The Link Between Religion and Fear

Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsFear vs. PhobiaReligious PhobiasThe LinkTreatment Options

Table of ContentsView All

View All

Table of Contents

Fear vs. Phobia

Religious Phobias

The Link

Treatment Options

Here we distinguish between religion fear and phobia, also discussing various types of religious phobias. Then we explore how religion and phobias might be connected, and treatments that may help when religion is linked with fear.

If you or a loved one are struggling with a phobia, contact theSubstance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) National Helplineat1-800-662-4357for information on support and treatment facilities in your area.For more mental health resources, see ourNational Helpline Database.

If you or a loved one are struggling with a phobia, contact theSubstance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) National Helplineat1-800-662-4357for information on support and treatment facilities in your area.

For more mental health resources, see ourNational Helpline Database.

Religion Fear vs. Phobia

Most religious phobias would be considered a type ofspecific phobia, which involves an excessive fear of a specific object or situation. While some people experience fears related to religion, a phobia is more than a typical fear.

Symptoms of a specific phobia include:

RecapPhobias are not the same as normal fear. With a religious phobia, a person experiences excessive fear of a religious object or situation that is out of proportion to the threat and triggers asevere anxiety response.

Recap

Phobias are not the same as normal fear. With a religious phobia, a person experiences excessive fear of a religious object or situation that is out of proportion to the threat and triggers asevere anxiety response.

Phobias With a Religious Component

There are several types of phobias that appear to have a religious component. These phobias often appear or worsen during acrisis of faith, but may occur at any time. And they may happen to anyone, regardless of their religious background. Some of the most common include the following.

Ecclesiophobia

Some people experience an intensefear of churches. This is known asecclesiophobia. This phobia may involve a fear of the building itself or a fear of what the building represents.

Theophobia

This phobia involves an irrational fear of religion. However, it may also encompass a fear of enduring “God’s wrath” or a fear of sin.A person with theophobia generally fears that if they sin, they will face God’s punishment.

Additional Phobias Involving ReligionThere are several other phobias with religious components. They include:Estigiophobia: fear of hellHagiophobia: fear of saints or blessed objectsHamartanophobia: fear of sinHierophobia: fear of priestsSacrophobia: fear of sacred objectsStavrophobia: fear of the cross sign

Additional Phobias Involving Religion

There are several other phobias with religious components. They include:Estigiophobia: fear of hellHagiophobia: fear of saints or blessed objectsHamartanophobia: fear of sinHierophobia: fear of priestsSacrophobia: fear of sacred objectsStavrophobia: fear of the cross sign

There are several other phobias with religious components. They include:

Doomsday Phobias

Doomsday phobiascan be loosely defined as phobias that involve the end of the world. They tend to fall into two basic categories: technology phobias and fears of the “End Times.”

Death Phobias

Death-related fears are extremely common among people of all cultures and religious backgrounds. Thanatophobia, orfear of death, is a common death phobia,but many people also fear symbols of death such as tombstones and ghosts. Mythophobia, or fear of legends, may also be related to the fear of death.

Numerical Phobias

RecapSome types of phobias may be related to religion. This includes phobias that are focused on the end of humanity, death, and superstitious beliefs.

Some types of phobias may be related to religion. This includes phobias that are focused on the end of humanity, death, and superstitious beliefs.

Connection Between Religion and Phobias

While the exactcauses of phobiasare not entirely understood, factors such as genetics and experiences play a role.Difficult or traumatic experiences sometimes contribute to the formation of phobias, so traumas related to religion or religious experiences could potentially lead to the development of a religion-based fear.

While religious beliefs and experiences may influence the development of religious phobias in some, many people draw comfort from rather than fear from their religious faith. Additionally, the phobias listed above can occur in those who do not identify themselves as religious. Instead, it seems that personal religious beliefs may be a small component of a larger picture.

