Thank you for your answer Sharonna. I've never ran into a scientologist in person or on the internet so don't know much about them other than what I saw on an episode or 2 of a documentary about them from an actress that says she used to be one.

Your comment: "The whole world is watching itself implode" reminded me of this article:
https://www.jw.org/en/publications/magazines/awake-no6-2017-december/the-world-out-of-control/

There will always be animals, just not in heaven, according to the Bible anyway. I love to be around animals myself. Spirits like angels and those resurrected to spirit life don't have the physical needs of touch and such like us. 

That's kinda what I thought, but perhaps not anymore after a few conversations and websites that I perused today. 
When I had to put our cat to sleep a few years ago, these young girls working at the vet were trying to comfort me by telling me that she was in cat heaven now. I guess they really believed that?

Thank you for the link Jakoba. Didn't read it all but skimmed through to where he posted verses and read his comments around those and a few other places. I'm guessing that he thinks that the Bible says that all the good go to heaven while all the bad burn in hell? I wish that man was on AM so I could pick his brain. The reason I asked the question was because this morning Is 11:6-8 was read and the man, (Catholic from Nigeria) said that referred to when we get to heaven. I didn't realize that some really believed that animals go to heaven. 

I just googled and found this:
https://www.uscatholic.org/blog/201602/heaven-all-30553
...

In the nineteenth century, Pope Pius IX was the first pope to officially declare animals soulless and thus unable to enter heaven. In the decades since Pius’ proclamation, popes have continued to waffle over the issue of animals.

Pope John Paul II went the opposite direction. In 1990 he is reported to have said animals must have souls, as they were “created by God’s breath.” But almost 20 years later Pope Benedict XVI said God only gives access to heaven to humans.

Benedict’s words can be hard for pet lovers to reconcile. Many of us can say we have been comforted by our pets during unimaginably hard times. Somehow, they always seem to know when something is wrong and do everything in their power to help the situation without the use of words.

However, Pope Francis’ statement in Laudato Si’ helps to finally lay the age-old question to rest. By immortalizing his words in writing, the pope leaves no room for misunderstanding or hearsay: dogs and our other animal companions will join us in the Kingdom of Heaven.

This is a hugely important step for Fido and for those who love him. Thanks for Pope Francis and his love for animals (which is reflected in the name he chose to bear as pope) I can finally confidently say, with a comforted smile one my face,  “all dogs go to heaven.”  

I think you are right (this once;), but sadly convincing someone that his beloved pet has no soul is just as hopeless as convincing him that there is no heaven for animals.

Right (this once) means a lot coming from you. lol

Thank you for your answer Tom. I was actually hoping that you would answer. A person that I have been speaking a little with says that he reads Bible stories to his children every night and seems to think that what he believes comes from the Bible. I like to stick to the Bible when discussing Bible based beliefs. 
 This morning a nice Catholic gentleman from Nigeria read Is 11:6-8. He said that referred to when we get to heaven. (He is afraid of dogs and we discussed lions in Nigeria and then had him read Isaiah as I thought that might interest him as he seems to have some interest in the Bible.)

Tom, what do you think those that go to heaven are going to do there and is that based on the Bible or post biblical doctrine? (1 Timothy 4:1; 2 Thessalonians 2:3; Acts 20:30; 2 Peter 2:1; 2 Peter 2:1)


A few verses that show that faith in God and Jesus as well as trying to live by their righteous standards are required to have everlasting life. I don't see how animals can do that?
(Psalm 37:29) The righteous will possess the earth, And they will live forever on it.
(John 3:36) The one who exercises faith in the Son has everlasting life; the one who disobeys the Son will not see life, but the wrath of God remains upon him.
(John 17:3) This means everlasting life, their coming to know you, the only true God, and the one whom you sent, Jesus Christ.
(2 Peter 2:9-12)

My Catholic faith is well informed by logic and reason and by continually remaining open to what God allows me to understand based on that  personal relationship I have with Him thanks to the Resurrection.  (Oh Happy Fault of original sin)

Truth exists and is the proper object of study.  As I came to understand more and more of the truth that involves God specifically (the obvious truths talked about in the bible and the logical conclusions that follow from those those truths) along with the understandings that come from seeking the relationship with God as Jesus instructed us to do, I came to both think and believe (the gift of faith is from God, of course) what I do.

I am a Catholic by "cradle" and by choice----unshakably so since I tried my best to disprove much of Catholic doctrine to myself in my late 20's and early 30's since that doctrine was, to say the least, flying directly and intensely into my face of my preferred lifestyle during those years---and I came grudgingly to the realization and conviction that Catholicism was indeed the rock upon which Christ built His Church and to which he sent the Holy Spirit to watch over it.

Doctrine---a belief or set of beliefs held and taught by a church, political party, or other group.  It turned out that Catholic doctrine and my understanding of reality turned out with pretty much the same.  So in my case, my personal "doctrine"---formulated by study, philosophy and theology---turned out to be very similar to what the Catholic Church had come to understand.

So all of that just proved the following maxim:  The human intellect cannot be put in possession of its object by some exterior agent that takes it there. There is for us no knowledge except our own knowledge, no truth except self-acquired truth.  

We have a cognitive sense and free will.  Other animals have an estimative sense and instincts. All other creation also has a connection to God.  The bible only gives instructions for mankind for entering into everlasting life.  For men it is optional and he needs instructions; for the rest of creation---well, apparently we don't need to know the details of how that works.

Glad you were dealing with a "nice Catholic gentleman"---we are not always nice, which I think comes from being human.

As to what we are going to do in heaven, God said we should avoid speculation---but I do think that we are going to grow in knowledge and truth and the capacity to love.

