The Ask A Christian Podcast is back, and host Nate and the team dive into a question that proves the internet is where all good theology goes to die. In this episode, "Therians, Otherkin, & The Collapse of Objective Reality: Is Identity Heresy?", we tackle a trend that is simultaneously hilarious, deeply concerning, and a walking commentary on C.S. Lewis's prophetic 1940s warnings. We start with a listener's genuine concern about the rise of Therians on social media, quickly distinguishing them from Furries (it turns out one is a hobby, and the other involves believing you share a spirit with a wolf—which, frankly, is a serious spiritual issue if you claim to be a Christian). The Bible is clear: you are created in the Image of God (Imago Dei), not a beautiful butterfly or a "reincarnated banana slug". If you profess faith in Christ, believing you share a spirit with an animal is simply heresy. We follow the rabbit hole to the broader Otherkin subculture (dragons and elves, oh my!) and lament the state of reality when people would rather join an old email digest than play Dungeons & Dragons. Finally, the conversation turns philosophical as we discuss how the current crisis of identity is merely the full realization of moral relativism and the abolition of man that thinkers like C.S. Lewis saw coming. We also tackle a caller's question about the line between faith and delusion and why some financial practices in the church are "extortion". If you've ever felt like your spirit animal is a bewildered Christian watching the world burn, this episode is for you. 📚 Resources & Links What is the Otherkin phenomenon? (read more: https://grokipedia.com/page/Otherkin) Cambridge University on the Otherkin/Therian identity (article discussed: https://www.cam.ac.uk/research/features/why-be-human-when-you-can-be-otherkin) What is a Therian? (read more: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Therian) For more content, visit: https://www.askachristianpodcast.com YouTube Timestamps 00:00 - Intro & The "Legitimate-ish" Question 02:30 - What is a Therian? Spiritual vs. Physical Identity 04:30 - The Christian Stance: Image of God (Imago Dei) & Heresy 08:42 - The Difference Between Therians and Furries 11:17 - Exploring the Otherkin Subculture (Elves, Dragons, and D&D) 16:48 - Psychologists are "Wounded Healers" & The Abolition of Man 17:16 - C.S. Lewis, Moral Relativism, and Predicting the Collapse of Reality 50:26 - Caller Question: What is Real vs. Believed to be Real (Delusion)? 58:30 - External Displays of Faith (Hooping, Hollering, and Delusion) 1:06:21 - Sabbath Observance and the Heart (Romans 14) 1:17:08 - The Prosperity Gospel, Joel Osteen, and Church Finances Hashtags #AskAChristianPodcast #Therian #Otherkin #Furry #ImagoDei #ChristianApologetics #CSLewis #AbolitionOfMan #MoralRelativism #SpiritualIdentity #Heresy #BiblicalTruth #ProsperityGospel #JoelOsteen #BibleStudy
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