All-Creatures Ministry and Web Site

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All-Creatures Ministry and Web Site
By Peter - 19 Jul 2012

Hi,

I have a question to ask of you. First of all, I have to say that I really enjoy reading the articles, stories, and discussions on your site. I recently joined a forum called Vigilant Citizen, which discusses various aspects of the world around us from a conspiratorial point of view (Yes, I am one of those 'conspiracy theorists'). In the Religions section, a thread was recently created discussing whether our pets and all other animals alive today will be in heaven with us. Here is the link to this particular thread: http://vigilantcitizen.com/vcboards/viewtopic.php?f=7&t=15299 .

          As you can see, there is a lot of division over this issue among the members, particularly the Christians. There are some who support this idea ( usernames: thakiddd, Cheers, -bronte-, sarah, among others) and others who oppose it (usernames: X-Maverick, Humble, John F Kennedy, FearNo1, among others). I am in the former group. I definitely believe that animals have souls and spirits just like humans do, and will be in heaven with us. Here is where I come in: I have been trying to counter arguments against animal afterlife by the one known as X-Maverick. He claims that the idea of animals alive today being in heaven with us would imply that Jesus died for them, which he says He didn't. I, and a few others, have been trying to say the Jesus did not need to die for animals because they did not sin, but he claims that idea is ridiculous, and that animals can sin. In particular, he cites passages where it says that animals who kill humans or engage in bestiality must be killed. Here are the passages in particular:

Genesis 9
5 And surely your blood of your lives will I require; at the hand of every beast will I require it, and at the hand of man; at the hand of every man's brother will I require the life of man.
Genesis 9
6 Whoso sheddeth man's blood, by man shall his blood be shed: for in the image of God made he man.
Leviticus 16
And if a woman approach unto any beast, and lie down thereto, thou shalt kill the woman, and the beast: they shall surely be put to death; their blood shall be upon them.
Leviticus 24:21
And he that killeth a beast, he shall restore it: and he that killeth a man, he shall be put to death.

He says that these passages prove that humans are superior to animals, and that animals can sin. I know that you have mentioned that God's permission for humans to kill and eat animals was a concession to their hardness of heart. I have suggested that the above verses were also a concession to humanity's hardness of heart, because humans would automatically assume that the animal was unprovoked and unjustified in doing these acts, and so they would want revenge. I have said that one cannot automatically assume that the animals did these acts without provocation or without good reason.

By the way, those who argue against the idea of animal afterlife say that there is nothing in Scripture that says that animals today go to heaven, and use that to support their argument.  My comments come in on page 8 of this thread, though you should read all the pages to see the controversy on this issue. I was wondering if you could provide insight on the above passages, as well as your thoughts on my idea. Thanks. By the way, I go by the username All Creation on this forum.

Sincerely,
Peter