And in addition,  I think personally that I am also going to be petting one cat and playing with a number of dogs.

I was hoping to find something of substance in regards to the Bible (perhaps out of context) and the belief that animals are going to heaven in your post.

I've spoken to a number of Mormons in person and on Answerbag. They believe something like they get a warm fuzzy feeling and then they can ascertain special knowledge that others cannot. 18 year old elders. Pretty much an appeal to ego if you ask me. 
In relation to "I tried my best to disprove much of Catholic doctrine", what did you use for your litmus test, a funny feeling? I would think the Bible would have some authority. (2 Tim 3:16; 1 Cor 4:6) 

What I have hoped for since I first came across you is some hint that being a JW rather than a Catholic is more rewarding for you than being a Catholic is for me.

I have yet to see that.

God is willing to sit next to you (figuratively at least) and you could be talking to Him about what you should be doing in this life.

Instead, you prefer to try to understand what He said 2000 or so years ago, rather than what it should mean to you now after the men He also inspired to interpret what it meant for the succeeding generations of men did their job.

I guess I'll leave you in the care of the "Hound of Heaven."

Edit:

Your comment that my faith journey is no more than an "appeal to ego" is a telling comment on your part.   Not only is it judgmental---which you know the bible warns about---it an example of incredible arrogance.

And no one on here would think that as an example of arrogance based on excellence.

Apparently, you have no knowledge of a god beyond his being the primary subject of a book called the bible.

You talk about him rather than to him---pitiful..

This post was edited by tom jackson at January 5, 2018 3:03 PM MST

I am not that active as I waste a lot of time like here talking on answermug but I know what I am supposed to be doing:

(Matthew 24:3) While he was sitting on the Mount of Olives, the disciples approached him privately, saying: “Tell us, when will these things be, and what will be the sign of your presence and of the conclusion of the system of things?”
(Matthew 24:14) And this good news of the Kingdom will be preached in all the inhabited earth for a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come.
(Acts 1:8) But you will receive power when the holy spirit comes upon you, and you will be witnesses of me in Jerusalem, in all Ju·deʹa and Sa·marʹi·a, and to the most distant part of the earth.”

Well, better wasting time on here rather than actually spreading your misinformation door to door.

It seems obvious that the JW's are referred to in Matthew 24:5  For many will come in my name, claiming, ‘I am the Messiah,’ and will deceive many.

I pray that God will forgive you, "For you know not what you do." 

Not hardly. No JW has ever professed to be the Messiah. Sorry you believe that the Bibles message is deceptive.

It seems that most people are born with their beliefs, born a Catholic, a Catholic, born a Muslim, a Muslim. I wasn't raised in a religious home so I had to rely on the Bible for my doctrines when I made a search later in life.

Well, yes do actually profess to be the Messiah.

You are the Messiah who is reinterpreting what the original Messiah said in the bible---and thus, "You deceive many."

Satan also takes reality and gives it his personal spin for his own purposes.

Sort of like the JW's do.  

[You are the Messiah who is reinterpreting what the original Messiah said in the bible---and thus, "You deceive many."]

I quote the scriptures, you are the one that reinterprets them saying things like I "try to understand what He said 2000 or so years ago" while you totally ignore what he said. For instance when the context of religion and religious titles like 'Father' and such, you reinterpret that, yes?

You reinterpret what Jesus said about the Father being greater than him and the Father being the only true God and him being separate from God.
(John 14:28) You heard that I said to you, ‘I am going away and I am coming back to you.’ If you loved me, you would rejoice that I am going to the Father, for the Father is greater than I am.
(John 17:3) This means everlasting life, their coming to know you, the only true God, and the one whom you sent, Jesus Christ.
(John 14:1) “Do not let your hearts be troubled. Exercise faith in God; exercise faith also in me.

This post was edited by texasescimo at January 5, 2018 4:16 PM MST

You quote scriptures, not to understand what they are saying, but rather to prove your points.

When you do that, you offer to the God of all truth the unclean sacrifice of a lie.

Every quote that you post from scripture can easily and accurately be applied to what you as a JW say and do.

And that you know so little about Catholicism is both obvious and unfortunate.

Please, please, as you said on here yesterday, keep wasting your time on here and minimize the foolishness you keep trying to sell door to door.

Kind of an odd response. You totally ignore the scriptures and reality. 

Why did Jesus quote scripture?
(Matthew 4:10) Then Jesus said to him: “Go away, Satan! For it is written: ‘It is Jehovah your God you must worship, and it is to him alone you must render sacred service.’”

Pretty sure that forbidding priest from marrying is not a JW practice. (1 Timothy 4:1-3)
Pretty sure that JW's believe that the Father is greater than Jesus, the Father is the only true God and Jesus is separate from God. (John 14:28; John 17:3; John 14:1) 

Pretty sure that JW's have no traditions in opposition from scripture.

Well, it is quite unfortunate that at a time when you needed the most guidance to approach something that would so affect your understanding of reality that you were deprived of the guidance you needed to prevent your repeating the major mistakes that all such people as you make.

Unfortunately, what you probably think to be accurate conclusions from your study of the bible is more like a house of cards that lacks any structural integrity and is no match for even the gentlest wind of truth.

Funny that you use a bunch of empty words and deception to hold to your doctrines in opposition to scripture. You are not arguing with me but with the scriptures. Can't you see that?

(Colossians 2:8) Look out that no one takes you captive by means of the philosophy and empty deception according to human tradition, according to the elementary things of the world and not according to Christ;
(Ephesians 5:6) Let no man deceive you with empty words, for because of such things the wrath of God is coming upon the sons of disobedience.

Also, why do you keep leaving threads where we are discussing the Bible just to show up in another with some type of taunt against JW's?