Fear of God (theophobia)

Theophobia is a fear of God or gods, which can range from anxiety about divine punishment to dread around religious ideas, places or practices. It may show up as intrusive worries about sin, avoiding places of worship, or feeling distressed by religious images.

About this phobia

The name comes from the Greek theos, meaning god. It is a rare term and is different from the reverent fear of God described in many faiths, which is often about respect rather than terror. Persistent worry about sin or offending God is sometimes described as scrupulosity, a religious form of obsessive compulsive patterns.

What it feels like

• Intrusive worries about having done something wrong or sinful
• Avoiding churches, temples or religious conversations
• A sense of dread or of being watched and judged

Explore more unusual fears in the rare phobias A to Z, or browse the common phobias.

Common questions

Is fear of God the same as theophobia?

Not always. In many faiths, fearing God means awe and respect, which is quite different from a phobia. Theophobia describes fear that causes real distress or avoidance, and a sensitive faith leader or counsellor can be helpful alongside other support.

How can you help?

I use hypnotherapy and NLP to change how your mind responds to the thing you fear, so the old alarm stops going off. Sessions are one to one over Zoom, and you get a recording of the hypnosis to listen to afterwards.

How many sessions will I need?

Many clients notice a real difference after one 90 minute session. If the fear goes back a long way, three sessions gives us room to make the change stick.

Ready to start?

Book a £49 consultation call and we’ll talk through your fear, or take the free suitability test first.

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