Latest news with #theology
Times
8 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Times
Justin Welby fails to surprise with no hope for Pope
Justin Welby may have said that his ousting as Archbishop of Canterbury was based on a flawed report, but he is courting less controversy by asserting that he is unlikely to become Pope. Asked what his papal name would be, he opted for either Hadrian or Francis, but was keen to stress that a Welby papacy would be unlikely. 'I have had six children, therefore there is some evidence that I've not been entirely celibate,' he said, adding that he was also a 'lousy theologian'. Still, this needn't rule him out as a Pope, if the Borgias were anything to go by. Welby remarked: 'It was a Borgia who said, 'Since God has given us the papacy, we may as well enjoy it'. ' Glastonbury brings together the revolutionaries and the posh, and this year is throwing together particularly strange bedfellows. The other night, the same backstage VIP bar was frequented by the controversial band Kneecap and the uncontroversial Samantha Cameron. It's not like they have nothing in common, though. For instance, as she was a PM's wife, both have benefited from government money. Jeffrey Archer's success is not as impressive as it sounds. The former Tory MP's first novel, Not a Penny More, Not a Penny Less, is still topping bestsellers' lists after racking up 25,000 sales last month, but he points out that this is worldwide and it's not all that impressive when you divide it by 151 countries. 'I got a call from Iceland saying your latest book is number one in the bestsellers' list,' he tells the Rosebud podcast. Archer, right, was filled with pride, until he asked how many copies had taken him to this giddy height. The answer was 83. Much excitement on the left this week about the potential for a new Jeremy Corbyn-led party. Many are saying that polls have shown it would get 10 per cent of the vote, but the pollster Joe Twyman offers a note of caution. 'May I gently suggest that 'would' is doing a lot of heavy lifting here,' he said. 'I say that as the official pollster for Change UK.' It is official — politicians don't talk like humans. A study to be published in Comparative Political Studies has found that politicians' speeches become more interminable as soon as they are elected. The study looked at 1.5 million extracts from speeches by Danish parliamentarians across a quarter of a century from 1997. It found that the speeches became less readable after the speaker was elected but this reverted as soon as their career ended. It's cited by the political scientist Philip Cowley in his latest for The House. 'You campaign in poetry, govern in prose,' he says, 'but even the prose suffers when in office.' With books like his new history of St Petersburg, the author Sinclair McKay has become an adept copy editor, but he learnt the craft the hard way. He used to be a diarist and tells me he got into terrible trouble when he wrote a piece about the political salon host Lady Carla Powell. She was furious about one word. He admits it was probably an error to call her 'fawnlike' in the first place, but what was worse was that he also got the third letter wrong and had to explain to Powell that he hadn't meant to suggest she was half-man, half-goat.
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Are Christians Biblically Obliged To Support Israel? Cruz-Carlson Clash Fuels Debate
The viral interview between Tucker Carlson and Senator Ted Cruz has sparked a fierce theological debate among American Christians: Are Christians biblically commanded to support the modern state of Israel? The exchange occurred during an episode of Carlson's online show, The Tucker Carlson Encounter, which streamed on X and was released on June 18, 2025. In the interview, Cruz strongly defended his pro-Israel stance in light of the escalating Israel-Iran conflict. 'Growing up in Sunday school, I was taught from the Bible that those who bless Israel will be blessed and those who curse Israel will be cursed. And from my perspective, I want to be on the blessing side of things,' Cruz told Carlson. Carlson pressed further, asking, 'We are commanded as Christians to support the government of Israel?' 'We are commanded to support Israel,' Cruz replied. 