As science has not yet conclusively proven what happens after death, fear of the unknown may be the ultimate driver behind the religious component of certain phobias. Specific emotions or other phobias may also contribute to some aspects of religious phobias.

For example, studies have found that specific types of disgust might be related to religious fear. One particular piece of research found thatsexual disgustwas linked to a fear of sin, while pathogen disgust was associated with a fear of God.

RecapThe exact causes of phobias are not fully understood, but genes and life experience play a part. It is likely that a number of different factors contribute to the development of religious phobias.

The exact causes of phobias are not fully understood, but genes and life experience play a part. It is likely that a number of different factors contribute to the development of religious phobias.

Treatment for Religious Phobias

People who feel that religion might play a role in their phobias might consider a two-pronged approach that incorporates mental health treatment and religious counseling. Consulting with a trained mental health professional can help treat phobias from a scientific perspective, with common treatments includingtalk therapyand medication.

Psychotherapy

The combination of being repeatedly exposed to the fear object or situation and learning how to relax when experiencingsymptoms of anxietycan gradually lessen the fear that people experience. Virtual reality can be used to create exposure from a safe location, such as a therapist’s office, and has been found to be effective for this purpose.

Other types of therapy have also shown promise for treating phobias. They includemindfulness therapy, which helps improve the regulation of one’s emotions when exposed to an object or situation that evokes a feeling of fear.

Medication

Medication may sometimes be prescribed to help people cope with feelings of anxiety related to religion-based fears. Anti-anxiety medications and antidepressants are two types that may be prescribed.Phobia medicationsmay be used alone, but are generally most effective when combined with psychotherapy.

Religious Counseling

People who live with a religious phobia may also benefit from counseling with a religious leader, particularly if they are undergoing a crisis of faith. A religious leader can help them explore their beliefs and examine their concerns within the context of their faith.

While traditional therapy is action-oriented and focused on removing the fear, religious counseling can help people resolve the underlying conflict. This can be beneficial for reducing their fear of religion, also potentially reducing their fear of religious objects or symbols.

RecapTreatment for phobias often involves psychotherapy. Medications can also be useful. For phobias that have a religious component, counseling with a religious leader may also be helpful.

Treatment for phobias often involves psychotherapy. Medications can also be useful. For phobias that have a religious component, counseling with a religious leader may also be helpful.

The Best Online Christian Counseling Services, Tried and Tested

9 SourcesVerywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.National Library of Medicine.Table 3.11 DSM-IV to DSM-5 Specific Phobia Comparison.Chira V.The fear and the sacred: The ontology and the phenomenology of theophobia.The Atlas. 2019;10. doi:10.22545/2019/0122Cleveland Clinic.Thanatophobia (fear of death).Cleveland Clinic.Phobias.Stewart PA, Adams TG, Senior C.The effect of trait and state disgust on fear of god and sin.Front Psychol. 2020;11:51. doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2020.00051Wright B, Tindall L, Scott AJ, et al.One session treatment (OST) is equivalent to multi-session cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) in children with specific phobias (ASPECT): results from a national non-inferiority randomized controlled trial.J Child Psychol Psychiatry. 2022;64(1):39-49. doi:10.1111/jcpp.13665Lange I, Goossens L, Leibold N, et al.Brain and behavior changes following exposure therapy predict outcome at 8-year follow-up.Psychother Psychosom. 2016;85(4):238-240. doi:10.1159/000442292National Institutes of Health.Treating phobias.Wang Z, Whiteside S, Sim L, et al.Comparative effectiveness and safety of cognitive behavioral therapy and pharmacotherapy for childhood anxiety disorders: a systematic review and meta-analysis.JAMA Pediatr. 2017;171(11):1049-1056. doi:10.1001/jamapediatrics.2017.3036

