Do you believe in heaven/hell for all living beings?

**Terminator** · 05-18-09, 07:01 PM

Do you believe in heaven/hell for all living things (eg: humans, dogs, cats, insects)? Or do you believe in heaven/hell for living beings who have a certain intelligence level (eg: humans)?

Explain your answer.

**Jenna** · 05-18-09, 07:38 PM

I think it's possible but I haven't seen enough evidence to know for sure.

**2 Blue 4 U** · 05-18-09, 07:45 PM

I can only hope there is a heaven and a hell, but I can not say for sure. If there is it would include all living creatures, in my opinion if it was only for those with intelligence Hell would be a lot more crowded then Heaven.

**Morris** · 05-18-09, 08:10 PM

I can attest that hell is indeed real and resides within the walls of my sister-in-law's house.

**GASheepdog** · 05-18-09, 08:52 PM

Don't know for sure but I hope there is a heaven and a hell.

**TXCharlie** · 05-18-09, 08:56 PM

I don't believe in it. I think it's largely an invention of organized religion to gain and retain membership.

**tapout** · 05-18-09, 10:26 PM

if i learned anything from walt disney, its that "all dogs go to heaven." so im going with heaven and hell for all living creatures, except dogs, because apparently there is no doggie hell.

**Sgt. Slaughter** · 05-18-09, 10:35 PM

I believe it is only for humans. Why? That's what I was taught. I've done my own evaluations of the beliefs I was taught over the years and my beliefs remain firm and steadfast.

**Five-0** · 05-18-09, 10:38 PM

Originally Posted by Sgt. Slaughter

I believe it is only for humans. Why? That's what I was taught. I've done my own evaluations of the beliefs I was taught over the years and my beliefs remain firm and steadfast.

Agreed.

**Terminator** · 05-18-09, 10:46 PM

Originally Posted by Sgt. Slaughter

I believe it is only for humans. Why? That's what I was taught. I've done my own evaluations of the beliefs I was taught over the years and my beliefs remain firm and steadfast.

Follow up question:

Do you then believe entrance to heaven is based on intelligence since other beings don't go to heaven, or is there some other factor?

**Five-0** · 05-18-09, 10:48 PM

Originally Posted by Terminator

Follow up question:

Do you then believe entrance to heaven is based on intelligence since other beings don't go to heaven, or is there some other factor?

Free will, being created in God's image, and the ability to recognize and make the choice. I believe God recognizes your heart not your intellect.

**Terminator** · 05-18-09, 10:54 PM

Originally Posted by Five-0

Free will, being created in God's image, and the ability to recognize and make the choice. I believe God recognizes your heart not your intellect.

Ok, so if I got this right, he bases it on your heart (from your choices and how you live), but you think other beings don't go to heaven. So other beings don't have the heart we humans do?

**Odd** · 05-19-09, 05:01 AM

If there aren't dogs in heaven it's not the sort of neighborhood I'd like to spend eternity in.

This intelligence standard is an interesting bit of faith in itself. That faith being that aliens of higher intelligence won't be found and bump you down the scale.

**mack** · 05-19-09, 06:08 AM

I don't know for sure, of course who really does, lol. But I hope there is. I believe it would be for all living things because God created it all, there are exceptions (see below). I don't think that intellegence has anything to do with getting there. I don't think you need to have been a church-goer, or believed in God to get there. I think most people would be welcomed with open arms. I believe that Hell is for people who have done heinous acts in life. Murders, rapists, etc. Even if they "see the light" while in jail, I don't think their acts can gain them admittance.

Course, that is just my opinion.

**chewy** · 05-19-09, 02:40 PM

I don't believe in Heven and Hell in the traditional Cristian way... I do believe there has to be more when we die... for all the wonders of the universe and for the complex nature of humans and animals and how our bodies and minds work along with the fact that we don't use but a small portion of our brains I believe there has to be something else... like our brains are partitioned off like a hard drive and when your body dies your brain partition opens up and your spirit goes on to other things.

**Willowdared** · 05-19-09, 04:14 PM

Animals merely respond to conditioning and their natural instincts.

Only humans can make a conscious choice to be good or evil, so only humans can go to heaven or hell.

**MacLean** · 05-19-09, 04:18 PM

A literal interpretation of the bible would suggest all living things get in, not just humans.

Some interesting articles I have read make reference to each specific instance where this is suggested in the bible.

Yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from the will of your Father...

**Sgt. Slaughter** · 05-19-09, 09:51 PM

Originally Posted by Terminator

Do you then believe entrance to heaven is based on intelligence since other beings don't go to heaven, or is there some other factor?

No sir. Intelligence has nothing to do with it. Were that the case, many of us would be doomed to Hell for our mere stupidity. Humans were given the ability to choose wrong from right. It's that ability and access to "free will" that provides us the chance to get into Heaven.

Originally Posted by Terminator

Ok, so if I got this right, he bases it on your heart (from your choices and how you live), but you think other beings don't go to heaven. So other beings don't have the heart we humans do?

Not "heart" as is the physical term of the muscle that moves blood throughout the body. Christians generally use this term to distinguish a core belief - something deep inside you. See above.

Originally Posted by Willowdared

Animals merely respond to conditioning and their natural instincts.

Only humans can make a conscious choice to be good or evil, so only humans can go to heaven or hell.

Yes. What she said.

"Free Will" or conscious decision are the ultimate factors that separate the meat bags that are humans from the creatures of this world.

Originally Posted by maclean

A literal interpretation of the bible would suggest all living things get in, not just humans.

Some interesting articles I have read make reference to each specific instance where this is suggested in the bible.

Yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from the will of your Father...

I'd like to see a couple of those articles. Some Christians acknowledge the supreme authority of God to control everything in the universe. This includes living or dying, what things grow and even weather patterns. Every little minute detail is controlled by him. Others believe God started the planet and let us do everything on our own and make our own decision as he sits back and take a hands-off approach. However, the Christian religions generally believe that the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ was for the humans created in the image of God. Jesus did not live on this earth and ultimately let them take his life for the dogs and cats that roamed the streets, he did it for us - the people. He took the punishment that was meant for us. "For the wages of sin is death..." The word "death" is used here to illustrate an eternal separation from our Creator. "but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord." Here, "life" is used to show the eternal connection and presence with God upon our passing from this earth.

**Blue26** · 05-20-09, 12:11 AM

Along the same lines as those that posted above. I believe that heaven is for "good" humans and all creatures (b/c animals act on instinct and therefore cannot be evil).

A little off topic and random but I always think about this at DOA's. You know when you are at the scene of a dead body and you are all by yourself waiting for the medical examiner to come or something? It may sound weird but another reason I believe that humans have souls and have life after death is because when you are in the room with that dead body you feel all alone. It's weird to look over and see that there is another body in the room b/c you can't feel the presence of that deceased person. They become almost like another object in the room like the tv or bookcase, they are just there. You can always feel the presence of a living human being in a room with you though. That reconfirms my beliefs in the human soul.