“Unto the pure all things are pure: but unto them that are defiled and unbelieving is nothing pure; but even their mind and conscience is defiled.” – Titus 2:15

Ok, you are probably thinking, why in the world even address something so disgusting and obviously a sin? Addressing this matter was never on my radar until some people contacted me for deliverance prayer, who got involved with sexual contact with an animal (many of them seem to have gotten involved in it at a very young age). If you are offended by the addressing of this act, know that the Bible has a lot to say about this sexual perversion (more on that later), implying that it was likely practiced in the times of the ancient Hebrews, and that God needed to condemn it. Moreover, many people may be unaware of the demonic implications of such an act (also more on that later).

It’s Shocking Prevalence

Bestiality (sexual contact with animals) has been part of nearly every culture since the time of the ancients. There are very old sculptures and paintings depicting people having sexual acts with animals in various parts of the world. In pagan religions, it was something practiced by at least some and tolerated. Ancient religions that have since largely died out, such as Norse and Ancient Egyptian theology, mentioned human-animal copulation. Herodotus, an ancient Greek historian and geographer, was shocked by the sexual relations between people and animals in Egypt: “In my lifetime a monstrous thing happened in this province, a woman having open intercourse with a he-goat. This came to be publicly known.” The province in question is believed to be Mendes, where the goat was idolized; what Herodotus may have witnessed was a ritual act, as when the rituality of the Apis bull (their deity) was strengthened by the women showing their private parts to it. In Hinduism, a pagan religion that deifies certain animals, they have in ancient Hindu temples like Khajuraho clearly depict males and females having sex with animals.

Sadly, today it is still an act some people have gotten involved in. When I go through my news feed, I have come across news reports of people caught having sexual contact with an animal. There was a recent news report about the deceased Hugh Hefner, the founder of Playboy pornography (and someone I believe was demonized to the toenails), that revealed he had sexual relations with a dog. A news report a few years ago revealed that an Indian man married a dog to atone for stoning two dogs to death — he believed that he was cursed for stoning them (only if he knew that only Jesus could atone for his sins). Not to say he ever had sexual contact with his animal spouse, but who knows.

What do studies say about its prevalence? Some of the following studies may be a tad outdated, but they could at least give us a ballpark figure of its prevalence today. A 1982 study suggested that 7.5% of 186 university students had interacted sexually with an animal. Interestingly enough, for psychiatric inpatients, the prevalence rate of zoophilia is very high (55%) according to one 1991 study. A study that took place in Brazil and was published in the Journal of Sexual Medicine found a 34% prevalence of bestiality amongst men, most of whom were from rural backgrounds, as well as determining that it was a risk factor for penile cancer (more about the health risks later). A 2021 review estimated that zoophilic behavior occurs in 2% of the general population. I suspect the incidences of such an act are more common with the general population than what studies reveal, since animals can’t report it as a crime, and because it is taboo, many are unwilling to admit to it.

Some people have fantasized about having relations with an animal. In Nancy Friday’s 1973 book on female sexuality, My Secret Garden, some of the fantasies of different women entertained were of zoophilic activity. In a 2014 study, 3% of women and 2.2% of men reported fantasies about having sex with an animal. What spirit is behind such fantasies?

It’s Possible Physical Dangers

Let’s talk about diseases. There are several diseases humans can catch through sexual intercourse with animals. Some of the more dangerous include:

“Leptospirosis. This is carried by, amongst others, dogs, horses and sheep and can be transmitted through any contact with an animal’s sexual organs. The infection generally leads to meningitis and about 10% of cases are life-threatening.

Echinococcosis. This is carried by cats and dogs and involves the transmission of parasitic worms from the faeces of the animal. The onset of this disease often has no symptoms and this phase can last for a year, complicating diagnosis. Eventually cysts will begin to grow in the liver, brain and lungs, as well as other organs. If left untreated, the disease can be fatal.

Rabies. Present in the saliva of cats, dogs and horses, rabies is probably the most severe disease a zoophile can catch. In unvaccinated humans the disease is almost always fatal if treatment is not undertaken swiftly.”

Source

Interestingly, most, if not all, plagues and pestilences mentioned in the Bible came/come directly from God (e.g., Lev. 26:21, 25; Num. 16:49, 25:9; Deut. 28:22; Rev. 11:6; Rev. 16), and not from the devil as one might assume. The practice of any form of sexual immorality (e.g., fornication, homosexual sex, necrophilia) has a greater risk of contracting a disease. It is reported that half of all sexually active people will get an STD/STI by age 25 in the US. The least risky of sexual expression is in the context of a monogamous marriage between a husband and his wife, the only arrangement sanctioned by God.

There is also the threat of physical damage that can be caused by intercourse with animals of vastly different sizes to a human. But let’s skip that part.

Sexual Perversions Are Demonic

Not only is having sexual contact with an animal twisted and depraved, and makes one vulnerable to diseases and possible bodily injuries, but it can also open doors to demonization — sexual sin is not only potentially bad for one physically, but also spiritually. If the mere act of fornication (sex outside of marriage) can open oneself to demonization, how much more so with sexual contact with an animal? I’ve seen the serious spiritual repercussions of sexual sin — take it from someone who has prayed for multitudes of people who became demonized because of sexual immorality.

The following story reaffirmed my belief that it can open doors to demonization. A heavily demonized woman contacted me for deliverance prayer — she got involved in many sexual perversions, one of which was bestiality. When I commanded the demon to come out and asked how it got in, it spoke through her mouth and said it got into her from having sex with a dog. I was kind of skeptical because demons sometimes do lie. But when I questioned the woman whom I was praying for if she ever got involved with bestiality, she confessed that she did as a child.

