Theophobia

Theobia is a "morbid fear or hatred of God". See also: Atheism and anxiety

Many communist leaders, such as Joseph Stalin and Mao Zedong, oppressed all religions in their countries, and as such may have been theophobics.

According to Common-phobias.com:

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It is generally accepted that phobias arise from a combination of external events (i.e. traumatic events) and internal predispositions (i.e. heredity or genetics). Many specific phobias can be traced back to a specific triggering event, usually a traumatic experience at an early age. Social phobias and agoraphobia have more complex causes that are not entirely known at this time. It is believed that heredity, genetics, and brain chemistry combine with life-experiences to play a major role in the development of phobias. As with any phobia, the symptoms vary by person depending on their level of fear. The symptoms typically include extreme anxiety, dread and anything associated with panic such as shortness of breath, rapid breathing, irregular heartbeat, sweating, excessive sweating, nausea, dry mouth, nausea, inability to articulate words or sentences, dry mouth and shaking.

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Various studies found that traumatic events in people's lives has a positive correlation with "emotional atheism". See also: Atheism and the problem of evil

Atheism and hatred of God

See also: Atheism and hatred of God

The Christian evangelist Ray Comfort contends that atheists hate God because they know that He does exist.

Comfort declared in 2009: "Atheists don't hate fairies, leprauchans or unicorns because they don't exist. It is impossible to hate something that doesn't exist. And that makes the point."

CNN reports:

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People unaffiliated with organized religion, atheists and agnostics also report anger toward God either in the past, or anger focused on a hypothetical image - that is, what they imagined God might be like - said lead study author Julie Exline, Case Western Reserve University psychologist. In studies on college students, atheists and agnostics reported more anger at God during their lifetimes than believers.

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In debates with atheists, the popular Christian YouTube video maker Shockofgod often asks atheists the loaded question, "Is God evil?". Invariably, so-called atheists quickly say yes. Then Shockofgod informs the "atheists" that they admitted that God exists. Shockofgod also declares that Christians never accuse leprechauns of being evil because they know they don't exist. See also: Denials that atheists exist and Atheism and its retention rate in individuals.

Don Batten of Creation Ministries International wrote:

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Recently, I have had a lot of conversations with atheists. Many express a strong hatred of God. I have been at a loss to explain this. How can you hate someone you don’t believe in? Why the hostility? If God does not exist, shouldn’t atheists just relax and seek a good time before they become plant food? Why should it matter if people believe in God? Nothing matters if atheism is true

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New Atheists and accusations of Islamophobia

The New Atheists Richard Dawkins, Sam Harris and the late Christopher Hitchens have received multiple accusations of engaging in Islamophobic behavior. On the other hand, defenders of atheist criticisms of Islam/Muslims indicated that New Atheists should be able to criticize Islam without being accused of Islamophobia.

See also

• Pascal's wager
• Atheophobia (fear of atheism/atheists)