'Define Israel,' Carlson pushed back. The exchange quickly spread online, prompting pastors, theologians, and conservative leaders across the country to weigh in. Carlson's question—delivered in his signature, low-toned cadence—was direct: 'Are we as Christians commanded to support the government of Israel?' At the core of the debate is Carlson's question—what exactly does 'Israel' mean in a biblical context? Is it a geopolitical state, an ethnic group, or a spiritual identity? This ambiguity has long divided Christians, particularly evangelicals, about whether the biblical covenant applies to the modern nation-state of Israel. In response, several pastors have weighed in on the debate. Pastor Lance Cashion of Kings Cross Fellowship in Fort Worth urged caution in applying Old Testament verses directly to modern political states. 'The exchange between Carlson and Cruz on such a huge public platform is a good thing. It brings a very important issue to the forefront. It reveals a deep theological divide among American Christians over the past 100 years. As Christians, we must be extremely cautious about how God's pronouncements in Scripture are applied to the spheres of government, countries, nations, and peoples.' 'As such, we must think in biblical categories using proper theology. As history has shown, taking Bible verses out of context can have devastating historical implications. Like the Men of Issachar, we must have understanding of the times. Like the Bereans, we must look to Scripture for wisdom,' Pastor Cashion told The Dallas Express. Cashion added that both Iran and Israel need repentance and to believe in Christ. 'The fastest-growing church in the world is in Iran. Therefore, the Christian prayer for the Ayatollah and Bibi is the same: that they would repent of their sin, believe the gospel, and lead their nations in righteousness and peace.' Pastor Landon Schott of Mercy Culture Church in Fort Worth called hatred of Israel demonic. 'Either you really care about justice or you are pretending to be a social warrior because you are not a biblical justice warrior. It is tolerated, it is permitted, it is celebrated—because it's demonic.' Pastor Bruce Mejia of First Works Baptist Church in Anaheim, CA, offered a strong rebuke of Cruz's theology. 'Ted Cruz, unfortunately, has embraced Zionist propaganda that has infiltrated many churches and led countless believers to think they must unconditionally support the modern state of Israel,' Pastor Mejia told The Dallas Express. Mejia continued. 'Contrary to the narrative promoted by mainstream Christianity, the Bible does not command believers to support Israel. Many Christians have been conditioned to believe that the promises made to Abraham in Genesis 12:1-3 should be applied to the modern nation-state of Israel. However, the New Testament, particularly Galatians 3:16, makes it clear that these promises ultimately refer to Jesus Christ and, by extension, to all believers.' (Genesis 12:3: 'I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse…')(Galatians 3:16: 'The promises were spoken to Abraham and to his seed… meaning one person, who is Christ.') 'Moreover, Scripture warns against supporting individuals, organizations, or nations that openly reject and blaspheme Jesus Christ. By that standard, the modern state of Israel—which explicitly denies Jesus as the Messiah—falls into this category. Politicians like Ted Cruz should stop misusing Scripture to advance political agendas that are not grounded in the full counsel of God's Word.' Pastor Troy B. Jackson of New Beginnings Church in Bedford defended Cruz's position. 'Tucker raises fair questions every republic should ask before it swings a sword. But his isolationist instinct overshoots the runway. Christians who read their Bibles—and conservatives who revere the Founders' moral universe—cannot treat Israel like just another ZIP code on the foreign-policy map,' Pastor Jackson told The Dallas Express. Pastor Larry Huch, also with New Beginnings Church in Bedford, commented. 'God's covenant with Israel is forever, and Genesis 12:3 still rings: 'I will bless those who bless the nation of Israel.' That's not preacher-talk; it's a covenant clause older than the Constitution itself,' Pastor Huch remarked. 'Pray for the peace of Jerusalem (Psalm 122:6), lobby Congress to keep Iran's mullahs awake at night, and let's bless what God blesses,' Pastor Jackson added. Messianic Jewish leader Dr. Ron Cantor responded to the Carlson-Cruz exchange in an open letter. While he acknowledged Cruz's misquote, he argued that the question 'Is modern Israel biblical Israel?' has a theological answer grounded in Scripture. Cantor cited prophecies from Ezekiel 36, Amos 9, Jeremiah 16, and Romans 11 to argue that the 20th-century return of Jews to Israel is a literal fulfillment of biblical promises. He emphasized: 'The gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable.'