DOES THE BIBLE SAY ANYTHING ABOUT THERIANS?

Romans 1:22-28

This is not merely a trend; it is a profound matter of identity. Thousands of people, especially young people are talking about this practice. They wear masks, mimic animal movements, and claim that, internally, they identify as wolves, cats, dogs or some other animal.

This trend is not entirely new: the term “therianthropy” has historical roots and has been used for decades to describe concepts of identifying with animals. However, the explosion of online videos has exposed it to a much wider audience of teenagers who view it as a form of identity, belonging, and self-expression.

A specific question has begun circulating among Christian believers: do therians appear in the Bible? The answer based on theological and historical analysis is clear: no. There is no direct mention of therians in the Scripture, neither in the Old nor in the New Testament. The debate, however, has gained traction due to a linguistic coincidence that has generated confusion.

Some have linked the word "therian" to the Greek term θηρίον (therion), which appears in the Book of Revelation. In that text, the word is translated as "beast" and is used in a symbolic context to describe figures associated with evil, such as the beast that rises from the sea and the beast that emerges from the earth.

In Chapter 13, the text employs “therion” to represent powers opposed to God, utilizing deeply symbolic and apocalyptic language. However, this etymological coincidence implies no connection whatsoever to the contemporary trend of therians. Although the words sound similar, they do not refer to the same thing, nor do they belong to the same historical or doctrinal context.

The term “therian” derives from "therianthropy" and is used to describe individuals who feel a deep psychological or spiritual identification with a non-human animal, whether on an emotional, symbolic, or spiritual level. It does not involve a physical transformation or a religious doctrine, but rather an internal experience of identity. Therefore, from a strictly biblical perspective, there is no direct or indirect reference to this concept. Are therians mentioned in the Bible? No. The term "therian" is modern and is not part of the biblical texts.

Many of those participating in this trend speak of a personal "journey." Their goal, they say, is to discover their "true self," connect with their "theriotype," and feel more authentic. For some, it is a quest for emotional freedom; for others, a way to escape social pressure, anxiety, or rejection. It is an attempt to find identity and meaning in a world where many feel they do not belong.

This practice isn't really about animals. It is about identity. When a generation begins to seriously question whether it is human, something deeper has broken on the inside. The Bible begins with a firm declaration that does not change with the trends: "So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them" (Genesis 1:27). This means that your identity does not stem from how you feel. It does not come from a trend. It does not originate from an intense emotion, it comes from God.

The problem is not admiring nature; God created the animals and called them good. The problem begins when the human heart starts seeking in the created being what can only be found in the Creator, this is nothing new! The Bible tells us about king Nebuchadnezzar. He became so filled with pride that he forgot who he was before God. The judgment was severe. He lived like an animal, eating grass, stripped of human reason (Daniel 4). It was not evolution. It was degradation. And his restoration came when he lifted his eyes toward heaven and acknowledged God.

When a human being disconnects from God, clarity is lost. When one reconnects with God, reason is restored. The world is confused because it has removed God from their lives. When God is removed, everything is redefined. Truth is redefined. Humanity is redefined. Identity is redefined. But God does not change.

It is scientifically proven that human beings can undergo mental degradation. We can cause our brains to atrophy, damage our neurons, and destroy our neural connections; we can diminish our cognitive capacity, we can even lose our memory, our reasoning, our logic, and even our language.

When a person decides to be an animal, to behave as such and begin living in an impulsive, disordered manner, they reconfigure their brain, strengthening their instincts while weakening their rationality. Rationality is precisely what makes us human and distinguishes us from animals. And when this reconfiguration occurs, the frontal lobe is damaged; and housed within the brain's frontal lobe are thought, logic, judgment, common sense, and consciousness. Imagine one day being a dog, yet not knowing that you are a dog because you lack self-awareness. Such a person will cease to be a rational human being and will become an instinctive one. They will stop merely pretending to be a therian or an animal and will truly become an animal, for they will have damaged their frontal lobe, destroyed their neurons, and effectively instructed their brain: "Behave like an animal."

Romans 1:23 states: "And they exchanged the glory of the incorruptible God for an image in the likeness of corruptible man, of birds, of four-footed beasts, and of creeping things. Therefore God gave them up in the lusts of their hearts to uncleanness, to dishonor their own bodies among themselves." The Greek word for "uncleanness" is “akatharsia”, which signifies a deep, internal corruption. Something becomes corrupt when it loses its quality and value, when it degrades, descending from a human level to an animalistic one; it seeks to corrupt your very human nature. The word "lust" (concupiscence) denotes an unbridled desire, a craving that destroys (Romans 1:22-28).