Do any other atheists have an irrational fear of lightning?

[UnrepentantSinner]

I used to really like electrical storms because when I was younger immortal and invulnerable I thought there was something really cool about the power of heat creating this tremendous show of sound and fury.

These days apart from the usual sound healthy respect for the damage a lightning strike can do to the human body I have found that I am fearful of the possibility. Not because it could kill me and would hurt like hell, but for one stupid irational reason:

...the irony of it.

Does anyone else feel the same way?

[fishbob]

Nope.

When I used to live in Texas, I was greatly entertained (figuratively shocked and awed) by the lightening storms. Now that I live in Alaska, I find that I miss them. I have heard thunder claps twice in the last 8 years. There is no show on earth more spectacular than a good lightening storm at night.

[UnrepentantSinner]

Originally posted by fishbob
Nope.

When I used to live in Texas, I was greatly entertained (figuratively shocked and awed) by the lightening storms. Now that I live in Alaska, I find that I miss them. I have heard thunder claps twice in the last 8 years. There is no show on earth more spectacular than a good lightening storm at night.

When I went through Army basic at Fort Sill, OK one of the guys was from California and had never seen a thunderstorm on the plains. He stood outside in fascination as the front rolled through, the clouds built up and the big show started. Having experienced them in myriad places over the years, I was fascinated by his fascination.

[zakur]

Nope.

But I do have an irrational fear of sharks. It's a good thing I live in Ohio.

[UnrepentantSinner]

Originally posted by zakur
Nope.

But I do have an irrational fear of sharks. It's a good thing I live in Ohio.

That's not entirely fair. You guys don't get "real thunderstorms" like we do in the plains states. ;)

[whitefork]

If there's one good reason to go to Texas, it's for the thunderstorms. Like something out of the age of dinosaurs.

Has anyone here seen ball-lightening? I have not, and I've also heard people claim that it does not exist, but I'm not buying that -I've read too many first-hand reports.

[UnrepentantSinner]

Originally posted by whitefork
If there's one good reason to go to Texas, it's for the thunderstorms. Like something out of the age of dinosaurs.

Has anyone here seen ball-lightening? I have not, and I've also heard people claim that it does not exist, but I'm not buying that -I've read too many first-hand reports.

I never have, but I've seen many a spectacular and beautiful display. I suppose we humans have the same fascination with lightning that we do with big cats, bears, sharks and artillery.

But this is diverting from my original question about the irony of an atheist being killed by lightning. :)

Grrrrr, back to tangent. Any of you have a handy copy of the pic showing a tornado and lightning strike from National Geographic? I love that photo.

[MRC_Hans]

Ball lightning: I watched a lightning strike some years back. The distance was 6-700 meters (half a mile), in open land. A seemingly quite powefull bolt (judging from flash strength and noise) hit a high-voltage tower. It was daylight, raining rather lightly for the middle of a thunderstorm. Right after the strike, the path of the lightning bolt was filled with light spheres, I guess from fist size and down. They wanished randomly, the most durable lasting perhaps five seconds. While this happened, there was a crackling sound as if each ball disappeared with a sharp pop.

I assume this was a phenomenon akin to ball lightning.

Hans

[MRC_Hans]

Oh, and any fears I have for lightning strikes seem quite rational. And strongly mixed with fascination at this awesome natural phenomenon.

Hans

[whitefork]

Hans shoots first and SCORES! Fork shakes his head in disgust but allows his post to stand after editing.

Well, US(A), wouldn't you find it more ironic for an atheist to be hit by lightening and survive? You know the old dare - "If god exists let him strike me now!" - and to be stricken and survive, well, that's quite the conundrum.

Then, consider those who've been struck multiple times - do they not cry out for the divine Taco in the presence of thunder?

Fear of lightning isn't necessarily irrational either. You shouldn't stand in an open field or under a tree during a storm, and that's what I'd call fear, and a rational one, to boot. (edited to change "rational" to "irrational")

Now, hiding under a bed during a storm - that's not rational.

Fear is healthy. And fun.

[ceo_esq]

Originally posted by zakur
Nope.

But I do have an irrational fear of sharks. It's a good thing I live in Ohio. But then, being in Ohio is precisely what makes your fear of sharks irrational.

[UnrepentantSinner]

Originally posted by whitefork
Hans shoots first and SCORES! Fork shakes his head in disgust but allows his post to stand after editing.

Well, US(A), wouldn't you find it more ironic for an atheist to be hit by lightening and survive? You know the old dare - "If god exists let him strike me now!" - and to be stricken and survive, well, that's quite the conundrum.

Then, consider those who've been struck multiple times - do they not cry out for the divine Taco in the presence of thunder?

Fear of lightning isn't necessarily irrational either. You shouldn't stand in an open field or under a tree during a storm, and that's what I'd call fear, and a rational one, to boot. (edited to change "rational" to "irrational")

Now, hiding under a bed during a storm - that's not rational.

Fear is healthy. And fun.

Short and long answer.

I would find it even more ironic to be shot and survive or contract a seemingly uncurable cancer and have a remission.

Unfortunately both of those share on factor in common with being struck by lightning - Pain.

I have a bad back and what feels like arthritis in my hips. I'm no big fan of pain at all. And I'm not sure that enduring million degree heat and having 50,000 volts pass though me sounds like a fun way of "disproving" anything.

Fear is fun. Pain isn't.

