I am Seriously at a Lost about a New Religion!

[fantome profane]

I think it is wise to view certain things on the internet with a high degree of skepticism. They may seem perfectly sincere on the website, but it is hard to know how seriously they take this in "RL".

 

[CynthiaCypher]

I think it is wise to view certain things on the internet with a high degree of skepticism. They may seem perfectly sincere on the website, but it is hard to know how seriously they take this in "RL".

I wish that were true, that it was only an internet thing. But some of them do the whole body modification thing and then there are the sub-groups who actually believe that they are the physical manifestations of various fictional characters and they act it out in real life.

My mind has been blown.

 

[Awkward Fingers]

The Cyanide & Happiness Show - Explosm.net

 

[Breathe]

I've met actual Otherkin who take it seriously.
It genuinely terrifies me.

 

[LuisDantas]

I've never heard of this group before, but their beliefs do not surprise me. We live in an age in which truth is anything that makes you feel good, that entertains you, or that simply "feels true" to you. And there is no idea, however stupid or bizarre, that doesn't make at least a few people feel good, or that they find entertaining, or that feels true to them.

Indeed. We have allowed ourselves to be too disconnected from both each other and less arbitrary certainty.

 

[zenzero]

Friend CC,

The Otherkin

Personally it appears to be few people with great imaginations biding their time and you are getting caught up in that.

Seriously other peoples religion should not be our concern. If we face any problem on ours awe seek advice/help and share whatever we can.

Love & rgds

 

[Brickjectivity]

Its real. I don't know how, but it is.

 

[LuisDantas]

To think it was not that long ago that parents would worry that their children might get a tatoo...

 

[Quintessence]

What I don't understand is why this is perceived as being so outlandish. It really isn't. When you consider we live in a culture that accepts a certain metaphysics of the soul that allows for this sort of thing to be deemed possible, it is patently unsurprising to see people speculate that souls from different creatures can switch hosts. I don't believe souls work that way, which is why I have a problem with the concept of otherkin, but there are also varying interpretations of what otherkin actually means within that community.

 

[CynthiaCypher]

What I don't understand is why this is perceived as being so outlandish. It really isn't. When you consider we live in a culture that accepts a certain metaphysics of the soul that allows for this sort of thing to be deemed possible, it is patently unsurprising to see people speculate that souls from different creatures can switch hosts. I don't believe souls work that way, which is why I have a problem with the concept of otherkin, but there are also varying interpretations of what otherkin actually means within that community.

It's more than just people who think they have the souls of animals though. Many of the Otherkin believe that they are actually creatures who exist in fiction like dragons, elves, robots, vampires and the such. And then there are other sub-groups like the Otakukin who actually believe they are the incarnations of fictional characters like Rainbow Dash or Neo and Trinity from the Matrix series. So yes, this belief system does seem over the top to say the least.

otakukin - Wiktionary

 

[nazz]

I find that only slightly more odd than, say, sport teams rivalries. Or nationalism.

Not sure if my opinion counts, though...

If it helps, I share it

 

[nazz]

It's more than just people who think they have the souls of animals though. Many of the Otherkin believe that they are actually creatures who exist in fiction like dragons, elves, robots, vampires and the such. And then there are other sub-groups like the Otakukin who actually believe they are the incarnations of fictional characters like Rainbow Dash or Neo and Trinity from the Matrix series. So yes, this belief system does seem over the top to say the least.

otakukin - Wiktionary

In a strange way I find hard to explain this is understandable to me. Our internal reality is much different from the external, if that makes any sense.

 

[Quintessence]

It's more than just people who think they have the souls of animals though. Many of the Otherkin believe that they are actually creatures who exist in fiction like dragons, elves, robots, vampires and the such. And then there are other sub-groups like the Otakukin who actually believe they are the incarnations of fictional characters like Rainbow Dash or Neo and Trinity from the Matrix series. So yes, this belief system does seem over the top to say the least.

otakukin - Wiktionary

I'm well aware, which is why I noted there are many interpretations of what it means to be an otherkin.

I don't find it "over the top" at all. The only reason why certain people perceive it to be more outlandish is because certain narratives or ways are accepted in our culture and others are not. Feeling you are a dragon incarnate is no more outlandish than believing a human being could be the son of a transcendent one-god that has no corporeal form. The only thing that makes Jesus more palatable is that the narrative is accepted in the mainstream. I find it patently unfair to scoff at something simply because it isn't affiliated with some major, accepted ideology. I have no problem with any of these people believing what they want provided it serves them in a way they feel is beneficial. I disagree with their point of view on many things, but I have no problem with them, don't find them to be outlandish, and will accept them for what they are at face value. Anything less from me is hypocrisy, and although I embrace hypocrisy as intrinsic to human nature, this is one area I refuse to be hypocritical about.

