Fear

Fear is the state of being afraid. In some cases fear is the result of a lack of faith.

Fear is usually considered a negative emotion, but it also has a positive Biblical meaning, connoting a mixture of awe and respect: "The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom" (Proverbs 9:10).

The Ancient Greeks personified fear as a minor deity called Phobos,^[1] who gives his name to one of the satellites of Mars.

Atheism and anxiety[edit]

See also: Atheism and anxiety

Atheists suffer from a variety of anxieties that often the religiously devout do not suffer from or rarely suffer from (see: Atheism and anxiety).

Atheist fear of conservative Christians[edit]

The atheist Sam Harris quipped about William Lane Craig that he was "The one Christian apologist who seems to have put the fear of God into many of my fellow atheists".^[2][3]

See also: Atheist fear of conservative Christians

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.^[4] Atheists/nonreligious fear Muslims the second most when it comes to a fear they will limit their freedom or cause them physical harm.^[5] 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.^[6][7]

Prominent atheists being afraid/reluctant to debate conservative Christians[edit]

• Prominent atheists being afraid/reluctant to debate conservative Christians

• Atheism and cowardice

See also[edit]

• Atheism and anxiety
• Atheism and death anxiety

References[edit]

1. ↑ theoi.com
2. ↑ William Lane Craig Puts the Fear of God in Atheists, video clip of the William Lane Craig vs. Sam Harris debate
3. ↑ The God Debate II: Harris vs. Craig, University of Notre Dame YouTube channel
4. ↑ Evangelicals fear Muslims; atheists fear Christians: New poll show how Americans mistrust one another, Washington Post
5. ↑ Evangelicals fear Muslims; atheists fear Christians: New poll show how Americans mistrust one another, Washington Post
6. ↑ 2013 FBI hate crime statistics
7. ↑ Atheism: The Next Civil Rights movement, Vlad Chituc, The Daily Beast, 4-6-2015