The Revd Writes…

I was asked a very serious question recently, “Do dogs go to heaven?” The person who asked the question was distressed on being previously told that Christianity gave a definitive blank ‘no!’ Presumably the one who gave the answer was holding to the idea that human beings are the pinnacle of God’s creation and as such are the only creatures to have souls. It was St. Augustine, back in the fourth century, who, drawing on Plato and Greek dualism, articulated the belief in ‘body and soul’ and that only those with souls i.e. that part of the human being that is intelligent enough to make moral decisions and can, therefore, claim to believe in Christ, that can access salvation - unto eternal life.

Modern-day canine psychologists could doubtless have a very long conversation with St. Augustine about whether dogs are able to know the difference between right and wrong and would probably argue that, with enough training and learning, – not unlike with a small child – such an outcome is possible. Dogs are intelligent and we are continually finding new ways of making them useful members of society; more recently, as an aid to medical services, we now know that dogs are able to detect, through their sense of smell, the onset of epileptic seizures in humans and to give warning before a fit occurs. Dogs undoubtedly bring glory to God by their usefulness.

Dogs too are emotionally intelligent beings and form loving relationships with humans, and often with other pets within the household. Comforting a distraught child on the death of his dog, Pope Paul VI declared that, “One day, we will see our animals again in the eternity of Christ.” He was holding to the traditional view, promoted by St. Francis, that the whole of creation brings glory to God and that, in the fullness of time, God will restore the whole of creation, marred by sin and degradation, to its former glory.

The Bible does not give an answer to the question but there are many powerful images used which describe a future state of paradise in which the ‘lion will down with the lamb’ (Isaiah 11:6) and the Promised Land is a place that flows with ‘milk and honey’ (Exodus 3:8) etc which could be interpreted as giving hope to those who cannot imagine a life after death without the presence of animals – in particular much loved pets.

Do dogs go to heaven? I have two Jack Russell Terriers, one of whom would certainly qualify. But I have a sneaky suspicion the other one might just be going to the other place!

God Bless

Mark