The ability to suffer is independent of having a soul, and cruelty is unjustifiable regardless of whether souls are present. While some spiritual traditions and Christian thinkers believe animals have souls, theologian C.S. Lewis suggests that animals, lacking the chance to enjoy an afterlife, are entitled to even greater compassion during their earthly lives.
Religion plays a significant role in many people’s lives and shapes how they view the relationship between humans and animals. While some beliefs prioritize human dominion, others advocate compassion and interconnectedness, challenging objections to veganism that are based on the concept of a soul.
The existence of a soul is not relevant.
There is no logical reason having a soul should be a requirement for moral consideration. Having immortality would make a difference about what happens when our bodies die but not about how we should be treated while we are alive.
The vileness of slitting the throat of a cow, chicken, goat, or any sentient being is unrelated to whether that being has a soul. If you saw someone mercilessly kicking a dog or beating a pig with a whip, would your first thought be that this is perfectly OK because these animals do not have a soul?
Some believe that animals do have souls.
Some believe the Christian bible teaches that animals have souls.
Note: We are only relating to a Christian perspective here, as most of our readers are from predominantly Christian countries.
- Elijah D. Buckner, in his 1903 book The Immortality of Animals, concludes, “The Bible, without the shadow of a doubt, recognizes that animals have living souls the same as man.”1
- Pope John Paul II declared to a public audience in 1990 that “the animals possess a soul and men must love and feel solidarity with our smaller brethren.”2
- Job 12:10 teaches that in God’s hand “is the soul of every living thing, and the breath of all mankind.”3
Many indigenous peoples believe that animals have souls.
The absence of a soul could elicit better treatment, not worse.
Philosopher Tom Regan believes that C. S. Lewis, one of the most important Christian theologians of the 20th century, turns this topic on its head:
- According to Regan, C. S. Lewis believed that because animals do not have souls, they deserve higher moral consideration because there is no possibility they will enjoy compensation in an afterlife.6
Claim: The discussion of souls is irrelevant because there is no evidence that souls exist.
This briefing is a response to an objection to veganism and animal rights from people who hold the belief that souls exist in humans. Therefore, it’s relevant to them.
Definitions of “Soul“
- Merriam-Webster: Defines “soul” as “the immaterial essence, animating principle, or actuating cause of an individual life.”7
- Cambridge Dictionary: Describes “soul” as “the spiritual part of a person that some people believe continues to exist in some form after their body has died, or the part of a person that is not physical and experiences deep feelings and emotions.”8
Other Resources
The article “Have Animals Souls? The Late-Nineteenth Century Spiritual Revival and Animal Welfare” discusses, among other things, how various religious and philosophical influences led to the belief that animals possess rational souls and deserve compassionate treatment.
Jon Miltimore examines C.S. Lewis’ view that higher forms of life, particularly domestic animals, might experience a hereafter.
This Wikipedia article on Souls examines how different religions, philosophies, and cultures view the immaterial essence or animating force of living beings, particularly regarding consciousness, identity, and immortality.
Advocacy Notes
Tips for Advocacy and Outreach
General Tips
A number of objections to veganism based on religion may be difficult to overcome because they stem from deeply held beliefs about the nature of existence and humanity’s place within it.
Regardless of your personal beliefs, it is not productive to challenge the existence of a soul when speaking with those who firmly believe in one. Such beliefs are typically deeply held and unlikely to change.
The most effective approach is to explain why the existence or non-existence of a soul is irrelevant to the topic at hand.
Segue the Conversation Back to Animal Ethics
It’s always good to get back to ethics as soon as possible.
- “If a cow screams in pain while being killed, does it matter whether it has a soul?”
- “If someone was kicking a dog, would you stop them? Or would you say, ‘It’s fine, the dog doesn’t have a soul’?”
- “Even if we accept that animals don’t have souls, does that mean we can mistreat them?”
Why? This forces them to confront the moral inconsistency of their position.
Challenge Their Assumptions on Their Own Terms
If they are religious, challenge their assumption within their own belief system:
- “Actually, some Christian teachings say animals have souls. Pope John Paul II stated that ‘animals possess a soul, and men must love and feel solidarity with our smaller brethren.’”
- “If animals don’t have souls and no chance of an afterlife, wouldn’t that mean we owe them even greater kindness in this life? C.S. Lewis thought so.”
- “Job 12:10 says that in God’s hand ‘is the soul of every living thing.’ So, does that mean animals have souls too?”
Why? This shakes their confidence in their argument without direct confrontation.
Show Them the Existence of a Soul is Irrelevant
“If we discovered tomorrow that humans don’t have souls, would that mean it’s okay to kill us?”
Why? This exposes the moral irrelevance of the soul argument.
Get Them Thinking
If they start getting defensive, don’t push—leave them with a thought-provoking question:
- “I get that you believe animals don’t have souls. But if avoiding their suffering is easy, why not choose kindness?”
- “If it were proven tomorrow that animals have souls, would that change your view on veganism?”
- “If animals don’t have souls and no afterlife, wouldn’t that mean we owe them even greater kindness in this life?”
Why? This keeps them thinking rather than shutting down.
- Buckner, E. D. The Immortality Of Animals: And The Relation Of Man As Guardian, From A Biblical And Philosophical Hypothesis. Kessinger Publishing, LLC, 2006, p. 38. ↩︎
- CantonRep, The Repository. “The Soul of Your Pet.” March 15, 2013. ↩︎
- The Bible, King James Version. Job 12:10 ↩︎
- Ojibwa. “Some American Indian Beliefs About an Afterlife.” Native American Netroots, June 22, 2015. ↩︎
- Danchevskaya, Oksana Y. “Concept of Soul among North American Indians.” Proceedings for the National Academy of Sciences. 2011. pp. 89-96. ↩︎
- Jackson Ethics Center. Animal Rights and Environmental Wrong. YouTube, 2012. Timestamp: 25:40. Accessed January 17, 2024. ↩︎
- “Definition of SOUL.” Merriam-Webster.com, November 24, 2024. AccessedJanuary 16, 2025. ↩︎
- Cambridge Dictionary. “Soul.” Cambridge University, 2022. Accessed 16 Jan. 2025. ↩︎