# Did dinosaurs have souls? **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [November 5, 2001, 3:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-dinosaurs-have-souls/91611 "2001-11-05T15:37:26Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Lolo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f475e1/32.png) [@Lolo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lolo)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2001, 3:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-dinosaurs-have-souls/91611/1 "2001-11-05T15:37:26Z")
Do all of a supposed God’s creations have souls? If so, did dinosaurs have souls? Also, did humans always have souls? Or did the soul evolve as did the human? Do all theists believe in the soul of humans? discuss ---
**Author:** ![grimpixie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/ecb155/32.png) [@grimpixie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/grimpixie)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2001, 3:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-dinosaurs-have-souls/91611/2 "2001-11-05T15:44:31Z")
> [@](#): > > The LORD God formed the man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being. The Hebrew word for “breath” is _ruach_ - also often translated as “spirit”. This is where the “soul” comes from, and (according to Genesis) humans are the only ones to possess it. This is also why we are made in God’s **image** - we have his Spirit within us… > [@](#): > > Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, in our likeness, \.” So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them. Gp ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2001, 3:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-dinosaurs-have-souls/91611/3 "2001-11-05T15:47:43Z")
Good question, the crationists have the neatest answer, in that it all started about six thousand years ago and that only humans have souls, unfortunately the creationist position lacks certain other qualities. ---
**Author:** ![Waverly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/57b2e6/32.png) [@Waverly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Waverly)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2001, 3:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-dinosaurs-have-souls/91611/4 "2001-11-05T15:53:25Z")
If Barney can be used as an archaeological example, I would have to say that no, dinosaurs are decidedly soulless. Taking the question more seriously for a moment (despite my better judgment); if humans _do_ have souls, then it would be likely IMO that all animals do as well, and the whole bunch of us would always have had them. There is no physical construct to evolve, and evolution (more accurately selection) occurs on a physical level. Is this another attempt to attack religion using a different tact? ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2001, 4:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-dinosaurs-have-souls/91611/5 "2001-11-05T16:13:13Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Waverly \* > \*\*Is this another attempt to attack religion using a different tact? \*\* Are you implying that **Lolo** has an _agenda_ here? :eek: surely not. ---
**Author:** ![Lolo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f475e1/32.png) [@Lolo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lolo)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2001, 4:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-dinosaurs-have-souls/91611/6 "2001-11-05T16:20:07Z")
> [@](#): > > _Originally posted by Waverly \*\*\* > Taking the question more seriously for a moment (despite my better judgment); if humans do have souls, then it would be likely IMO that all animals do as well, and the whole bunch of us would always have had them. There is no physical construct to evolve, and evolution (more accurately selection) occurs on a physical level._\* If all animals have souls, is it wrong then to kill any animal? Many people feel it is. IMNSHO, I find nothing wrong with killing animals so long as the killing is justified(be it for necessity et al). But if carnivores know no other way to survive, is it a sin for them to kill other animals? are lions sinners? sharks? or is it necessity? What, then, is the point of creating a soul if it will undoubtedly be destroyed? If the God created the dinosours, why did he destroy them? \*\* > [@](#): > > Is this another attempt to attack religion using a different tact? \*\* I need not attack religion. It collapses upon itself. ---
**Author:** ![Tars\_Tarkas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Tars\_Tarkas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tars_Tarkas)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2001, 4:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-dinosaurs-have-souls/91611/7 "2001-11-05T16:28:59Z")
Yes!-- They had Dino-souls!! Actually, I fall into the belief that some animals do possess souls, as some animals are better people than so-called real humans. Now, i don’t think they get the same moral code as us to follow, as certain impulses are for them impossible to suppress. Now, dinosaurs are suffeciently cool enough that i think they would make a neat addition in heaven, so i bet some of them are there. But you never know about such things. And i think Barney would be an example of a Dino that sold it’s soul for fame, and paid the price b becoming lame. Don’t make deals with the devil, kids, don’t be like Barney! ---
**Author:** ![Waverly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/57b2e6/32.png) [@Waverly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Waverly)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2001, 4:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-dinosaurs-have-souls/91611/8 "2001-11-05T16:33:32Z")
Lions and sharks can kill so long as they attend confession regularly or tithe 10% of their income for the expressed purpose of purchasing indulgences. Souls [should they exist] by definition survive beyond physical death; your point about them being ‘destroyed’ eludes me. Do you have study hall this period? ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2001, 4:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-dinosaurs-have-souls/91611/9 "2001-11-05T16:36:02Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Lolo \* > \*\*I need not attack religion. It collapses upon itself. \*\* It’s taking a long time to do that, don’t you think? ---
