A group of religious furries say they’re forced to keep their Christianity in the dog house out of fear that their fellow furries will ostracize them for their beliefs.
Let's back up a bit.
Furries, if you’re not aware, are members of an anthropomorphic subculture that dress up as animal characters. Those involved make or buy furry costumes for their ‘fursona’, an avatar representing their particular anthropomorphic identity.
The furry community is largely a progressive one. They are young, liberal leaning, and many are LGBTQ – some ~12% of furries identify as transgender, for example, which is 20 times higher than the general population.
Furries also tend to be secular. And while they’re largely accepting and welcoming of different sexualities, genders, and ethnicities, that openness apparently doesn't extend to religious beliefs.
A group of evangelical furries is speaking out, claiming they are afraid to disclose their faith out of fear that they'll be doxxed and outcast from the community.
Some find the irony rather rich. Being forced to keep a core part of your identity in the closet, for fear of persecution? Where have we seen that before?
Fur Mongering
Members of the Christian Furry Fellowship (CFF) report conflicting feelings about their faith and their fursonas. The CFF believes that engaging in same-sex sexual relationships is morally wrong, according to biblical teachings.
They want to share the gospel, but fear that they’ll be ostracized by their fellow furries if word of their anti-gay beliefs gets out.
This has led to some attention-grabbing headlines:
Evangelizing to a community that is more than 50% LGBTQ is probably a tough sell.
A highly publicized incident involving a Christian lawmaker didn't help matters. Earlier this year, Nebraska politician Bruce Bostelman falsely claimed that some schools are catering to furries by considering putting litter boxes in bathrooms.
“They meow and they bark and they interact with their teachers in this fashion,” Bostelman said during a speech. “And now schools are wanting to put litter boxes in the schools for these children to use. How is this sanitary?”
That statement turned out to be a baseless rumor, and Bostelman ultimately retracted and apologized for the statement. But the negative attention hurt the furry community, who felt they were being mocked by religious conservatives.
What's a Faithful Furry To Do?
The kitty litter incident underscores the difficult position many in the Christian Furry Fellowship are in. Many conservative Christians view furries as a joke at best.
Those in the furry community are wary of evangelicals, who are generally not on board with furries’ whole sex-positive, pro-LGBTQ lifestyle.
That means Christians who dress up in these avatar costumes are left stuck in the middle, hiding their Christian side from their fellow furries, and their furry side from other Christians.
But many secular and LGBTQ people aren’t exactly feeling empathetic towards Christian furries having to keep their faith a secret.
They point out the irony in a Christian group complaining about having to hide a part of themselves for fear of being persecuted and disowned from their community. After all, it has been Christian persecution that has forced them to hide or downplay their sexual orientations for decades. Furries ask: why should they be sympathetic when Christians have to hide their faith?
What is your reaction?
38 comments
-
Rev Deborah Dunkle (Raven Wolf Song)
Here is my thoughts. I think most will agree but of course not everyone will. I’ve had the pleasure of going to a furrie gathering. It was about togetherness and support, a lot of group hugs. They slept together in a “puppy pile” for security and closeness. Many of them expressed feelings related to sexual or physical abuse. They found this gathering a place of comfort and security. Now how can you envision bringing religion into a gathering designed to exclude outside influences? Religion has been a part of the abuse of many lgbt and non conforming peoples lives. If you want to talk religion set up a site. Leave a flyer and invite others to join you away from the party. Otherwise shut up don’t ruin someone’s safe space
-
Richard Lee Cornell
Only in America that you can enjoy being strange without being burn at the stake.
-
Mark Hannon
I'd never heard of this before. I think the Furries should have an ecumenical council to write and organize their own credo so that they can all make their specific ideals of their culture more solid.
-
Richard Darwin Richards
Wolves, dressed as sheep.
