*grins* I like your question "Who amongst us ISN'T a freak?"
My usual response to people who complain about freaks, weirdos, abnormal, etc. is to ask "What is normal?"
As to understanding the furry thing - it varies from people who simply see aspects of animals in their own natures and actions to those who believe they are reincarnated animals. I'm of the first category - there's a lot of things I do that remind people of vixens and my last name used to be Fox so it was fitting to assume that persona.
Overall, furry means different things to different people, much like religion. From what I've observed though, the sexual antics are no more prevalent in the fandom than in any other group of people. It simply makes for more sensational appeal to anyone looking at the fandom from outside. *shrugs*
The question I always have for anyone about religion is "Why would God create us to follow blindly? Surely he (she, it, whatever the religion/belief states) gave us the ability to think so that we would ask questions and discover all the wonders that are in our universe."
You don't need to answer that question, it's just me being my usual chatty self. *grins*
We're not supposed to follow blindly. We have free will. Humans are higher creatures than angels. Angels have no free will, and all they do is carry out orders. They have no control over what they do.
Humans can choose every day, to sanctify the name of G-d, or to desecrate it. We accept or reject faith, values, morality and responsibility. Humans are the ONLY creatures who can fully participate in the completion of the work of Creation. We are the ones who can "close the circuit" in the circle of life and death.
Anyone who follows anything blindly is simply abdicating responsibility. Sure, there are things that we may never understand that we will follow, but we will choose to follow those things based on the belief that the rules were laid down by a wise and loving Creator who wants what is best for us.
I think of it like a parent telling a 3 year old not to run out into the street. The kid doesn't see any cars coming right that second, so doesn't understand "why?". The parent knows the dangers, and hopes that as the child grows more mature he will understand. In the meantime, he still has to wait for the walk signal!
I was raised Baptist and I've talked to several ministers of the Catholic and Protestant denominations. Every one of them was adamant on how people were supposed to worship God. That's one of the reasons I stopped going to church.
That's the way it goes! I once went to a three hour class on one of the finer points of Jewish law. The rabbi who was leading the class brought in many different opinions, all of them well respected throughout history, accepted in their communities, and completely at odds. At the end of the class, all we wanted to know was "Who was right?"
The rabbi says, "Well, it depends on who you go by..."
*headdesk* A three hour class for THAT?
Sometimes, this "thinking for yourself" thing is a lot of work.
I've known some bad preacher and priests myself, but some good ones too. It's the man and not the denomination.
That said clergy does have a nasty tendency to draw authoritarian types. And the ones who are decent all too often get run down by their congregations.
My usual response to people who complain about freaks, weirdos, abnormal, etc. is to ask "What is normal?"
As to understanding the furry thing - it varies from people who simply see aspects of animals in their own natures and actions to those who believe they are reincarnated animals. I'm of the first category - there's a lot of things I do that remind people of vixens and my last name used to be Fox so it was fitting to assume that persona.
Overall, furry means different things to different people, much like religion. From what I've observed though, the sexual antics are no more prevalent in the fandom than in any other group of people. It simply makes for more sensational appeal to anyone looking at the fandom from outside. *shrugs*
The question I always have for anyone about religion is "Why would God create us to follow blindly? Surely he (she, it, whatever the religion/belief states) gave us the ability to think so that we would ask questions and discover all the wonders that are in our universe."
You don't need to answer that question, it's just me being my usual chatty self. *grins*
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Humans can choose every day, to sanctify the name of G-d, or to desecrate it. We accept or reject faith, values, morality and responsibility. Humans are the ONLY creatures who can fully participate in the completion of the work of Creation. We are the ones who can "close the circuit" in the circle of life and death.
Anyone who follows anything blindly is simply abdicating responsibility. Sure, there are things that we may never understand that we will follow, but we will choose to follow those things based on the belief that the rules were laid down by a wise and loving Creator who wants what is best for us.
I think of it like a parent telling a 3 year old not to run out into the street. The kid doesn't see any cars coming right that second, so doesn't understand "why?". The parent knows the dangers, and hopes that as the child grows more mature he will understand. In the meantime, he still has to wait for the walk signal!
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Guess I should have talked with a Rabbi. :)
Thanks for your words.
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I once went to a three hour class on one of the finer points of Jewish law. The rabbi who was leading the class brought in many different opinions, all of them well respected throughout history, accepted in their communities, and completely at odds. At the end of the class, all we wanted to know was "Who was right?"
The rabbi says, "Well, it depends on who you go by..."
*headdesk* A three hour class for THAT?
Sometimes, this "thinking for yourself" thing is a lot of work.
Reply
That said clergy does have a nasty tendency to draw authoritarian types. And the ones who are decent all too often get run down by their congregations.
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