Name: Aiza Naeem

Sap Id: 23774

BCA 02
Course: Islamic Ethical Principles & Contemporary Issues/ Islamic studies

Q: what is the importance of religion in coping with fear?

One of the most common ways that people cope with fear is through the comfort found in
religious or spiritual practices. Psychologists of religion have performed multiple studies to
measure the positive and negative effects of this coping style. Leading researchers have split
religious coping into two categories: positive religious coping and negative religious coping.
Individuals who use positive religious coping are likely to seek spiritual support and look for
meaning in a traumatic situation. Negative religious coping (or spiritual struggles) expresses
conflict, question, and doubt regarding issues of God and faith.
The effects of religious coping are measured in many different circumstances, each with different
outcomes. Some common experiences where people use religious coping are fear-inflicting
events such as 9/11 or the holocaust, death and sickness, and near-death experiences. It also
shows that people also use religious coping to deal with everyday stressors in addition to life-
changing traumas. 
Religion does not cause fear. Many people draw comfort from rather than fear their religious
faith. Additionally, the fear often occurs in those who do not identify themselves as
religious. Instead, it seems that personal religious beliefs may be a small component of a larger
picture.

Types of Fear with a Religious Component:

Doomsday fear
Doomsday fear can be loosely defined as those phobias that involve the end of the world. They
tend to fall into two basic categories: technology phobias and fears of the "End Times." Both
types of doomsday phobias may be triggered or worsened by religious belief, particularly if you
have begun to question your faith. Astraphobia, or fear of space, may be related to doomsday
phobias.
Death fear
Death-related fears are extremely common among people of all cultures and religious
backgrounds. No matter what your faith, contemplating your own death is generally not a
pleasant experience. Thanatophobia, or fear of death, is the most common of these phobias, but
many people also fear the symbols of death such as tombstones and ghosts. Mythophobia, or fear
of legends, may also be related to the fear of death.
Numerical fear
Different religions assign importance or power to different numbers. Although these beliefs are
sometimes dismissed as superstition by modern science, belief in the power of numbers can be
extremely strong. Two of the most commonly feared numbers are 13 and 666.

As science has not yet conclusively proven what happens after death, fear of the unknown may
be the ultimate driver behind the religious component of certain phobias.

If you feel that religion may play a role in your phobias, a two-pronged approach often works
best. It is important to consult with a trained mental health professional, who will treat your
phobia from a scientific perspective. Common treatments include talk therapy,
particularly cognitive-behavioral therapy, and medications.

It's also recommended that you seek counseling with your religious leader, particularly if you are
undergoing a crisis of faith. He or she can help you explore your beliefs and examine your
concerns within the context of your faith. While traditional therapy is action-oriented and
focused on removing the fear, religious counseling can help you resolve the underlying conflict.