-
Rev Deborah Dunkle (Raven Wolf Song)
Not at all. Furrys and plushies are mostly timid and have been badly abused. Leave religion out because a lot of abuse is founded in fundamental believes
-
-
William R Clapie
Well. Blaming the bible again. I one passage that I know of it is written that "man shall not lay with man as a woman" or somesuch. Yet, in the second book of kings is incest, murder and selling your daughters for taxes. So. Exactly how good a guide is this "king james VERSION" of the bible? Many authors, many translators and none of them a supreme deity that is probably still laughing that man describes himself as "thinking". Homo-Sapiens. Yep. Three thoughts, food, sex, tired. Yeah I would be rolling around on the floor laughing with that one myself. I am to beat up to do that but, you catch the drift.
Peace your all,
Minister Bill
-
Pastor George Day
@William R Clapie, the Bible is not a biography of perfect men. Quite the opposite. It points out how life would be like in a perfect world, or rather what sort of lifestyle leads to real fulfilment. Interestingly, as you point out, NO ONE meets the standard. That is why we need a Saviour. Jesus lived the perfect life I should live and he died the death as punishment that should be imputed on me. I hope that makes sense. Blessings :-)
-
-
Reverend Kurt
This is an issue?? Really?? ha ha ha ha Civilisation as we know it is disintegrating around us, we have real issues to come to terms with, survival for one. This issue is great, it has amused me and given me a good laugh. To be fair, it is rather a long winded joke with no obvious punchline. This joke however is clever in that it "pulls the wool over your eyes". ( Subtle and sucks you in.)
-
Rev Deborah Dunkle (Raven Wolf Song)
Sorry the joke is on you. Plushies and furrys arer real. There are a lot of them. And the issues fueling their desire for anonymous closeness is sexual physical and mental abuse from families and others
-
Rev Deborah Dunkle (Raven Wolf Song)
Sorry the joke is on you. Plushies and furrys arer real. There are a lot of them. And the issues fueling their desire for anonymous closeness is sexual physical and mental abuse from families and others
-
Rev Deborah Dunkle (Raven Wolf Song)
Sorry the joke is on you. Plushies and furrys arer real. There are a lot of them. And the issues fueling their desire for anonymous closeness is sexual physical and mental abuse from families and others
-
Rev Deborah Dunkle (Raven Wolf Song)
Sorry the joke is on you. Plushies and furrys arer real. There are a lot of them. And the issues fueling their desire for anonymous closeness is sexual physical and mental abuse from families and others
-
-
Rod Gesner
I pity the evangelical furries as they are stuck between a male dominated persecution machine that is Feared and hated by many with good cause.. And a Loving accepting group that might turn on them if they confronted them about comu g to jesus while cuddling and engageing in frotage and other furry relations. Better that they acceot that the church is the oroblem and find a more accepting path . THAN to continue to hide; both from church and the best friends they might ever rub n pet on..
-
Dr. Zerpersande, NSC
This is a PERFECT situation. Religiously delusional individuals should just keep their beliefs to themselves. Granted, this may cause stress. But seek counseling for the delusions themselves. Maybe your therapist can assist you in dealing with the stress simultaneously.
-
Pastor George Day
I wonder why professed atheists and pagans are so interested in debating Christianity!
-
Dr. Zerpersande, NSC
I don’t consider this a site for Christians. This whole thing of becoming an ordained minister seems to have limited purpose. - One would be as a lark. (Mine. Some of the people that know me found my email with a screenshot of my ‘credentials’ hilarious.) - Another would be for someone to break that monopoly the religious organizations have held on the ability to join people in marriage. - Another would be those that have decided they want to at least have the ‘plastic sheriff badge’ since they didn’t pursue any sort of divinity school.
But the fact that you are capable of wondering about something is admirable. Turn that inquisitiveness on the matter of how it is that a bunch of willfully ignorant, gullible people still accept the superstitions of a Bronze Age nomadic desert goat herders that couldn’t even explain where the sun went at night.