— Romans 11:29 Cantor further contended that the reestablishment of Israel after 2,000 years is without historical precedent and cannot be explained apart from divine intervention. In a 2023 podcast from Desiring God, American theologian Pastor John Piper addressed this divide directly. 'A non-covenant-keeping people does not have a divine right to hold the land of promise.' 'A people in treason against her King cannot lay legitimate claim on the King's promises to a covenant-keeping people.' Piper argued that both Jews and Palestinians should be treated with justice — not theological favoritism — and that modern land disputes must be resolved on moral and civic grounds, not prophetic claims. The theological debate has real-world consequences: for many voters and policymakers, belief in Israel's biblical role directly shapes how the U.S. allocates aid, votes in the UN, and responds to Middle Eastern conflict. As debate over the Israel-Iran conflict deepens, Carlson and Cruz have touched off more than a foreign policy disagreement—they've exposed a foundational divide over how Scripture should inform politics, diplomacy, and the Christian conscience. The Dallas Express reached out to Senator Cruz's office but did not receive a response by the time of publication.
Daily Mail
18-06-2025
- Politics
- Daily Mail
Ted Cruz gives even wilder justification for his Israel support in new Tucker Carlson clip
Senator Ted Cruz is backing Israel wholeheartedly in its war against Iran because of a passage in the Bible which tells Christians 'those who bless Israel will be blessed.' In a heated back-and-forth with former Fox firebrand Tucker Carlson, Cruz attempted to justify why he has been calling for Trump to help overthrow the Iranian regime amid increasing anxiety over America's involvement in conflict in the Middle East. 'Growing up in Sunday school I was taught from the Bible, those who bless Israel will be blessed, and those who curse Israel will be cursed,' he told Carlson. Carlson had repeatedly humiliated Cruz with a series of 'gotcha' questions during the sit-down, which earlier culminated in a jaw dropping revelation from the politician that America was directly involved in 'carrying out military strikes' on Iran. And Carlson again capitalized when Cruz began addressing theology, asking Cruz exactly where in the Bible was the verse he referenced. 'I can find it,' Cruz said. 'I don't have the scripture off the tip of my...' he said, urging Carlson to 'pull out [his] phone' to search for it. 'It's in Genesis,' Carlson said. 'You're quoting a Bible phrase you don't have context for, you don't know where in the Bible it is... that's your theology?' Carlson continued, asking Cruz to clarify whether the Bible called for 'blessing the government of Israel.' 'I'm a Christian,' he said. 'I want to know what you're talking about... I'm confused.' Cruz doubled down, explaining: 'Where does my support for Israel come from? Number one, because biblically we are commanded to support Israel... It doesn't say the government of Israel, it says the nation of Israel. So that's in the Bible. As a Christian, I believe that.' Tensions escalated as the two men spoke over the top of one another and Carlson said: 'Hold on, you're a senator and now you're throwing out theology. I'm a Christian and I'm allowed to weigh in on this. 'We're commanded as Christians to support the government of Israel? Define Israel. This is important. Are you kidding? This is a majority Christian country.' Cruz hit back: 'Define Israel? Do you not know what Israel is? That would be the country you've asked like 49 questions about.' 'So that's what Genesis - that's what God is talking about?' Carlson said. 'Is that the current borders, the current leadership, he's talking about the political entity of Israel. 'Is the nation God is referring to in Genesis the same country Benjamin Netanyahu is running now?' Carlson has made no secret of his disdain for Trump 'abandoning his America First policies' amid the escalating conflict between Israel and Iran. His position on the conflict has put him at odds with the president, who is locked in tense crisis talks with his inner circle as he debates ramping up US involvement in the conflict. Cruz's statement that America has been 'carrying out military strikes' already was a major departure from everything the Trump administration had said about US involvement up until this stage - a point that was not lost on Carlson. 