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
The journalist and ex-atheist Peter Hitchens and fear of Hell
The journalist and ex-atheist Peter Hitchens, who is the brother of the late atheist Christopher Hitchens, said upon seeing an art exhibit of Michelangelo's painting The Last Judgment he came to the realization that he might be judged which startled him.[8] This started a train of thought within Peter Hichens that eventually led him to become a Christian.[9]
Child/teen atheist and fear of hell
A child/teen atheist wrote to the atheist psychologist Dr. Darrell Ray:
| “ | Dear Darrel,
I have recently decided that I am an atheist. The problem is that I am now much more anxious about my own mortality, and the mortality of the people I care about. It is scary to suddenly feel like there isn’t a God looking out for us, and that there will just be nothing after we die. Also I can’t help being afraid that if I am wrong I will go to Hell. How should I cope with these fears?[10] |
” |
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.[11] Atheists/nonreligious fear Muslims the second most when it comes to a fear they will limit their freedom or cause them physical harm.[12] 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.[13][14]
Religion and the elimination/mitigation of anxieties
Concerning atheism and health, there is considerable amount of scientific evidence that suggest that theism is more conducive to mental and physical health than atheism (see: Atheism and health).[15]
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
- ↑ Interview of Peter Hitchens - Video at Vimeo
- ↑ Interview of Peter Hitchens - Video at Vimeo
- ↑ Google cache of How do atheists handle the fear of death at: http://kidswithoutgod.com/teens/ask/how-do-atheists-handle-the-fear-of-death/
- ↑ 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
- ↑ Multiple references:
- Religion, Spirituality, and Health: The Research and Clinical Implications by Harold G. Koenig, ISRN Psychiatry. 2012; 2012: 278730.
- Mueller, Dr. Paul S. et al. (December 2001). "Religious involvement, spirituality, and medicine: implications for clinical practice". Mayo Clinic Proceedings vol. 76:12, pp. 1225-1235. Retrieved from Mayo Clinic Proceedings website on July 20, 2014.
- "Research library". Duke University Center for Spirituality, Theology and Health. Retrieved on July 24, 2014.
- McCullough, Michael E. et al. (2000). "Religious involvement and mortality: a meta-analytic review". Health Psychology. vol. 19:3. pp. 211-222. Retrieved from University of Miami, College of Arts and Sciences, Department of Psychology website on July 24, 2014.
- Casey, Professor Patricia (April 3, 2009). "The psycho-social benefits of religious practise" [executive summary]. Iona Institute for Religion and Society [Ireland] website. Retrieved on July 24, 2014.
- McCullough, Michael E. and Willoughby, Brian L. B. (2009). "Religion, self-regulation, and self-control: associations, explanations, and implications". Psychological Bulletin, vol. 135: 1, pp. 69–93. Retrieved from University of Miami, College of Arts and Sciences, Department of Psychology website on July 24, 2014.
- University of Colorado at Boulder (May 17, 1999). "Research shows religion plays a major role in health, longevity". ScienceDaily. Retrieved on July 24, 2014.
- Dervic, Kanita, et al. (December 2004). "Religious affiliation and suicide attempt" [abstract]. The American Journal of Psychiatry, vol. 161:12, pp. 2303-8. Abstract retrieved from National Institutes of Health, U.S. National Library of Medicine, National Center for Biotechnology Information, Pub Med on July 24, 2014.
- University of Warwick (December 2003). "Psychology researcher [Dr. Stephen Joseph] says spiritual meaning of Christmas brings more happiness than materialism". Scienceblog. Retrieved on July 24, 2014.