-
Pastor George Day
@Dr. Zerpersande, just keep being yourself! Bingo :-)
-
-
-
-
Daniel Gray
So let me guess, there is going to be a movement claiming that these "furries" are born this way and the orientation should be protected? You were warned that when this started of people marrying their guitars and themselves and so on that what would come from it...and you laughed. SO you brought this on yourselves and cant blame anyone but yourselves for whats coming down the line at you
-
Rev Deborah Dunkle (Raven Wolf Song)
Daniel your guess is far from reality. These groups aren’t about sex though some posted they are. It’s about safe space group support and cuddling. Think for a moment. A young adult. Beaten down, shamed, abused sexually and physically. Most in therapy but it only helps so far, this is a way someone thought up to comfort each other anonymously. Group hugs, puppy piles quiet non judgmental time. A therapist would say( well I would anyway) that hugs and non judgmental comfort and acceptance is good especially since it steers away from suicide and self harm
-
Daniel Gray
Sorry but I guess YOU are the one that is far from reality. According to Reuters this is the definition of "furries" by no less then the American Psychological Society "According to the APS, “furries” primarily consider their expression as an official genetic and sexual identity." So just like I said, are you now going to try and claim they were born that way? I like dogs and dont have a problem with them piling up on me to play and to be petted. In fact it is clear that having a pet lowers your blood pressure. But dont expect any normal person to accept people running around dressed in animal costumes unless they are in Disneyland or some such.
So lets see you refute the Psycoholgists
-
-
-
William Waugh
I truly believe, the more I hear, that many peoples education and learning in general, screeched to a halt when they discovered tobacco products in the bathroom. ( in the 5th grade) What a waste of public breath. In my opinion, these things are not on the path to enlightenment.
-
Douglas Robert Spindler
Let's face it, young people think Christian religion is dope (stupid). Kids today are making fun for Christians for believing in some white supremist who has no respect for women and children,,, Has nothing to do with furies. Christians are just looked down up for their crazy beliefs.
-
Pastor George Day
@Douglas Robert Spindler, what you describe might just be accurate, but it doesn't make Christianity like dope. The Christian Church has modelled society as we know it today.
-
Dr. Zerpersande, NSC
That’s humorous. Usually Christians are ranting about how evil and screwed up society is. Which to an extent is true. But you actually have the courage to blame the ignorance of religion on this condition. I think you should adhere to the adage of starting one’s brain before engaging the mouth.
-
-
-
Pastor Jim
What people do in the privacy of their own space and doesn't harm others is none of my concern. When they go out into public they are subject to whatever attention they bring upon themselves. They will get the full and varying range of reactions from all who they encounter and should not reasonably expect the public to cater to their every whim. While I'm accepting or tolerant of many different personality types there are those who I would generally avoid. I'm not so sure about "furries".
-
William R Clapie
And you never played pretend as a child? If they are comfortable in their acts, let them be. They hurt no one. I for one wouldn't do it, not for thinking it deviant but for the fact that those outfits must be bloody hot inside.
-
Pastor Jim
As a child... yes. I believe the OP waa referring to adults... to which I refer you back to my origonal comment.... What they do in the privacy of their own space is fine. When they go out into the public, they have no expectation of privacy and should expect to endure the consequences. I would be tolerant but not everyone is like me.
-
Pastor Jim
Comment removed by user.
-
-
Douglas Robert Spindler
Furies are just people in costumes, not sure if or why you would have a problem with them. Who knows, you might have some friends who are furies.
-
Ealdormon Piparskeggr Robinson
Will have to say in my 65 1/2 years thus far, do not recall meeting even one Furry. However, as we used to say in High School, whatever trips your trigger.
These folks seem to me, by what I've read of other articles when this across my email alerts, that they want to pretend and cause no harm, so Blessed Be.
-
Douglas Robert Spindler
@Ealdormon Piparskeggr Robinson Exactly. The problem is young people see Christians as dope (stupid). How can you have a meaningful conversation with a Christian who believes in a mythical God, virgin birth, zombie Jesus and a ghost that's holly? Just sounds dope, doesn't it?