'You said Israel was [carrying out strikes],' Carlson said, to which Cruz responded: 'I've said we. Israel is leading them, but we're supporting them.' 'You're breaking news here,' Carlson said. 'The US government last night denied... on behalf of Trump, that we're acting on Israel's behalf in any offensive capacity.' Cruz appeared to backpedal on his statement, then telling Carlson: 'No, we're not bombing them. Israel is bombing them.' Carlson said: 'You just said we were. This is high stakes. You're a senator. If you're saying the United States is at war with Iran right now, people are listening.' The conservative commentator's earlier line of questioning had put Cruz under pressure and highlighted just how little he knows about the region. 'How many people live in Iran, by the way?' Carlson had asked. 'I don't know the population,' Cruz accepted, much to Carlson's horror as he quipped: 'At all?' 'You don't know the population of the people you're trying to topple?' Carlson added. Cruz tried to turn the tables back on Carlson, asking him for the number, to which the podcast host immediately responded: '92 million.' 'How could you not know that?' Carlson said. 'It's kind of relevant because you're calling for the overthrow of the government.' By this stage, the men were shouting over the top of one another as Cruz frantically tried to defend himself, first arguing 'I don't sit around memorizing population tables', before adding: 'Why is it relevant whether it's 90 million or 80 million.' Carlson, who appeared incredulous at the question, began to explain why he found it important 'if you don't know anything about the country', but was cut off by Cruz who said: 'I didn't say I don't know anything about Iran.' 'Okay,' Carlson countered, 'what is the ethnic mix of Iran?' Cruz stumbled over his answer, naming Persians and 'predominately Shia' before he was cut off by Carlson, who said again: 'What percent? You don't know anything on Iran.' Finally Cruz cracked, shouting: 'Okay, I'm not the Tucker Carlson expert on Iran.' Carlson said: 'You're the Senator who is calling for the overthrow of the government and you don't know anything about the country.' Both Israel and Iran launched fresh strikes at each other overnight, as Iran's Revolutionary Guard said it launched a 'more powerful' new wave of missiles at Israel. Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei warned: 'The battle begins... We will show the Zionists no mercy.' Trump and Carlson have had a high-profile falling out amid Carlson's public criticism of the assault on Iran. Trump wrote Monday night on Truth social: 'Somebody please explain to kooky Tucker Carlson that,' IRAN CAN NOT HAVE A NUCLEAR WEAPON!' Earlier in the day, he said: 'I don't know what Tucker Carlson is saying. Let him go get a television network and say it so that people listen.'
New York Times
17-06-2025
- Politics
- New York Times
Walter Brueggemann, Theologian Who Argued for the Poor, Dies at 92
Walter Brueggemann, an influential theologian who used biblical exegesis to argue against nationalism, racial injustice and ignoring the poor, died on June 5 in Traverse City, Mich. He was 92. His death, in a hospice facility, was announced on his website and by the Columbia Theological Seminary in Decatur, Ga., where he was a professor emeritus. Dr. Brueggemann was a rare scholar of the Bible who combined close textual analysis of the Hebrew prophets with a sociological consciousness. Just as these prophets denounced Pharaoh and the oppression of their time, he argued, latter-day prophets should oppose the oppressive traits, like consumerism, militarism and nationalism, that dominate American life. His best-known book was 'The Prophetic Imagination' (1978), which has sold more than a million copies, according to Publishers Weekly. But there were dozens of others, including collections of his sermons and guides to studying the Old Testament. Dr. Brueggemann's work, while little known to the general reading public, is widely used in seminaries. Jim Wallis, a progressive evangelist and theologian who heads Georgetown University's Center on Faith and Justice, said in an interview that Dr. Brueggemann was 'our best biblical scholar of the prophets — and he became one himself.' 'There are court prophets, prophets who just speak to what the king wants them to say,' Mr. Wallis said, 'and then there are the biblical prophets who speak up for the poorest and most marginal.' Dr. Brueggemann, he said, was akin to the second kind. Want all of The Times? Subscribe.
