The Link Between Religion and Fear

A strong religious faith can bring comfort to some. At the same time, certain phobias—which are mental health conditions characterized by intense, irrational fear—appear to have a religious component.

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.

Religion Fear vs. Phobia

Most religious phobias would be considered a type of specific 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.

To qualify as a phobia, the fear experienced must be life-limiting and affect areas such as personal life, school, and work. Symptoms must also be present for six months or longer and not be caused by another mental health condition, such as agoraphobia or social anxiety disorder.

Symptoms of a specific phobia include:

• Excessive, persistent, and unreasonable fear in response to a specific situation or object
• An immediate anxiety response that is not proportional to the actual threat
• Avoidance of the source of the fear or enduring it only under extreme duress

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 a crisis 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 intense fear of churches. This is known as ecclesiophobia. This phobia may involve a fear of the building itself or a fear of what the building represents. 

In some cases, a fear of churches is related to a fear of specific practices associated with religion that have led to feelings of distrust and fear. For example, sexual abuse by priests, emotional abuse by churches that support homophobia, and harmful practices such as conversion therapy may contribute to a fear of churches or other religious buildings.

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.

Doomsday Phobias

Doomsday phobias can 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."

Both types of doomsday phobias may be triggered or worsened by religious beliefs, particularly if a person has begun to question their faith. Astrophobia, or fear of space, may be related to doomsday phobias.

Death Phobias

Death-related fears are extremely common among people of all cultures and religious backgrounds. Thanatophobia, or fear 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

Numbers can carry religious and cultural significance. Although a belief in the power of numbers is often dismissed as superstition by modern science, this belief can be extremely strong. Two of the most commonly feared numbers are 13 and 666.

Connection Between Religion and Phobias

While the exact causes of phobias are 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 that sexual disgust was linked to a fear of sin, while pathogen disgust was associated with a fear of God.

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 including talk therapy and medication.

Psychotherapy

Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is a first-line approach to treating phobias. CBT works by identifying the underlying patterns of thinking that contribute to fear and then helping people develop new coping skills that can reduce the fear a person experiences.

Exposure therapy is a component of CBT that can be particularly effective when treating phobias. This technique works by gradually and progressively exposing people to the source of their fear in a supportive environment. At the same time, people practice relaxation strategies that help soothe their fear response.

The combination of being repeatedly exposed to the fear object or situation and learning how to relax when experiencing symptoms of anxiety can 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.

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 medications may 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.