Hierophobia-The Fear of Holy Objects

Decoding Hierophobia: Fear Of Saints Or Holy Objects

What most people believe to be atheism may not be true for everyone.

Have you ever come across someone who despises holy and sacred objects?

Perhaps they loathe the Bible and refuse to engage someone who’s carrying one. Or they simply go berserk when they see a priest walk toward them.

This isn’t merely bad behavior or someone who believes in logic and science. Instead, it is a type of phobia known as Hierophobia or Hagiophobia. Etymologically speaking, both ‘Hiero’ and ‘Hagios’ mean sacred or holy in Greek.

Everything You Need to Know About Hierophobia

Hierophobia is the irrational fear of saints or holy objects. It may seem absurd since most of us look toward God or a higher power to manage and overcome our fears and insecurities.

So what specific things are we afraid of? This fear can be triggered by sacred objects such as the Holy Bible or a rosary. It even extends to religious clergymen such as priests or the Pope, and finally, sacred places like a church or temple, and rituals performed at such holy places.

If you feel you have Hierophobia then chances are that when faced with anything sacred or religious, you may experience intense anxiety and discomfort. Your response to the fear stimulus can often come off as offensive to people around you and they may make you feel shame and guilt for it. But don’t be disheartened. Your feelings and anxiety around the issue are valid and in this article, we’ll not only go over the reasons behind it but also share ways to combat it successfully.

Do I Have Hierophobia?

If you can’t bear being in the same room as a priest, a religious ritual, sacred items, or even if the room is in a sacred place, you may have Hierophobia.
This isn’t just a normal aversion, it’s a morbid fear that grips you and prevents you from dealing with circumstances involving the stimuli, particularly if your family and friends are religious.

Before we discuss ways to overcome it, let’s take a closer look at the cause of Hierophobia.

What Causes Hierophobia?

The main cause of Hierophobia is usually a terrible event that sparked the phobia, such as:

Trauma
If someone has a morbid fear of priests, the truth may well be that they were physically assaulted in a sacred space or by a religious figure. What this means is that the issue isn’t the robe or church but that someone wearing those robes made this individual feel unsafe and violated. As a result, they may never recover from this experience unless they seek professional help.

Genetics
Another cause of Hierophobia could be genetics. Research shows that — “If a family member has a phobia, you are at an increased risk for a phobia as well. Similarly, when one twin has a specific phobia, the other twin has a 30% chance of having one as well.”
This is possible in the case of family members such as parents and siblings. So if you know of a family member who suffers from a morbid fear of any specific stimulus or even Hierophobia then you may be experiencing it as well.

Environment & Upbringing

The environment and upbringing of a person can sometimes have a major impact on the development of phobias. Perhaps they were raised in a hostile environment toward religious items and priests. As a result, they may acquire this particular phobia.

In some cases, a person can acquire a phobia over time if they were overexposed or compelled by society to participate in violent rituals involving sacred items.

Symptoms Of Hierophobia

Do you think that you or someone you know suffers from Hierophobia? To know for sure, refer to this list of symptoms below but do keep in mind that Hierophobia symptoms can appear in different ways for different people, both psychologically and physically.

Physical Symptoms

● Sweaty palms and feet
● Hot or Cold flashes
● Muscle Tension
● Headaches and migraines
● Nausea Or Diarrhea
● Dizziness
● Trembling
● Dry mouth
● Breathlessness