Religion can be a powerful and positive force in people’s lives, there’s no doubt about that.
However, there’s a line between healthy spiritual practice and toxic religious obsession. When someone’s faith crosses that line, it can start to control their life in serious ways. If you’re worried that your friend, family member, or colleague’s religion is becoming all-consuming, here are 16 telling signs to watch out for. While not everyone will exhibit all these behaviours, even a few should raise red flags.
1. They constantly quote scripture.
You can barely get through a conversation without them busting out a Bible verse. Whether you’re discussing weekend plans or relationship problems, they’ve always got a snippet of scripture at the ready. It’s as if they can only process life through the lens of their holy book. Referencing one’s faith is fine, but when it’s the default response to everything, it suggests an inability to think independently of their religion.
2. They’re dogmatic and inflexible.
In their world, everything is black and white — there’s no room for nuance or shades of grey. They rigidly adhere to their religious doctrines and resist considering alternative viewpoints. Even minor deviations from their faith’s party line are swiftly condemned. This inflexibility can make them judgmental and difficult to reason with, as they’re convinced they have a monopoly on the truth.
3. They’re always trying to convert you.
Hanging out with them feels like being in a never-ending sales pitch for their religion. No matter how many times you politely decline, they’re relentless in their attempts to get you to join their faith. They invite you to their house of worship, bombard you with religious literature, and constantly steer conversations toward spiritual topics. Their single-minded focus on proselytising can make it hard to connect with them on a genuine level.
4. They use religion as an excuse for bad behaviour.
Source: Unsplash When they screw up, they’re quick to invoke their faith as a get-out-of-jail-free card. Instead of taking responsibility for their actions, they hide behind religious platitudes or claim that a higher power compelled them to act out. They may even try to guilt you for holding them accountable, accusing you of religious persecution. Using one’s faith to dodge personal responsibility is a classic sign of spiritual immaturity.
5. They’re obsessed with ends times prophecies.
They’re convinced that the world is perpetually on the brink of apocalypse, and they’ve got a Bible full of doomsday prophecies to prove it. Every headline is a harbinger of the end times, every natural disaster a sign of divine wrath. They spend an inordinate amount of time trying to decipher cryptic scriptural passages to pinpoint the exact date of the rapture. This fixation on the end of the world can make them seem paranoid and disconnected from reality.
6. They reject science that contradicts their beliefs.
No matter how robust the evidence, they refuse to accept scientific findings that don’t align with their religious views. They dismiss evolution, climate change, and other well-established theories as secular conspiracies. They insist that the Earth is only 6,000 years old and that humans coexisted with dinosaurs. Their rejection of empirical facts in favour of religious dogma can make it frustrating to have rational discussions with them.
7. They have no friends outside their faith.
Their entire social circle consists of people from their religious community. They avoid forming close relationships with anyone who doesn’t share their exact beliefs. If they do have to interact with religious outsiders, it’s always with the ulterior motive of converting them. This insular approach to friendships suggests an inability to connect with people on a basic human level without viewing them through the lens of their faith.
8. They’re excessively superstitious.
They see demons and miracles around every corner. A common cold is a sign of spiritual warfare, while a found parking spot is a divine intervention. They’re constantly on the lookout for “signs and wonders” to confirm their faith, often imbuing random occurrences with heavy religious significance. This magical thinking can make them seem out of touch and prone to fanaticism.
9. They judge everyone by their religious standards.
They view the world through a narrow, moralistic lens, harshly judging anyone who doesn’t abide by their religion’s strict rules. They’re quick to condemn those who engage in behaviours their faith deems sinful, even if those actions are legal and consensual. They may express disgust or pity toward religious outsiders, viewing them as misguided souls in need of salvation. This judgmental attitude can be off-putting and sanctimonious.
10. They blindly follow religious leaders.
They treat their pastor’s word as gospel, never questioning their authority or judgment. They believe their religious leaders are divinely appointed and therefore beyond reproach. Even when evidence of misconduct emerges, they’re quick to defend their leaders and attack critics. This unquestioning obedience to religious authority figures can make them vulnerable to manipulation and abuse.
11. They make major life decisions based on “divine signs.”
Rather than carefully weighing pros and cons, they base significant choices on superstitious signs they interpret as messages from God. A random Bible verse or a chance encounter with a stranger may determine whether they take a job, end a relationship, or move to a new city. While faith can provide guidance, using it as a substitute for critical thinking can lead to reckless and impulsive decision-making.
12. They’re homophobic and/or transphobic.
They use religion to justify their bigotry towards LGBTQIA+ people. They rely on outdated scriptural passages to argue that homosexuality and gender nonconformity are sinful abominations. They might express disgust or moral outrage at the mere existence of queer people. Some may even support traumatic “conversion therapies” in an attempt to pray the gay away. Wielding one’s faith as a weapon against already marginalised communities is a troubling red flag.
13. They have a persecution complex.
They’re convinced their faith is under constant attack from non-believers, secular culture, and even the government. They interpret any challenge to their religious practices or beliefs, no matter how minor, as evidence of widespread anti-Christian persecution. In extreme cases, they may even stockpile weapons or supplies in anticipation of an imagined holy war. This persecution complex can make them appear paranoid, defensive, and resistant to constructive dialogue.
14. They use religious guilt to manipulate people.
Faith can be an effective means of manipulation, and they’re skilled at using it to control those around them. They tend to invoke religious guilt to pressure family members into obeying their wishes, or suggest that bad things will happen to loved ones who don’t “comply” because they’ve fallen out of God’s favour. They wield scripture like a weapon to justify their demands. This manipulation tactic is emotionally abusive and a blatant misuse of religious authority.
15. They treat prayer like a magical cure-all.
While prayer can be a healthy expression of faith, they take it to fanatical extremes. They insist that devout prayer is all that’s needed to cure serious illnesses, eschewing medical treatment in favour of divine healing. They use “I’ll pray for you” as a catch-all response to any problem, as if prayer absolves them from providing tangible support. This over-reliance on prayer can prevent them from taking practical actions to address the tough stuff in life.
16. They’ve lost their individual identity.
They’ve become so consumed by their religious affiliation that it eclipses all other aspects of their identity. Their faith isn’t just an important part of who they are — it’s the entirety of who they are. They can’t seem to hold a conversation or form a thought without filtering it through the lens of their religious worldview. It’s as if their individual personality has been erased, replaced entirely by their spiritual persona.
