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Hi, guys —
I am a 20-year-old young Catholic who recently converted (at 18) who is also part of the furry fandom. A "furry" is basically someone who likes anthropomorphic animals, and many people will often create characters that are anthropomorphic, (sometimes called "fursonas,") and draw art of them, write about them, buy "fursuits" of their fursonas, or hang out with other people in the community.
While I purely do it as a creative outlet, like one would any other hobby, unfortunately much of the community is filled with pervasive and degenerate ideology, mainly with concerns to:
- frequent pornography use/distribution
- hookup culture at meetups/conventions,
- LGBTQ+ ideology (especially transgender ideology),
- common usage of drugs and alcohol,
- therian-ism, satanism, a hatred of God, and just morality, among other various things.
While I have met many Catholic/Christian furries in my midst (there's quite a small handful of us) and I obviously don't engage in said behaviors. I often have to interact with people that do, especially at convention spaces and meetups, and I wonder if doing so is good for my soul long-term or considered putting myself in the near occasion of sin?
I know that everyone is loved by God, and I treat all people with love and respect, as I was also once I great sinner with my own past, but often these conventions will also have issues like:
- people dressing inappropriately,
- "all-age drag shows,"
- prevalent hookup culture,
- visible pornography/artwork,
- donating proceeds to LGBTQ+ "charities," and other things that are unfortunately very sinful.
Sometimes God will even be blasphemed in the midst of it all.
I usually just ignore these things to the best of my ability and try to enjoy just meeting up with friends and having fun in other ways, but there's this nagging feeling in my gut that I should do something.
- Should I say something if I see God being blasphemed?
- Just not go anymore?
- I don't feel tempted to sin, but is just being there a sin in itself, or a near occasion of sin?
- I don't think the hobby itself or enjoying animal characters is inherently sinful (just as one would enjoy any other hobby), but would going to conventions/meetups where I know these things happen be a sin?
- How are we called as Catholics to handle worldly hobbies and blasphemy?
Please advise me.
I love the hobby, but I will always put God first, and this question has really been nagging at me.
Thank you.
Isabella
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Paul replied:
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Dear Isabella,
From what you describe, it seems like you enter the Lion's Den of sin every time you attend one of these events. It appears to be an exemplar scenario for what is objectively meant by “the near occasion of sin”.
If you're not there directly to evangelize or dramatically change the subculture with a reasonable chance of doing so, it's not a healthy situation. Hence, to me, that would mean avoiding these events and praying that God show you a new hobby to pursue.
Peace,
Paul
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Isabella replied:
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Hello Paul,
Thank you for your honest reply.
- Could I just not go to conventions while privately doing this hobby?
I am an avid writer and like writing stories with anthropomorphic characters; that is my main outlet.
- Would that be OK (e.g. not considered, "entering the lion's den"?
I always try to create art with Catholic themes/morals to express my faith and guide others, including myself, towards the greater good.
Thank you.
Isabella
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