Daily inter mountain. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1881-1901, 1899-08-12
Modern Theology Rebuked
DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY DECLARES THAT MONKEYS. ELEPHANTS
AND OTHER ANIMALS HAVE SOULS LIKE MEN.

Do animals have souls? That is the
question that has troubled the theologi-
cal world for many years, and in spite of
the fact that the most learned men have
given Their most serious thought to the
problem it is practically no nearer a solu-
ton today than it was a generation or
two ago.
Of late. however, there has been a very
decided revival in interest in thiss subject
and the columns of the religious press
have been used freely for the presenta-
ton of theories that would never have
been dreamed of a few years ago. In fact
it has long been the accepted opinion that
the chief difference between man and the
lower animals was to be found in the
fact that the latter possessed nothing
more than a material body, the end of
which was the grave. whereas the more
fortunate human being had been given a
soul or spiritual body that would con-
tinue to exist after life should cease.
This has been the belief of the mass of
religious people. and there are few chill
dren who have not been brought to take
this view of the ma err. That this is the
opinion of the entire religious world, how
ever, has now been shown to have been
far from the truth. for not a few clergy
men have recently come forward to advo-
cate their belief IN the immortality of the
lower animals, and while the question it.
self is naturally one that man can nevet
decide there is reason to believe that the
world may vet change its opinion upon
the subject. and that the same may not
be far distant when those who believe
that man alone has a soul will be in the
hopeless minority.
This recent revival of interest in this
subject is due to the position that has
been taken by several clergymen of prom
inence in the religious world. The leader
in this new school of thought may be said
to be Rev. Forbes Phillips, a clergyman
whose writings, under the name of "Athol
Forbes" are known wherever the English
tongue is read. A few months ago this
gentleman astonished his congregation
by openly insisting that he was of the
opinion that animals had souls, and the
persistent manner in which he has ex.
pounded his belief has led to the wide.
spread discussion that has resulted II
winning many converts to this theory.
Mr.. Phillips does not base his opinion
upon sentimental grounds. but uses argu
ments and Illustrations in support of hi
opinion that must appeal to a mind use(
to logical methods Of reasoning. H
quotes Scripture to prove that the writer
of the Bible never for a m believed
that their animals would not enjoy i'm
mortality with them. Job spoke of tn
spirit Of the man, and the spirit Of tn
beast and other Of the prophets made us
Of expressions that showed plainly tina
this was one subject upon which all mel
held the same opinion. But Mr.. Phillip!
finds one Of the strongest arguments il
the origin and definition of the wore
paradise" a word always used to denot,
the future life. 1t is found in all the an.
Gent languages from the Sanskrit to the
Greek, and in every instance it implies
the same thing. a beautiful park or pleas.
ure garden, inhabited by every kind O.
harmless beast and bird. Here man may
spend eternity surrounded by those whom
he has known and loved during his lif
on earth.
This opinion is by no means a new one
although it has not been accepted by mod