Whether it’s Greek gods, Hindu gods or the god of Christianity there are several deity from which to choose. Some have special powers they use in connection with other gods who exercise other powers. There are people who believe it is possible to one day become a god based on how they have lived and what they believe. Those who fear gods are said to have Theophobia.
In many religions the role of a god is designed to help inspire confidence in protection, hope in better times to come and faith that the trust you give to the deity will result in good things. However, the same deity can inspire fear if they become angry with our actions or we may believe they are so powerful we are worthless in their sight.
What Causes Theophobia?
This phobia is often the result of an overwhelming suspicion that we do not measure up to the standards of the deity we chose to follow. The writings related to the god we serve may cause us to feel as if we can make no decision that will ever be right. We may come to view this god as if he or she is a figure whose sole purpose is to enjoy our misery and failure.
We may have older family members that believed in a faith perspective and then walked away avoiding all future contact or interest in that religious perspective. Their avoidance may have been construed as fear which resulted in the same apprehension in the observer and may later have morphed into the same phobia.
It can be intimidating to reconcile a belief that we answer to a deity whose ways and purposes are different from what we understand. This fear may also be the result of fearing the loss of personal control over our lives.
Symptoms of Theophobia
As mentioned above avoidance will be a primary symptom related to this fear. This phobic personality will avoid houses of worship, religious texts and interaction with others who may believe in the deity. Their fear may be expressed in visible horror or a lashing out at all who state a belief in the deity.
Other symptoms may also include…
- Anger
- Frustration
- Trembling
- Elevated heart rate
- Nausea
- Feeling as if you are losing your mind
- An urge to prove others wrong who believe in the deity
- Weeping
This fear can be especially troubling because it deals with a belief system that relies on rewards and punishments both now and in an afterlife. No matter how you feel about that issue it is often a key part in a belief in a deity.
How To Overcome Theophobia
Therapy coupled with spiritual guidance can be helpful in answering questions about the source of the fear as well as a tool to help clear up any misconceptions about the deity you fear.
Overcoming fear is never an easy answer, but it often requires the help of others in both understanding and acceptance.
The fear of gods is also referred to as:
- god fear
- Theophobia
