Why would magically animated undead like zombies be turned by a holy cleric?

[David Johnston2]

Originally Posted by sardook

You could also argue that while a spirit is involved in the zombie making process, it is not tied to the body. The spirit just gives the body a jump start and the bodies original automatic functions take over. Once that is done the spirit can wonder off and do what ever.

However since it can interpret language and follow orders as opposed to say, operating only the necromancer's direct mental control, that it has a spirit of some sort in it just as the animated objects do, is the answer that makes the most sense.