 

[CynthiaCypher]

I'm well aware, which is why I noted there are many interpretations of what it means to be an otherkin.

I don't find it "over the top" at all. The only reason why certain people perceive it to be more outlandish is because certain narratives or ways are accepted in our culture and others are not. Feeling you are a dragon incarnate is no more outlandish than believing a human being could be the son of a transcendent one-god that has no corporeal form. The only thing that makes Jesus more palatable is that the narrative is accepted in the mainstream. I find it patently unfair to scoff at something simply because it isn't affiliated with some major, accepted ideology. I have no problem with any of these people believing what they want provided it serves them in a way they feel is beneficial. I disagree with their point of view on many things, but I have no problem with them, don't find them to be outlandish, and will accept them for what they are at face value. Anything less from me is hypocrisy, and although I embrace hypocrisy as intrinsic to human nature, this is one area I refuse to be hypocritical about.

I am iffy about the "benefits" of this religion. Many of the Otherkin do not seem that they have been very successful socially or have achieved any self-acceptance. It is like they re trying to hide from the harshness of reality by immersing themselves completely into fantasy.

And it seems to be a private religion, just like anorexia is. In fact I see some correlation between them.

I don't think it is healthy for those who find it hard to socially integrate or accept reality to just completely immerse themselves into fantasy, it could cause problems like anorexia does.

It just does not seem healthy to me.

 

[CynthiaCypher]

In a strange way I find hard to explain this is understandable to me. Our internal reality is much different from the external, if that makes any sense.

They may be different, but when it comes to our internal reality and the external reality we view, they both affect each other and both our internal reality and external views of reality are often lies.

 

[Awkward Fingers]

Where exactly is the line for silliness?
What makes one persons non-falsefiable non-provable claim silly, while some others is a deadly serious belief that wars can be waged war over?

What is the defining differentiating characteristic between the two?

 

[Quintessence]

I am iffy about the "benefits" of this religion. Many of the Otherkin do not seem that they have been very successful socially or have achieved any self-acceptance. It is like they re trying to hide from the harshness of reality by immersing themselves completely into fantasy.

And it seems to be a private religion, just like anorexia is. In fact I see some correlation between them.

I don't think it is healthy for those who find it hard to socially integrate or accept reality to just completely immerse themselves into fantasy, it could cause problems like anorexia does.

It just does not seem healthy to me.

I recognize that it could cause problems, and I think in some cases, some people who hold these beliefs have legitimate mental illnesses. As I said, I've seen the spectrum of perfectly well-hinged, rational otherkin and ones that I think should probably see a psychologist. In some cases, understanding the self or your personal identity through concepts like otherkin or shapeshifting can be a very enlightening mystical experience. In other cases, if you don't have a good grounding when doing this kind of work, it can destabilize you in ways that are not very healthy.

I would be careful of making blanket statements about otherkin, because they really do run the spectrum and should be taken on a case-by-case basis. Most of the time, I've gotten the impression that it's a healthy outlet for them to explore their personal identity in a way that resonates with them; only a few times did I get the sense that the person was being escapist in a bad way.

It's too bad there isn't a representative here on the forums to discuss this, because they'd to a better job than I can of being an advocate. They're really not bad/unhinged individuals. One of the people I know right now IRL is a furry, and he's a perfectly ordinary guy except for a few times a year when he goes to conventions. You wouldn't even know he was a furry unless he brought it up.

 

[Quintessence]

Where exactly is the line for silliness?
What makes one persons non-falsefiable non-provable claim silly, while some others is a deadly serious belief that wars can be waged war over?

What is the defining differentiating characteristic between the two?

The only difference I see is social consensus, or how people choose to think about it.

 

[yoda89]

Where exactly is the line for silliness?
What makes one persons non-falsefiable non-provable claim silly, while some others is a deadly serious belief that wars can be waged war over?

What is the defining differentiating characteristic between the two?

Depends on how many people believe in it. More people makes it less silly.

 

[zenzero]

Dear CC,

I am iffy about the "benefits" of this religion. Many of the Otherkin do not seem that they have been very successful socially or have achieved any self-acceptance. It is like they re trying to hide from the harshness of reality by immersing themselves completely into fantasy.

And it seems to be a private religion, just like anorexia is. In fact I see some correlation between them.

I don't think it is healthy for those who find it hard to socially integrate or accept reality to just completely immerse themselves into fantasy, it could cause problems like anorexia does.

It just does not seem healthy to me.

Glad you agree; is it not time to drop this topic and move on with matters that sets our own SELVES free!

Love & rgds