CNN
08-06-2025
- General
- CNN
‘Pawprints on my heart': How bonding with a pet becomes a religious experience
James Taylor is a prominent Canadian theologian who has written 15 books on faith and grief, taught religion at several colleges and been the recipient of an honorary Doctor of Divinity degree. But one of his greatest spiritual teachers was a companion who liked to chase ducks and steal Taylor's underwear — and whose most prestigious award was being honored by a local newspaper as its Pet of the Week. His friend was 'Brick,' a high-spirited, purebred Irish Setter that Taylor rescued with his wife, Joan. During Brick's first night in his new home, he managed to topple Taylor's border lamp, scatter his glasses and sweep his alarm clock off a nightstand. When Taylor awakened the next morning he discovered Brick slumbering, with one hind leg sticking up through a lampshade. Over time, though, Brick proved to be a rock. He stood by Taylor's side when he was ill and loved him no matter what. Taylor says the depth of feelings he gradually developed for Brick showed him that some of the most profound moments in life — falling hopelessly in love; feeling a newborn's baby's hand close around your finger; watching a daughter walk down a wedding aisle — could not be captured by sermons. 'My father was a minister, so I grew up in a world of words,' Taylor says. 'I thought wisdom came to me by the words that I read in the Bible or a book on theology. The thing that animals taught me is that God doesn't speak to us just in words but in our experiences. God reaches us through our experiences, and animals are a part of that experience.' Many books and studies in recent years have explored why so many people are leaving organized religion. But few scholars have explored another trend: The growing number of people who've found that bonding with their pets becomes a spiritual experience. We are in the middle of the Great Pet Awakening — a surge of people who say that owning a pet is a religious experience. In a post-pandemic era when many people still live in isolation, more pet owners are saying their furry friends are not mere companions. They are 'partners in a spiritual journey,' according to David Michie, an author and Buddhist commentator. This awakening is due in part to math. Pet ownership in the US has risen over the past 30 years. At least 66% of Americans say they own a pet, up from 56% in 1988. Virtually all people consider their pets members of the family. The other reason for this trend is more intangible. More people are publicly sharing how owning a pet led them to develop spiritual habits traditionally taught by religion. Pets, they say, teach them about forgiveness and the importance of fellowshipping with others. Pets also embody grace — they accept humans as they are. Pets also prompt many of their owners to confront a heavy theological question: Does Fido have a soul? It's common for pet owners to ask online forums what happens to their pets when they die. That curiosity has spawned a new literary genre: pet psychics who assure people that yes, 'some angels choose furs over feathers.' Books such as 'Yes, Pets Do Go to Heaven' and 'The Amazing Afterlife of Animals' assure people that their departed now frolic in celestial meadows. Some psychics offer pet owners even more consolation: a chance to hear personalized messages from their pets in the Great Beyond. Matt Fraser, a psychic medium and author of 'We Never Die: Secrets of the Afterlife,' says he offers a spiritual connection between people and pets. It turns out that pets have a lot to say. Fraser holds seances to help people connect with the spirits of their loved ones. He says it's not unusual for pets to break through his sessions with humans to communicate with their former owners. Fraser, who starred in a reality show called 'Meet the Frasers,' says he believes some pets in the afterlife find other ways to communicate with their former owners in the physical world. 'So next time you hear a faint bark, see a toy where it doesn't belong, or feel a warm, familiar presence by your side, take it as a sign—your spirit pet is saying hello,' Fraser wrote in one essay. Some people mourn more over the passing of their pets than their relatives, Fraser tells CNN. 'Nobody really understands how these animals really grow on you, how much you love them until it's too deep,' says Fraser, who owns three Bengal cats. 