Ancient Faith Today Live - Do All Dogs Really Go to Heaven?

Our pets are beloved household companions. What does Orthodox Christianity teach about animals and the Kingdom of God?

Download the Ancient Faith App:

Follow Ancient Faith on Social Media:

Find Books and Other Resources from Ancient Faith:

Support Ancient Faith Ministries:

About us:
Ancient Faith Ministries exists to carry out the Great Commission of Jesus Christ through accessible and excellently-crafted publications and creative media that educate, edify, and evangelize, leading to a living experience of God through His Holy Orthodox Church.

Ancient Faith Ministries operates with the blessing of the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America.

Ancient Faith Today Live - Do All Dogs Really Go to Heaven?

#orthodoxchurch #easternorthodox #orthodoxy #ancientfaith

[mandyvatougios]

Your blessings father Tom..I really benefit from your podcast and I especially loved this particular podcast..I love animals too...Glory to God for the beautiful creatures He has created for us..regards from the land of kangaroos and koalas😊

[shirleyDGuest]

Thank you for touching on a topic VERY close to my heart. You can do your homework. Some cats and dogs are instinctively travelers and can be taken anywhere they are welcome. I speak from experience when I had a Siamese and long haired alpha female German shepard. Siamese bond with the person not where they live. For 15 years they went to work with me lived on a sailboat, a cabin, an apartment, went camping, visiting. My favorite books and videos for 40 years are done by The Monks of New Skete. You can find them in EVERY library, They recently published an updated book taking into consideration modern tech. PS: various carriers are protection for people and pets because people do not consider appropriate eticate/manners when approaching a pet and it is not safe to leave a pet unattended in a vehicle!!!

[vanessac.]

53:07 This!!!! 💯 Thank You Fr for speaking on this specific issue! It’s so prevalent in our times. I love our family dog which we inherited from our dearest priest and spiritual father after his passing so she is extra special to us. However, absolutely she is still a dog and can never replace the love of a child. To be completely honest I personally distain the term dog mom or pet parent. Thank you again for always speaking with love on all sorts of topics we all need this constant redirecting towards the truth and Christ! ☦️💕🙏🏼

[alfredvickers]

I have to disagree with your characterization of cats. For about a decade, I've had 2 cats, brothers from the same litter, although one passed away from cancer last year. Both of them have always sought us out to spend time with me and my family, showing affection, even at times what might be termed politeness, all without any training. When I've been sick in bed, they jumped up to comfort me. If you treat them well and spend plenty of time with them, cats can be just as affectionate and loyal, though maybe not as obedient, as dogs.

[mylittlehouseofrescues]

Thank you for the wonderful podcast Father! ❤ I have a question for you - have you ever thought about the fact that ONLY humans were thrown out of the Paradise? I reread the Genesis again yesterday, and it mentions that God brought all the animals to Eden for man to give names to them, but it doesn't mention that they were expelled as well, even the serpent! We are the only ones who tasted the fruit of knowledge of good and evil, and therefore we can make a difference between good and bad and can understand the concept of sin. Animals don't have that ability and they were not subject to sin. Salvation refers to remission of sins, and animals don't have any. They are all clean from sin and don't require salvation. They never left Eden! 😊 Something to think about! As for me as a rehabber and someone whose life evolves around taking care of many birds and animals, anthropomorphizing them is ridiculous! But connecting to them and understanding them on the psyche level is an amazing experience! ❤

[tinagilson]

Thank you Father for presenting the spiritual aspects of our relationship with God's creation. I am the founder and president of a domestic rabbit rescue in San Antonio, Texas (shout out to your live chat commentor Elizabeth and her bunny). The Rainbow Bridge belief and the pet parent identity are very strong among many pet people. In my rescue work I try to be respectful without affirming these ideas. Companion animals are not and never will be your 'child'. I see so many young people who have focused all their life on their pets at the cost of not getting married. I strongly believe there is some eternal plan for God's creatures but that's not for humans to make conjectures on. As an Orthodox Christian I view my work in rescue as a way to serve. Rescue work is often not about the animal - rabbit, dog, cat, bird, reptile -but about the difficulties people face in their personal lives. The issues that I've dealt with range from domestic violence and divorce, drug addiction, homelessness, terminal illness and death, mental illness, and incarceration. By helping people in their darkest times with a companion animal that may be the only loving relationship they have in their life, I feel like I am doing my small part to care for God's creation.

[JasonBourneSpeaks]

Dogs? Animals? Could you speak about the souls of abortion?

[amalhawischannel]

This title is so ridiculous. The fathers of the church clearly stated in the Philokalia that barely could rational beings who have the grace of the Nous (νουσ) and the noetic potential of prayers go to heaven (Not even all the rational beings, but only those who believe in the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit could go to heaven and inherit the eternal life)!

A priest should have acquired he least degree of discernment, before delving into distorted sermons