23
Mar
Do All Dogs Go to Heaven?
According to a poll conducted by ABCNews in 2001 as many as 40 percent of people think heaven is reserved only for people. However, theologians seem to disagree. In September 2003, the editors of Dog Fancy magazine put the question to various religious leaders and experts in what it termed an extension of the debate over “animal theology”. Here are some of their thoughts on the topic:
1. “Heaven was designed for humans. The reason dogs may be there is for us, not for themselves. Dogs will go to heaven perhaps because of our relationship with them. I would think a loving God wants us to be happy and allows us to have animals that shared love with us.” — Rev. Brian T. McSweeney, vice chancellor of the New York archdiocese.
2. “Dogs are subject to reincarnation … as well as the law of the karma, which determines the form of the reincarnation. Dogs an go to heaven or dogs can go to hell. A dog’s actions decide where it goes, like a human’s actions.” — Lama Pema Wangak, directory of New York’s Tibetan Buddhist Center
3. “The vast majority of Southern Baptist believe only human have souls, which most likely preclude dogs from reaching heaven. But the Bible notes that someday the lamb will lie down with the lion, which would lead you to believe that heaven may be somewhat like it is here, and there may be animals.” — Herb Hollinger, a spokesperson for the Southern Baptist Convention.
4. “Everything, humans and animals, every blade of grass, all are endowed with a spirit and every spirit returns to its creator….Every animal based on how it lives in this world will reap its reward, its divine bliss in the world to come.” — Rabbi Gershon Winkier, an exponent of mystical Judaism who lives in Cuba.
5. “I think the species as a whole is a natural shoo-in.” — Stephen H. Webb, associate professor of religion and philosophy at Wabash College and the author of On God and Dogs.
So you see, dogs can and most likely will join us in heaven, if you believe in such a thing! They will have their dog beds and elevated raised feeders or even their orthopedic dog beds waiting for them at the gates of heaven.