A:

You asked: Why does “God” ordain that our pets cannot join us in the journey to Paradise? This reminds me of the Twilight Zone episode, where the old man and dog were offered a choice to enter “paradise”, but the gatekeeper stipulated that the dog stay behind. The gatekeeper turned out to to work for Satan and that his gate led to Hell. I couldn’t accept this journey if my pets couldn’t come along the way. This is simply unfair, inhumane, and cruel.

Thanks for this question about The Urantia Book and our beloved pets. You are not alone in your feelings about the fact that our pets do not share an eternal existence with us, according to the teachings of The Urantia Book. You call it unfair, inhumane, and cruel – but unfair, inhumane, and cruel to who?

The lot of most animals on earth can be viewed as cruel — most of them are food for those higher up the food chain. To animal lovers, animals help us to become more human and humane so we cherish them for their gifts and of course want to have those associations once we leave this world. And their mere presence in our lives do help us become better people, in many cases – those ideals are positive and eternal acquirements that help form our immortal souls.

But when we leave here we also leave our baggage behind. Over my life I have had about a dozen dog and cat pets and been friends with many others. So when I get to heaven do I have all of them crowding around me for attention? Just like the new dog can take a place in your heart after the old dog has died, so too will new kinds of animal associations take the place of the old ones once we leave here. And – those qualities of devotion, duty, care, and love that we cultivate as a result of having pets go with us, even if the pets themselves do not.

Thanks again for your question…