First off, what is an “Otherkin”? From Oxford: “a person who identifies as nonhuman, typically as being wholly or partially an animal or mythical being.”
Or from Wikipedia: “Otherkin are a subculture of people who identify as not entirely human. Some otherkin believe their identity derives from reincarnation, trans-species dysphoria of the soul, ancestry, or metaphor. Others attribute it to unusual psychology and do not hold spiritual beliefs on the subject.”
Furry from Oxford: “an enthusiast for animal characters with human characteristics, in particular a person who dresses up in costume as such a character or uses one as an avatar online.”
Furry from Wikipedia: “The furry fandom is a subculture interested in anthropomorphic animal characters with human personalities and characteristics. Examples of anthropomorphic attributes include exhibiting human intelligence and facial expressions, speaking, walking on two legs, and wearing clothes.”
You may have heard of Dragon Lady or some of these others who identify as cats or other critters. This has become more popular in recent years and we are now seeing the rise of the subculture. Now, it is easy to laugh at fur-suits and mock these people as yet another sexual deviant, but this IS part of the mission field in America. We should be looking at what ideologies and pathologies have befallen these people and attempt to see what can be done for their spiritual malaise. There is a very real consequence, not for being an otherkin, but for the spiritual issues that lie underneath this dysmorphia.
According to this paper from semanticscholar.org, there is a ~40% suicidality in the group with a roughly 80% apparent overlap with the LGBT Community.
Once again, these numbers suggest some participate for the sense of community, while others have suffered from trauma that is statistically present in the LGBT community. It was hard to track down stats on the history of abuse in the furry and otherkin communities. However, the we can also look at the consistent complaints of dysmorphia with their physical human condition as a sign that they are not happy with themselves as is. They will go to extraordinary lengths to relieve themselves of their human condition, even turning to antisocial a-human behaviors or surgery as you can see in this one interview with Anthony Padilla. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YrgN2Y4Towo&ab_channel=AnthonyPadilla
This is not just a physical thing. To call it such would be dismissive of the true problem. The issue ultimately boils down to a severe dislike of oneself and the order that God created, or at least the fallen state in which we all live.
Now, the truth is, these otherkin and furry folks are on to something: they are souls living in fallen bodies and the yearning for something more and better is a natural one. We will someday have a glorified body, as image bearers of God! However, the Enemy of Our Souls has led these poor people to believe that trading down to animals or mythical creatures is somehow better than what God has promised. We have the answer these people desperately need.
What does the Bible say about the form for which we are destined?
1 Corinthians 15:42-53
This is much better than some animal or fantasy creature.
1 Corinthians 15:57
This new body and hope comes through this victory.
Genesis 3:6-7
This shows us that our bodies are in need of something. We are lacking without that which the Lord has planned for us.
Revelations 3:18
We will no longer be naked, or without that which we need to be complete. We will be clothed in His Righteousness. THIS is the ONLY solution for the very real lack that our frail unregenerate bodies hold.
We have the answer for these people as well as the mandate and commission to reach them for the Gospel's sake Mathew 28:19-20. We are not to make fun of them, but to seek to make them disciples of Christ. If you have someone like this in your life or the Lord brings someone like this into your life, remember to what you are called and meet them where they are at, just as Christ did. Lead them to the knowledge of the One who can solve their dysmorphia.