Interestingly, there is a link between animal sexual abuse and child sexual abuse. In a study of over 44,000 adult male sex offenders, researchers concluded: “that animal sexual abuse is the number one risk factor and the strongest predictor of increased risk for sexual abuse of a child.” Some studies have found high rates of sexual assault of animals in the backgrounds of serial sexual homicide perpetrators. I suspect some sort of spirit of sexual perversion is operating behind such perpetrators, and sadly, those perverse sexual demons the perpetrator can be transferred to the victim.

If you have been involved with bestiality at any time in the past, then there are likely unclean spirits inside of you. I would suggest getting prayer for deliverance if you don’t believe you have ever been delivered. If you have a sexual attraction to animals or have thoughts/fantasies or urges of doing it, then there is very likely something demonic going on. The same goes for indulging in any type of bestial-type pornography. As I have emphasized here many times, satan is behind perverse thoughts and desires. Any form of debased sexuality is not of God but is of the devil. I would say that many, if not all, paraphilias (sexual perversion and sexual deviation), which are defined as sexual preferences that are highly unusual, may have a demonic element.

Scriptures Condemning Sexual Contact With Animals

One popular secular argument against bestiality is that it’s a “crime against nature,” but it is more accurately a crime against the living God and your body! It goes without saying that having any kind of sexual relations with an animal — bestiality — is a sin, but I will provide the following for the sake of a solid biblical argumentation. It’s self-evident that humans were designed/intended to procreate with other humans, not animals. Humans and animals are not of the same kind or flesh (Gen. 1:25; 1 Cor. 15:39). In the Genesis creation account, none of the animals were fit for Adam as a companion (Gen. 2:18, 20). The woman was created to become a partner equal to him, one who would work together with him in the work assigned to them by the Creator: to be fruitful and multiply, and to cultivate and govern the earth (Gen. 1:28). God created sexual relations to only be practiced between a husband and his wife, thus any sexual relations outside of that marriage is sin (Gal. 5:19-21). Bestiality essentially rejects the uniqueness of humans, which God created in His own image (Gen. 1:27). It degrades humanity to nothing more than an animal, a beast that lacks the capacity for the deep sense of morality, natural from unnatural, agape love from lust.

Under the old covenant, God strongly condemned the practice of bestiality:

“²³ Neither shalt thou lie with any beast to defile thyself therewith: neither shall any woman stand before a beast to lie down thereto: it is confusion [perversion].²⁴ Defile not ye yourselves in any of these things: for in all these the nations are defiled which I cast out before you:²⁵ And the land is defiled: therefore I do visit the iniquity thereof upon it, and the land itself vomiteth out her inhabitants” (Lev. 18:23-25).

I believe “defiled” can mean being defiled in a spiritual sense. Demons can possibly enter a person when one gets involved in such a horrid act.

The perpetrator was even cursed:

“Cursed be he that lieth with any manner of beast. And all the people shall say, Amen.” (Deut. 27:21)

And those who did such a thing were to be killed under the old covenant, including the animal, indicating how wickedly perverse bestial relations are:

“¹⁵ And if a man lie with a beast, he shall surely be put to death: and ye shall slay the beast.¹⁶ And if a woman approach unto any beast, and lie down thereto, thou shalt kill the woman, and the beast: they shall surely be put to death; their blood shall be upon them. “(Lev. 20:15-16)

“Whosoever lieth with a beast shall surely be put to death.” (Exo. 20:19)

Under the new covenant, bestiality is not specifically referenced, but this silence certainly does not indicate that Jesus or early Christians condoned the practice. In contrast, New Testament teachings often speak about avoiding sexual immorality, which includes any sexual relationships outside of the context of marriage between a man and woman (Matt. 19:3-12; Gal. 5:19-24; 1 Cor. 6:9-11).

In Romans 1:24-25, it condemns homosexual sex, but it can also easily be applied to condemn bestiality:

“²⁴ Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves:²⁵ Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen.”

Other scriptures that can be applied to condemn it: 

^“for you know what commandments we gave you through the Lord Jesus.³ For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you should abstain from sexual immorality; ⁴ that each of you should know how to possess his own vessel in sanctification and honor, ⁵ not in passion of lust, like the Gentiles who do not know God;” (1 Thess. 4:2-5)

“Flee fornication [sexual immorality]. Every sin that a man doeth is without the body; but he that committeth fornication sinneth against his own body.” (1 Cor. 6:18)

^“Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.“ (Phil. 4:8)

God’s Forgiveness Offered

No matter how far you have gone into the darkness of perversity, God can still forgive, cleanse, and deliver you when you repent (Pro. 28:13). There is no sin too great that God can’t forgive except one (Mk. 3:28). The shed blood of the Lord Jesus Christ is just that powerful! Indeed, if you confess your sins, He is faithful and just to forgive your sins, and to cleanse you from all unrighteousness (1 Jn. 1:9).

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If you don’t know Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, you can receive Him into your heart, and He can deliver you from darkness and sin and have your name written in His Book of Life.

If you are sincere, you can say this simple prayer to the Father (it doesn’t have to be word for word):

“God, I recognize that I have not lived my life for You up until now. I have been living for myself and that is wrong. Please forgive me of all of my sins just as I forgive others. I need You in my life; I want You in my life. I acknowledge the completed work of Your only begotten Son Jesus Christ in giving His life for me on the cross, I believe in my heart Jesus is Lord and was raised from the dead and I long to receive the forgiveness you have made freely available to me through this sacrifice. Come into my life now, Lord. Take up residence in my heart and be my king, my Lord, and my Savior. From this day forward, I will no longer be controlled by sin, or the desire to please myself, but I will follow You all the days of my life. Those days are in Your hands. I ask this in the Lord and GOD Jesus’ precious and holy name. Amen.”