A Rational, Measured Discussion.

[The Great Triangle]

[Paradox]

The shading on every picture is exactly the same as the picture before it. Not every Sunday could possibly be so predictable as to have the same level of sunshine from the same angle, nor could those two white and red cars have found the same parking spaces every Sunday...I smell a fake!

[The Great Triangle]

Of course it's a fake!

I mean...  Who says the pictures were taken on Sunday?   ;D


Isn't it a matter of faith anyway?

[OldSchoolGamer]

Get your own sign here: http://www.churchsigngenerator.com/sign01.php

[Cherri Tart]

[Trieste]

The shading on every picture is exactly the same as the picture before it. Not every Sunday could possibly be so predictable as to have the same level of sunshine from the same angle, nor could those two white and red cars have found the same parking spaces every Sunday...I smell a fake!

Don't care. Still funny.

:D

[Paradox]

Apparently Gtri and my mother share the same sense of humor. I just found a copy of this in my inbox from her.

[Caehlim]

To paraphrase Nietzsche.

"I could not believe in a heaven that kept out dogs".

I'm not religious (atheist here), but if I were I would not accept that animals had no soul.

[The Great Triangle]

Technically, most Christian denominations don't believe that animals have no soul, simply that their souls do not have the same fundamental qualities as human souls.  (And potentially may not be eternal, although there's no particular reason to suggest such.)

There's a very interesting (but by no means commonly held) theology of the "order of creation" which suggests that humans are an intermediate being in the grand scale of the universe, more aware of their surroundings than say plants, but still inferior to various divine intelligences.  (possibly including alien beings, an idea reasonably entertained during the renaissance.)  Animals, such as dogs, possess a lower level of awareness, although this gives them considerably less moral responsibility.  Accordingly, plants and other non sentient beings function at an even lower level of awareness, fulfilling their function quite automatically.  Meanwhile, inanimate matter fills the lowest rung on the chain of beings (except perhaps for atoms, elements, and the prime materia)  In many theological schemes, inanimate matter is often held to be in a state of constant worship of God, from which it derives its properties.  (the inanimate being defined by constancy, while more complex beings are defined by change)

However, in general, such theological schemes are considerably less popular these days, due to the influence of modern science, and the intense focus on the "what" rather than the "why" of the universe.   Ergo, the vast majority of Christians prefer to remain agnostic about the existence of animal souls.  (though a protestant and a catholic would be approximately equally likely to either believe in or deny the existence of such souls.)

[Oniya]

 Ergo, the vast majority of Christians prefer to remain agnostic about the existence of animal souls.  (though a protestant and a catholic would be approximately equally likely to either believe in or deny the existence of such souls.)

I imagine it has more to do with whether or not you have a beloved pet than whether you are Catholic, Protestant or Pastafarian.  Those that have a beloved pet, whether they die before the owner or vice versa, are vastly comforted by the idea that they will be reunited with that loved one in the afterlife, just as they will be reunited with their human loved ones.  Those that don't are probably more likely to be agnostic about it.

Back when I did UseNet, I was introduced to this little inspirational piece, completely non-denominational, during a conversation about the loss of pets.

[The Overlord]

[HairyHeretic]

Back when I did UseNet, I was introduced to this little inspirational piece, completely non-denominational, during a conversation about the loss of pets.

The rainbow bridge .. Bifrost. That's one of mine then :)

My pets have mostly been rats. It hurts losing them, but I know (or at least believe) that they're running with the rat spirits now. And at some point, I'll catch up with them all again.

[OldSchoolGamer]

I'm a dyslexic atheist.

I don't believe in dog.

[Oniya]

Then there's the insomniac dyslexic agnostic, who sits up nights wondering if there is a dog. ;)