-
Pastor George Day
@Douglas Robert Spindler, what exactly sounds dope about our Christian beliefs? Have you heard of a former atheist called Lee Strobel?
-
Douglas Robert Spindler
@Pastor George Day Young people today are getting their news from social media, influencers and NOT main stream media. Almost every day their are stories of Christians who are "attacking" their fellow students and friends for being LGBTQ2S+, wanting to have the choice to have an abortion or saying women who have been violently rapped were asking for it and enjoy being rapped. And if they become pregnant, they can't have an abortion and raise the child. They also hear stories of pastors such as Joel Olsten and team stealing $500,000 only to have a plumber find $25,000 of it hidden in the walls of the Joel's offices. Never heard of Lee Stroble, but looks like he's made millions from Christians like Peter Popoff has.
Then young people hear stories of being rapped or molested over and over by their Christians pastor or priest. Just last week another Christian bishop and former mayor of the town was arrested for rapping children as young as 2 years old.
Then you have the pastor who from the pulpit asked his congregation for forgiveness as he admitted repandly raping and molesting a young minor girl. Did anyone in the congregation arrest him? No, he was given a standing ovation.... For the repeatedly rapping a minor girl?
Then you have to get into the what the young people call the silly beliefs for Christians and many crazy stories in the Bible which we now know are not true. We could start with the Genesis and creation of the universe. That Belgian Catholic priest, theoretical physicist, mathematician, astronomer, and professor of physics at the Catholic University of Louvain Georges Lemaître found and proved the Bible was wrong. Every kid know Lemaître's Big Bang. It wasn't God at all. Then there's the Christians claim of creationism which kids now know is complete dope. We have DNA which shows us creatures evolved over time. Heck in our schools students even do experiments which show them evolution is a fact. Kids just know so much about DNA that when one said God created all of the creatures and it was good. Young people just laugh at how silly that sounds.
Young people see Christians as old white men/people still using Manifest Destiny to "rule" the US. The see Christians still trying to force convert Native Americans and others to the Christian religion around the world instead of allowing them to have their traditional religions beliefs.
And then young people are watching as Christians attack Muslims and try and portray Muslims and evil, killers which is exactly what Christians do.
Then you have the movies. You do know that in the Avengers movies they are covertly making fun of Christians and the Christian religion.
These are just a few of the many reasons young people see the Christian religion as dope/stupid and want nothing to do with it.
-
-
-
-
The Spiritual Mystic
I am not saying "right, wrong or indifferen't". thats not who I am a person, a Christian or a minister. I will suggest however, going to look up what the real meaning of using masks are and their origins. whether your a cat, michael myers or what have you. God bless.
-
Douglas Robert Spindler
@Christina Forestieri-Nuzzo When you say to lookup the real meaning for masks, that's difficult, so not sure what you mean. Masks have been used and are still used as art, religious/tribal ceremonies, protection from the elements/warmth, medical treatments, hide ones identity to commit crimes or at sex parties.
Furries are wearing costumes which are more than just a mask. Not sure what your point is.
-
-
-
Dr. Zerpersande, NSC
@ Fish Pretty much in agreement with all you said. This extends to not being sure if the ‘furries’ get lumped into ‘Avoid’ group. I would like to meet at least one xtian furry though. Since the xtian aspect already ensures a nice measure of ‘delusion’ it would be interesting to see how it interacts the ‘freakishness of the furry’.
-
-
Brien
Since when do we keep track of the cartoon network?
-
Joy
Well, there are two or three minutes of my life that I cannot get back.
Don't these people have anything better to do? And do they not understand what "Judge not lest you be judged" means? The sad thing here is that people are being judged - and ostracized - ober on one hand thheir faith, and the scond, by some politician trying to score points for votes by making things up.
But, I think it would be really funny if people started putting litter boxes in rest rooms.