**Author:** ![Lolo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f475e1/32.png) [@Lolo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lolo)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2001, 4:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-dinosaurs-have-souls/91611/10 "2001-11-05T16:42:56Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Waverly \* > **Souls [should they exist] by definition survive beyond physical death; your point about them being ‘destroyed’ eludes me.** I should have be more careful. Why create a **body** with a \*\*soul[/], only to destroy the body? The popular human concept of “be good here get rewarded later” seems to be directly tied in with having a soul as the soul is transcendent. Why create a transcendant soul with a body so readily destroyed? What is the point of a soul-having rat? \*\* > [@](#): > > Do you have study hall this period? \*\* Yes. ---
**Author:** ![Lolo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f475e1/32.png) [@Lolo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lolo)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2001, 4:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-dinosaurs-have-souls/91611/11 "2001-11-05T16:45:51Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Mangetout \* > \*\* > > > [@](#): > > > > \*Originally posted by Lolo \* > > \*\*I need not attack religion. It collapses upon itself. \*\* > > It’s taking a long time to do that, don’t you think? \*\* have you ever destroyed an ant pile? ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2001, 4:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-dinosaurs-have-souls/91611/12 "2001-11-05T16:51:03Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Lolo \* > \*\* > > > [@](#): > > > > \*Originally posted by Mangetout \* > > \*\* > > > > > [@](#): > > > > > > \*Originally posted by Lolo \* > > > \*\*I need not attack religion. It collapses upon itself. \*\* > > > > It’s taking a long time to do that, don’t you think? \*\* > > have you ever destroyed an ant pile? \*\* Nope, I wouldn’t dare; those little critters have _souls_ 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Tars\_Tarkas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Tars\_Tarkas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tars_Tarkas)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2001, 4:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-dinosaurs-have-souls/91611/13 "2001-11-05T16:51:32Z")
> [@](#): > > If the God created the dinosours, why did he destroy them? They had 250 million years to evolve to the point where they could shoot down asteroids. Their failure to do so just shows them as slackers. Sloth is one of the deadly sins. Therefore–\> dead dinos! ---
**Author:** ![Lolo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f475e1/32.png) [@Lolo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lolo)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2001, 5:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-dinosaurs-have-souls/91611/14 "2001-11-05T17:01:05Z")
I see the wise ass patrol is out and about today. Do not for a moment think such behavior goes unappreciated. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2001, 5:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-dinosaurs-have-souls/91611/15 "2001-11-05T17:07:37Z")
It is, in fact, a very good question **Lolo** , to which we’ve not yet done justice; I’ll be back later to try again. ---
**Author:** ![Lolo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f475e1/32.png) [@Lolo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lolo)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2001, 5:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-dinosaurs-have-souls/91611/16 "2001-11-05T17:08:54Z")
If all animals have souls shouldn’t a few of them be aware of God? and we can say they are not insomuch as they show no signs of ever worshipping God. no churches, temples, etc. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2001, 5:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-dinosaurs-have-souls/91611/17 "2001-11-05T17:11:37Z")
Perhaps this is merely an indication that god does not delight in temples etc. ---
**Author:** ![Darwins\_Finch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darwins_finch/32/20304_2.png) [@Darwins\_Finch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darwins_Finch)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2001, 5:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-dinosaurs-have-souls/91611/18 "2001-11-05T17:16:09Z")
From the Creationist standpoint, it seems to me that there is an easy answer (as **Mangetout** alluded earlier): God created Man with souls, and likely did not give them to animals. What I would be interested in is how Christians who allow for evolution to have occurred account for the possibility of an afterlife. **Note** : No agenda here! Honest curiosity! Specifically, the afterlife (heaven, hell, whatever) requires some sort of intangible “soul” (or spirit, or something) to remain after death. If one accepts evolution, then at what point did Man obtain a soul (that is, at what point would early man have been considered by God to be worthy of the addition of a soul)? Or where they there all along, therefore being present in all (animal) life? What, if any, are the moral implications of animals having souls? ---
**Author:** ![Lolo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f475e1/32.png) [@Lolo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lolo)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2001, 5:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-dinosaurs-have-souls/91611/19 "2001-11-05T17:19:33Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Mangetout \* > \*\*Perhaps this is merely an indication that god does not delight in temples etc. \*\* an indication religion collapses upon itself? ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2001, 5:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-dinosaurs-have-souls/91611/20 "2001-11-05T17:23:08Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Lolo \* > \*\* > > > [@](#): > > > > \*Originally posted by Mangetout \* > > \*\*Perhaps this is merely an indication that god does not delight in temples etc. \*\* > > an indication religion collapses upon itself? \*\* I don’t understand; please elaborate. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-dinosaurs-have-souls/91611.md?page=2)