Modern Therianthropy: is an identity and ontological phenomenon categorized by a deep integral or personal belief that an individual is to some degree, a non-human animal. This is not to be confused with historical therianthropy. Therianthropes are still human, understand that they have human bodies, and understand that physical shape-shifting is not possible.
The word Therianthropy originates from a portmanteu of the Greek words Therios and Anthropos (animal and human respectively) which, combined, loosely translate to "human animal" or "animal man".
"Therianthropy is an innate part of the person's life. Therianthropy is the recognition and acceptance of the animal within."
Therianthropy is a subjective belief based on personal experiences and not on scientific fact, with most Therians being "self-labelled" or "self-identified". Therefore, both spiritual and psychological hypotheses for its cause or origin are legitimate and acceptable in the community.
To learn more see the book titled "Introduction to Modern Therianthropy" when available or visit the Therian Wiki (link below).
References
http://therian.wikia.com/wiki/Therianthropy
Shifters.org Encyclopedia http://web.archive.org/web/20060821231231/http://www.therianthropy.org/SO/terms-t.htm
Therian Timeline, Mind of the Were, Development http://theriantimeline.com/therianthropy/the_mind_of_the_were
"Foundation's Edge: The History of the Online Were community, Jakkal, 1999. http://web.archive.org/web/20010620111439/http:/www.were.net/foundation.shtml
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Therian Dictionary
Non-FictionCommon Terminology of the Therianthrope Community with history and links to References for each term.