'When we lose them, people grieve and say, 'God, I never expected to grieve so hard.' ' It opens up a whole different side of your heart, just like children do.' If a pet psychic sounds like too much, consider this: Animals have been considered conduits to the spiritual world through much of human history. Ancient Egyptians treated cats as divine symbols and thought they provided companionship to their masters in the afterlife (many were buried with them in tombs). Many ancient religions believed animals functioned as 'spirit guides,' appearing to human beings in dreams and daily life to offer wisdom and guidance. Have you ever heard a person say they saw a red cardinal after someone close to them died? The cardinal is popularly viewed as a spirit guide. The connection between pets and spirituality is not limited to one religion. A Pew Research Center poll released last month revealed that a majority of adults in Muslim, Christian, Hindu and Jewish countries believe that animals can have spirits or spiritual energies. No less of a spiritual authority than the late Pope Francis said there's a place for pets in paradise. While comforting a boy whose dog died, Francis told him: 'One day, we will see our animals again in the eternity of Christ. Paradise is open to all creatures.' Another revered spiritual leader, Mahatma Gandhi, also believed that animals are sacred. 'To my mind, the life of a lamb is no less precious than that of a human being,' said the nonviolent activist who helped lead India to independence from England in 1947. 'I hold that the more helpless a creature, the more entitled it is to protection from the cruelty of man.' There are times, though, that pets owners feel helpless. That's when many of them say having a pet deepens their spirituality. The faith of Taylor, the author and minister, was tested by a cruel succession of personal losses. His son, Stephen, died at 21 from cystic fibrosis. He watched Non-Hodgkin lymphoma destroy his mother's body. He saw his then 93-year-old father — a minister with three honorary divinity degrees — struggle with pain in his final days. When Taylor asked his father which hymns and Scriptures he wanted read at his memorial service, his father said, 'I don't care. I won't be there.' At one point, Taylor was no longer sure he believed in life after death. Yet Brick had a way of sensing his mood and comforting him, Taylor says. He recalls what happened once when he fell ill. 'I went and sprawled on my couch, feeling sorry for myself,' Taylor tells CNN. 'And for the first time, Brick jumped on the couch and curled up against me. He recognized that I was in pain and suffering. It wasn't just enough to lick my face.' Companions like Brick provide what God also promises, Taylor wrote in 'The Spirituality of Pets,' a book that explores the link between pets and faith. 'Pets probably come as close to giving and receiving unconditional love as we can come in this flawed world,' he wrote. Pets also can provide healing, some owners say. This claim is backed up by science. Owning a pet can lower a person's blood pressure and the release of cortisol, a stress-related hormone. Among people who suffer strokes, pet owners live longer than those without animal companions. Service dogs can sense oncoming seizures in their owners, while some say cats can recognize the presence of cancer. Pets can heal psychological scars as well. Some prisons allow inmates to adopt pets. The experience of caring for another living creature has been found to soften inmates' anger, allowing some to experience warmth and affection for the first time in their lives. A growing number of churches now recognize the spiritual dimension to pet ownership. Many offer blessing ceremonies for pets and others have turned church grounds into dog parks to attract new members. Some Christians have created ministries such as Canines for Christ, which provides dogs to patients at children's hospitals, nursing homes and hospice facilities. Unlike people, pets don't judge. Taylor tells a story in his book about a service dog who was escorted into a hospital room, looked past the burn-scarred face of the patient and 'with the wag of its tail,' conveyed to the man, 'I love you.'' Pets also can help their owners confront the ultimate mystery of life that religion addresses: how to make peace with one's mortality. Pets don't tend to live as long as their owners. For some children, losing a pet is their first exposure to death. For some adults, watching a pet die illuminates their spiritual beliefs. That's what happened to Scott Dill. He and his wife, Tara, are longtime dog lovers. One of their favorites was 'Socks,' a black-and-white Shih Tzu rescue. They clicked with Socks right from the beginning. He had a placid temperament and immediately allowed their two daughters, Hyland and Lydia, to walk him by leash. He wasn't aggressive with other dogs. He liked people. 