Atheism and anxiety
Below is information related to atheism and anxiety.
Contents
Atheism and death anxiety
See also: Atheism and death and Atheist fear of death and Atheism and cowardice
Wink and Scott study: Irreligious and death anxiety
According to the researchers Wink and Scott, the irreligious fear death more than the very religious, but fear it less than the lukewarm/moderately religious.[1]
Death anxiety increases atheists unconscious belief in God
On April 2, 2012, Science Daily reported that Death anxiety increases atheists' unconscious belief in God.[2] In a 2012 Psychology Today article, Dr. Nathan A. Heflick reported similar results in other studies.[3]
(Under stress, the brain's processing works in a way that prefers unconscious thinking.[4]) See also: Atheism and the brain
For more information on death anxiety in atheists and other types of individuals based on brain research studies (including studies that examined the effects of stress), please see the article: Atheism and death
Existential angst
See also: Existentialism and Atheism and meaninglessness
Existentialism is a philosophical system that originated in the 19th century, and grew in the 20th century, that focuses on the individual striving in a seemingly meaningless universe if one rejects the biblical worldview, and how (and if) one is able to come into grips with this (see: Atheism and meaninglessness). Existentialism, though denying an objective meaning to life, believes that we as individuals can create our own subjective meaning of life, which differs it from nihilism which believes in neither.
Existential angst (or existential crisis, existential despair), is one of the key concepts in existential philosophy, and it means the crisis that one feels when confronted with a seemingly meaningless Universe, along wth the realization that one has free will to make one's own choices. This is illustrated by one standing on the edge of a cliff, looking down, and then realizing that nothing is holding you back from jumping off. The emotions which arise from this revelation is called existential angst.[5]
Existential angst is much more likely to happen in gifted children.[6]
Theophobia
See also: Atheism and hatred of God
Theobia is a "morbid fear or hatred of God".[7] For more information, please see: Atheism and hatred of God
Atheism and fear of Hell
See also: Atheism and Hell
Atheist/nonreligious and fear of conservative Christians
See also: Persecution of atheists
According to a Baylor University study, when it comes to various individuals who hold various religions/worldviews, atheists/nonreligious have the greatest fear when it comes to a fear that conservative Protestant Christians will limit their freedom or cause them physical harm.[8] Atheists/nonreligious fear Muslims the second most when it comes to a fear they will limit their freedom or cause them physical harm.[9] See also: Atheism vs. Christianity and Atheism vs. Islam
According to 2013 FBI statistics, 6/10 of a percent of hate crimes were against atheists/agnostics.[10][11]
Notes
- ↑ Fear of death: worst if you’re a little religious?, World of Science]
- ↑ Death anxiety increases atheists' unconscious belief in God, Science Daily], Date: April 2, 2012
- ↑ Atheists, Death and Belief in God The Effects of Death Reminders on Atheists' Supernatural Beliefs, Psychology Today, Published on May 25, 2012 by Nathan A. Heflick, Ph.D. in The Big Questions
- ↑
- Brain processing under stress, Ruhr-University BochumPress release
- How The Brain Learns Successfully, Even Under Stress, The Huffington Post By Carolyn Gregoire, Posted: 07/31/2013 1:00 pm EDT Updated: 07/31/2013 1:14 pm EDT
- ↑ http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-existential-angst.htm
- ↑ http://www.sengifted.org/archives/articles/existential-depression-in-gifted-individual
- ↑ Theophobia, Freedictionary.com
- ↑ Evangelicals fear Muslims; atheists fear Christians: New poll show how Americans mistrust one another, Washington Post
- ↑ Evangelicals fear Muslims; atheists fear Christians: New poll show how Americans mistrust one another, Washington Post
- ↑ 2013 FBI hate crime statistics
- ↑ Atheism: The Next Civil Rights movement, Vlad Chituc, The Daily Beast, 4-6-2015