9 Sources

Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.National Library of Medicine.Table 3.11 DSM-IV to DSM-5 Specific Phobia Comparison.Chira V.The fear and the sacred: The ontology and the phenomenology of theophobia.The Atlas. 2019;10. doi:10.22545/2019/0122Cleveland Clinic.Thanatophobia (fear of death).Cleveland Clinic.Phobias.Stewart PA, Adams TG, Senior C.The effect of trait and state disgust on fear of god and sin.Front Psychol. 2020;11:51. doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2020.00051Wright B, Tindall L, Scott AJ, et al.One session treatment (OST) is equivalent to multi-session cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) in children with specific phobias (ASPECT): results from a national non-inferiority randomized controlled trial.J Child Psychol Psychiatry. 2022;64(1):39-49. doi:10.1111/jcpp.13665Lange I, Goossens L, Leibold N, et al.Brain and behavior changes following exposure therapy predict outcome at 8-year follow-up.Psychother Psychosom. 2016;85(4):238-240. doi:10.1159/000442292National Institutes of Health.Treating phobias.Wang Z, Whiteside S, Sim L, et al.Comparative effectiveness and safety of cognitive behavioral therapy and pharmacotherapy for childhood anxiety disorders: a systematic review and meta-analysis.JAMA Pediatr. 2017;171(11):1049-1056. doi:10.1001/jamapediatrics.2017.3036

Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

National Library of Medicine.Table 3.11 DSM-IV to DSM-5 Specific Phobia Comparison.Chira V.The fear and the sacred: The ontology and the phenomenology of theophobia.The Atlas. 2019;10. doi:10.22545/2019/0122Cleveland Clinic.Thanatophobia (fear of death).Cleveland Clinic.Phobias.Stewart PA, Adams TG, Senior C.The effect of trait and state disgust on fear of god and sin.Front Psychol. 2020;11:51. doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2020.00051Wright B, Tindall L, Scott AJ, et al.One session treatment (OST) is equivalent to multi-session cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) in children with specific phobias (ASPECT): results from a national non-inferiority randomized controlled trial.J Child Psychol Psychiatry. 2022;64(1):39-49. doi:10.1111/jcpp.13665Lange I, Goossens L, Leibold N, et al.Brain and behavior changes following exposure therapy predict outcome at 8-year follow-up.Psychother Psychosom. 2016;85(4):238-240. doi:10.1159/000442292National Institutes of Health.Treating phobias.Wang Z, Whiteside S, Sim L, et al.Comparative effectiveness and safety of cognitive behavioral therapy and pharmacotherapy for childhood anxiety disorders: a systematic review and meta-analysis.JAMA Pediatr. 2017;171(11):1049-1056. doi:10.1001/jamapediatrics.2017.3036

National Library of Medicine.Table 3.11 DSM-IV to DSM-5 Specific Phobia Comparison.

Chira V.The fear and the sacred: The ontology and the phenomenology of theophobia.The Atlas. 2019;10. doi:10.22545/2019/0122

Cleveland Clinic.Thanatophobia (fear of death).

Cleveland Clinic.Phobias.

Stewart PA, Adams TG, Senior C.The effect of trait and state disgust on fear of god and sin.Front Psychol. 2020;11:51. doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2020.00051

Wright B, Tindall L, Scott AJ, et al.One session treatment (OST) is equivalent to multi-session cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) in children with specific phobias (ASPECT): results from a national non-inferiority randomized controlled trial.J Child Psychol Psychiatry. 2022;64(1):39-49. doi:10.1111/jcpp.13665

Lange I, Goossens L, Leibold N, et al.Brain and behavior changes following exposure therapy predict outcome at 8-year follow-up.Psychother Psychosom. 2016;85(4):238-240. doi:10.1159/000442292

National Institutes of Health.Treating phobias.

Wang Z, Whiteside S, Sim L, et al.Comparative effectiveness and safety of cognitive behavioral therapy and pharmacotherapy for childhood anxiety disorders: a systematic review and meta-analysis.JAMA Pediatr. 2017;171(11):1049-1056. doi:10.1001/jamapediatrics.2017.3036

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