History ParanoiaFuel / ReligionAndMythology

* According to Myth/GreekMythology, the world is ruled by a pantheon of JerkassGods who will utterly screw over mortals [[DisproportionateRetribution for the most petty of reasons,]] or no reason at all. Yes, yes, if you managed to piss off the gods knowingly[[note]]Although let's face it, if you were [[TooDumbToLive stupid enough]] to ''knowingly'' anger a God, you probably deserve whatever punishment they dish out. It happened to Tantalus...[[/note]] or unknowingly, get ready for a very hard life, [[FateWorseThanDeath if not worse]]. Being ProperlyParanoid won't even help: there's a reason why cruel {{Irony}} is a major theme in Greek drama. Oh, and by the way, [[YouCantFightFate destiny rules everything and you have no control over your life]]. As a bonus: The ancient Greek word for "safe" translates to English as "free from fear". Their word for "safe" meant that they weren't in danger. It's a negative. To them, the default state of existence was "not safe". The Greeks basically lived in this trope.

* The paranoia fuel is part on what makes the concept of {{Hell}} so potent, by playing on the fear of what comes after death. Just because you transgressed this one small rule, you are condemned into ''[[AndIMustScream eternal punishment]]''. And you don't even know when you will die or be able to repent.

* According to GreekMythology, the world is ruled by a pantheon of JerkassGods who will utterly screw over mortals [[DisproportionateRetribution for the most petty of reasons,]] or no reason at all. Yes, yes, if you managed to piss off the gods knowingly[[note]]Although let's face it, if you were [[TooDumbToLive stupid enough]] to ''knowingly'' anger a God, you probably deserve whatever punishment they dish out. It happened to Tantalus...[[/note]] or unknowingly, get ready for a very hard life, [[FateWorseThanDeath if not worse]]. Being ProperlyParanoid won't even help: there's a reason why cruel {{Irony}} is a major theme in Greek drama. Oh, and by the way, [[YouCantFightFate destiny rules everything and you have no control over your life]]. As a bonus: The ancient Greek word for "safe" translates to English as "free from fear". Their word for "safe" meant that they weren't in danger. It's a negative. To them, the default state of existence was "not safe". The Greeks basically lived in this trope.

* According to GreekMythology, the world is ruled by a pantheon of JerkassGods who will utterly screw over mortals [[DisproportionateRetribution for the most petty of reasons,]] or no reason at all. Yes, yes, if you managed to piss off the gods knowingly or unknowingly, get ready for a very hard life, [[FateWorseThanDeath if not worse]]. Being ProperlyParanoid won't even help: there's a reason why cruel {{Irony}} is a major theme in Greek drama. Oh, and by the way, [[YouCantFightFate destiny rules everything and you have no control over your life]]. As a bonus: The ancient Greek word for "safe" translates to English as "free from fear". Their word for "safe" meant that they weren't in danger. It's a negative. To them, the default state of existence was "not safe". The Greeks basically lived in this trope.

*** This is the idea behind the Calvinist and Islamic concept of [[YouCantFightFate predestination}}. Meaning that God has decreed your final depository beforehand and you can do absolutely nothing for it.

*** It should be noted that, in the Christianity-based religions at least, that God does not determine where you are going in the afterlife from birth. He merely knows what's going to happen, as one's own actions determine their place after death. Though in Calvinism and several traditions do state he does so, based on several biblical quotes that impy that.

*** This is the idea behind the Calvinist and Islamic concept of {{predestination}}. Meaning that God has decreed your final depository beforehand and you can do absolutely nothing for it.

** There's also the notion that since it seems since God is all knowing, he can actually see the future, including if you are going to Hell of Heaven. Meaning all those stuff about how you have to choose your own destiny is all lies. Happy living, everyone.

* UsefulNotes/{{Gnosticism}} laughs at the two examples above and makes it more horrifying. Your entire existence is pretty much to be food for an evil lion-headed god and his angels, unless you adhere to exceedingly ascetic rituals and ways of life that may or may not allow you to escape from physical reality. And sometimes, the archons don't feel like waiting for you to die.

*** It should be noted that, in the Christianity-based religions at least, that God does not determine where you are going in the afterlife from birth. He merely knows what's going to happen, as one's own actions determine their place after death.

* According to GreekMythology, the world is ruled by a pantheon of JerkassGods who will utterly screw over mortals [[DisproportionateRetribution for the most petty of reasons,]] or no reason at all. Yes, yes, if you managed to piss off the gods knowingly or unknowingly, get ready for a very hard life, [[FateWorseThanDeath if not worse]]. Being ProperlyParanoid won't even help: there's a reason why cruel {{Irony}} is a major theme in Greek drama. Oh, and by the way, [[YouCantFightFate destiny rules everything and you have no control over your life]]. As a bonus: The ancient Greek word for "safe" translates to English as "free from fear". Their word for "safe" meant that they weren't in danger. It's a negative. To them, the default state of existence was "not safe". The Greeks basically lived in this trope.

** Which increases the paranoia and TearJerker. You can be the nicest, sweetest person in your town. Construct and run no-kill shelters for abandoned pets, adopt disabled orphans, fund foster homes, donate to the poor and needy, etc, but you'll go to Hell anyway because God has seen to it before you were born.

** Jossed: Cause then whats the point of trying to save people from their sins anyways?

** Which increases the paranoia and TearJerker. You can be the nicest, sweetest person in your town. Construct and run homeless, no-kill shelters for abandoned pets, adopt disabled orphans, fund foster homes, donate to the poor and needy, etc, but you'll go to Hell anyway because God has seen to it before you were born.

** Which increases the paranoia and TearJerker. You can be the nicest, sweetest person in your town. Raise homeless, no-kill shelters for abandoned pets, adopt disabled orphans, fund foster homes, etc, but you'll go to Hell anyway because God has seen to it before you were born.

** Wanna hear something scary from one religion I know? It seems since God is all knowing, he can actually see the future, including if you are going to Hell of Heaven. Meaning all those stuff about how you have to choose your own destiny is all lies. Happy living, everyone.

** This idea is also why many atheists and skeptics write off such an idea as preposterous.

** There's also the idea that [[BigBrotherIsWatching god can see everything you do]] [[UpToEleven including your own thoughts.]]

* The paranoia fuel is part on what makes the concept of {{Hell}} so potent. Just because you transgressed this one small rule, you are condemned into ''[[AndIMustScream eternal punishment]]''.

** There's also the idea that [[BigBrotherIsWatching god can see everything you do]] [[UpToTheEleven including your own thoughts.]]

** There's also the idea that [[BigBrotherIsWatching god can see everything you do]] [[InescapableHorror including your own thoughts.]]

** There's also the idea that [[BigBrotherIsWatching god can see everything you do]] [InescapableHorror including your own thoughts.]]