Many Feel Anger at God Yet Resolve It at Some Point in Their Lives; Even Atheists

Teresa Neumann : Mar 3, 2011
Elizabeth Landau - CNN Health

"When people trust that God cares about them and has positive intentions toward them, even if they can't understand what those intentions or meanings are, it tends to help to resolve anger."

CNN has published an article detailing the findings of a study featured in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology that says anger against God is common, even among atheists who don't believe in God.

Lead study author Julie Exline, a Case Western Reserve University psychologist, found that "more religious people are less likely to feel angry at God and more likely to see His intentions as well-meaning, and younger people tend to be angrier at God than older people."

According to the report, "Anger at God can strongly resemble feelings you may have against another person, and strong, longstanding negative emotions of any kind can lead to physical ailments. Moreover, distress at God is associated with mental health symptoms."

"When people trust that God cares about them and has positive intentions toward them, even if they can't understand what those intentions or meanings are, it tends to help to resolve anger," said Exline.