'He was super chill,' says Dill, director of spiritual growth at Crossroads Community Church in Cincinnati, Ohio. 'A squirrel could have walked over his head, and he wouldn't have paid attention.' After about a decade, Dill noticed a change in Socks. He lost weight, suffered panic attacks and would abruptly stop and stare into corners. Dill took him to the vet. The diagnosis was a brain tumor. Dill and his family reluctantly decided to euthanize Socks to prevent more suffering. The entire experience — Socks quietly sitting in Tara's lap as they rode to the vet; watching the vet administer a sedative to a calm Socks; touching Socks as he quietly took his last breath — became a religious epiphany for Dill. Christians preach that God loved humanity so much that he sacrificed his son to display that love. Dill knows the Scriptures that commemorate that sacrifice. But the emotional weight of giving up Socks made him feel those scriptures in a new way. Dill shared this experience in an essay entitled, 'We Put Our Dog Down and Saw God.' He wrote that his loss showed him how much God must have hurt when He gave up His Son. 'Through the pain of this loss, God has lovingly reminded me of the incalculable weight of his rescue,' Dill wrote. 'I got a clearer picture of that cost. The cost of love.' After Socks died, Dill says his family carried the dog's body home and buried him in their backyard. They said a short prayer over his grave, thanking God for Socks' life. They erected a gravestone that stands today as a reminder of their loss. 'Even though it was the right decision to put him down,' Dill tells CNN, 'there's just something surreal about being able to choose whether a creature should live or die.' Taylor had to face the same choice with Brick. When Brick was about eight, he started to decline. He struggled to get to his feet while getting out of bed. He stumbled going downstairs. When Taylor took him for walks, Brick's trot turned into a plod. 'I recognized all these symptoms because I have them myself,' Taylor wrote in his book about pets. Taylor took Brick to the vet. Surgery followed, but the operation revealed a litany of maladies that had damaged the dog's internal organs. His decline accelerated. Despite the pain Brick experienced as he hobbled around the house, he never forgot he was housebroken, never whimpered in self-pity or snapped in anger, Taylor says. Brick's condition eventually became irreversible. When he turned 11, old for a dog, his legs stopped working properly. Taylor and his wife decided to take Brick to a vet so he wouldn't suffer anymore. That same day, Taylor says, something remarkable happened. 'Here's this dog who can barely get onto his feet — but he raided our laundry basket,' Taylor tells CNN. 'He did what he loved to do, which was to pull my underwear from the basket and go hide it in the house. He wanted to play, to challenge us and wanted us to laugh in those hours and not go around weeping.' Does Taylor believe he will see Brick again in the afterlife? Taylor is no pet psychic, but he says he's starting to believe animals have souls. He recalls standing next to a friend's poodle who was being euthanized and 'feeling as something was leaving' the moment the dog died. Where that pet may have gone is a place that Taylor calls the 'Rainbow Bridge.' It's a widely circulated poem for pet owners from an anonymous author that depicts animals romping in a lush celestial meadow where they will eventually reunite with their owners. In one variation of the poem, a writer declares her dog's pawprints will 'be on my heart forever.' 'It's very moving because it acknowledges that heaven — whatever heaven is — is not just limited to people,' Taylor says. 'Anyone we love, including a turtle that has lived 90 years, has value that cannot be limited by its physical presence.' In death, Brick left Taylor one final lesson. 'I'm learning from him (Brick) that everything, in the end, boils down to relationships,' Taylor says. 'Brick had no possessions. He was never elected leader of the pack. But he had wonderful relationships. He died knowing he was deeply loved. 'I couldn't ask any more for myself.' John Blake is a CNN senior writer and author of the award-winning memoir, 'More Than I Imagined: What a Black Man Discovered About the White Mother He Never Knew.'
