrote:OP, an interesting take on the age-old question: which religion is true?

From the Judeo-Christian point of view: God made man in his image and only humans have souls.

This is based on the Bible and, to Christians, the teachings of Jesus Christ in the Gospels/ New Testament.

Therefore, to answer your question, it would seem to me that you need to understand why the Bible itself is truth. That is not the same thing as saying it should be interpreted literally word for word, I hasten to add, but as God's revelation to his people throughout the ages.

And for that, you need to start a whole new discussion: How do we know the Bible is the truth?

Anonymous wrote:The soul is key though, for without one there would be no salvation. And if any non-humans have souls the commandment to not kill takes on an entire different meaning. Because as humans we kill many things every day just driving to work.

A Man and His Dog

An old man and his dog were walking down a dirt road for quite sometime when they finally came to a beautiful marble wall with a golden gate. The person standing guard was dressed in a white robe and said, "Welcome to Heaven!"

It was then the old man realized he and his dog were dead and traveling down Eternity Trail. They both were hot and very thirsty as they had been walking for a long time. The old man was so happy to be at Heaven's gate.

He started to enter with his dog following him but the gatekeeper stopped him and said, "I'm sorry, but dogs are not allowed in Heaven so he can't come in with you," as he gestured towards the man's dog.

The old man replied, "But my dog has been my faithful companion all his life. If my dog can't come in with me, then I will stay out too. I will not desert him now, not even to enter Heaven."

The gatekeeper replied, "Suit yourself, but I must warn you, the Devil's on this road and he'll try to sweet talk you into his area. He will promise you anything to get you to enter. So if you don't leave your dog now and come in, you will spend eternity on this road hot and thirsty or end up in Hell."

But the old man still refused to enter and continued walking along the dirt road with his dog.

After walking a long ways further, the man and his dog came upon a rundown fence with no gate. He saw a man dressed in old ragged clothes just on the other side, standing next to a large shady tree. The old man called out to him saying, "Excuse me, sir. My dog and I have been on this road all day and are very hot and thirsty. Would it be okay if we took a rest under your shady tree?"

"Of course", the other man replied. "There's some cold water under the tree too. So please come in and help yourselves."

The old man asked, "Are you inviting my dog too, because I won't come in without him. In fact, that's why I chose not to go to Heaven because I was told dogs are not allowed."

The man smiled and said, "Welcome to Heaven, and bring your dog!"

The old man exclaimed, "You mean this is Heaven? And dogs are allowed? How come that fellow down the road said they weren't?"

"That was the Devil and he gets all the souls who are willing to give up a life long companion for a few small comforts. Those who choose that route soon find out their mistake but it's too late. The dogs always find their way here and the fickle people who abandoned them stay in Hell, for eternity."

"You see my friend, God would not allow dogs to be banned from Heaven. After all, He created them to be man's companions in life, so He would never separate them in death."

Anonymous wrote:The "right" one varies from religion to religion. Why so many variations? Same reason there are so many religions, different belief systems. I think all living creatures have souls, but many don't agree. What proof can I put forth that can convince someone otherwise? None. There you go.