As an atheist I don't believe in gods, souls or the afterlife and lets face it all religion is pretty irrational anyway so if you choose to believe in god I think you can safely choose to believe that dogs have souls too!

I'd tell your Mum to believe what she likes and not worry about it too much!!!

J.

Thats a massive way to upset anyone who is religious!!
It made me smile through - just glad I have a GSOH!!
I will tell mum that if she wants to believe that doggies go to heaven that I am sure god will not send her to hell for it!!

Why should the opinions of an atheist upset religious people? Surely they'd just think I was wrong?

J.

See you in hell then- we can walk the dogs out together!!!

J.

Exactly
I cant prove I have a soul - I have no way of knowing or proving that the guy down the street has a soul - so noone can prove to me if dogs do or dont have one
and if there are no dogs in heaven then I dont wanna go! (doubt I will be getting in there anyway)

It's probably overrated anyway

On a slightly more serious note - I have heard the excuse for animal abuse in some countries as `but animals have no souls`. I`ve heard it from people who work for Greek animal rescue that this is used a justification for chaining a dog to a barrel for the whole of its life, or working donkeys to death.
I`m glad the Pope said what he did. Perhaps it could be taken up by other religions as well.

I did not know this- and it brings a whole new dimension to the question- I was aking it just because i want to think that animals go to heaven......
but if people use it as an excuse to abuse animals then it brings a whole new importance!

Good grief Claire, I'm appalled. That's a dreadful excuse. Dreadful.