[zakur]

Originally posted by ceo_esq
But then, being in Ohio is precisely what makes your fear of sharks irrational. Touché!

But then my fear only comes to the fore when I'm swimming in the ocean while vacationing in Florida. :p

But to get the thread back on track, what is the origin of the idea of God striking down infidels with lightning? Is is Biblical?

[whitefork]

Sounds more like Zeus than the god of Abraham, to me.

[ceo_esq]

Originally posted by zakur
But to get the thread back on track, what is the origin of the idea of God striking down infidels with lightning? Is is Biblical?
It certainly is a biblical motif (http://wvlightning.com/bible.html).

However, Zeus and other sky-gods were portrayed as hurling lighting bolts, sometimes to kill mortals who offended them. I'm pretty sure the idea goes back as far as humankind.

[Peach Jr.]

To answer the original question - yup, I do. Or at least I did. Horrible, completely out-of-proportion fears of lightning and thunderstorms. It started when I was a small child, and I cannot explain why my fear began. Or has persisted into adulthood.

Mr. Peach Jr. has made me appreciate, at least intellectually, the beauty of a big honkin' lightning show. In the summertime here, "isolated afternoon/evening thundershowers" are a daily occurrence. One afternoon a couple of years ago, as I as preparing for my afternoon of hiding under the bed (no I'm not joking :p ), the Mr. pulled up a couple of chairs under the front porch overhang. I was able to sit for a few minutes before bolting for the door. I considered that a minor victory over my fear :)

Have I done it since? Nope.

Thunder, however, still has a tight grip on me. I have to pull over while driving if I hear a rumble :( . Rational? Certainly not, but all too real for me.

[BillyTK]

Just to derail the thread again, I have an irrational fear of tigers, but fortunately my mystic tiger-repelling stone keeps them all away, with a 100% success rate!

I'm sorry, I'll behave now...

[whitefork]

Old book by Alexander King: May this House be Safe From Tigers http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B00005WEH8/qid=1051718273/sr=8-1/ref=sr_8_1/002-0220134-4794465?v=glance&s=books&n=507846

[Agammamon]

I've notice that others don't like to be around me during thunderstorms.

[UnrepentantSinner]

Originally posted by BillyTK
Just to derail the thread again, I have an irrational fear of tigers, but fortunately my mystic tiger-repelling stone keeps them all away, with a 100% success rate!

I'm sorry, I'll behave now...

I'd like to buy that stone for $20

Hoping Billy's a Simpsons fan

[Elaborate]

I love lightning storms, even so far as to sit out on a screened in porch during a storm at the beach just to see the lighting; it was a vivid purple color that night.

[c4ts]

Of course all atheists have an "irrational" fear of lightning, because although they are not willing to admit it, they really know thunderstorms are Zeus wreaking vengeance upon the wicked!

[Ladewig]

Not because it could kill me and would hurt like hell, but for one stupid irational reason:

...the irony of it.

The irony of it is what I find fascinating. More than once, I have told friends that if I could chose my manner of death it would be to be struck by lightning right after saying, "I'm telling the truth, so help me God."

Lightning itself is somewhat fascinating to me. I have always considered tying a copper wire to a model rocket and launching it during a thunderstorm. Fortunately, I have yet to come up with a way to ignite the rocket from a safe enough distance, so I won't do it.

[Checkmite]

When I was in San Antonio in 2001, I visited a relative who lived south of town near the 1604 loop - a big open-sky area with very little obstruction on the horizon. It was a stormy day...I was completely captivated as I watched a huge thunderstorm roll by from the south, oozing off to the northeast. You can so clearly see all the "components" you read about in the books but never see in a place with no horizon like northern Ohio. Awesome, spectacular, breathtaking, humbling, inspiring - how can one possibly describe such a sight?

On another note....indeed, what causes lightning to be purple - or even green on occasion (besides federally controlled substances)?

[UnrepentantSinner]

Originally posted by Joshua Korosi
On another note....indeed, what causes lightning to be purple - or even green on occasion (besides federally controlled substances)?

I think you sometimes have coloration based on what's in the atmosphere being vaporized at the moment it passes through. Not to sure though.

I can say that if you see a green glow during a ground strike you're probably seeing a transformer blow. I've witnessed many of them occuring in the area near where I work.

[Checkmite]

Originally posted by UnrepentantSinner



I can say that if you see a green glow during a ground strike you're probably seeing a transformer blow. I've witnessed many of them occuring in the area near where I work.

Wow, you're right...that hadn't even occurred to me (the blowing transformer thing). Right, the green glow in this case lingers for a second or two after the lightning strike.

[BillyTK]

Originally posted by UnrepentantSinner


I'd like to buy that stone for $20

Hoping Billy's a Simpsons fan

I am :cool:

[Tricky]

There is nothing irrational about fearing lightning. It kills more people in the US every year than any other natural phenomenon. But as long as I am in a well-grounded building, I don't worry too much. I grew up in the southeast US which has tremendous thunderstorms (bigger than the ones I have seen here in Texas). I have seen tornados come out of a green-gray sky, and I have seen bolts strike nearby buildings. Anybody who is not at least tremendously respectful of such things is a fool.

I used to have a cat, though, who was absolutely terrified of lightning. She was an indoor/outdoor model, and had been caught outside in storms several times. When she heard thunder she would go to a cabinet under my sink, open the spring-closed door and slide inside, letting the door close behind her. I wouldn't see her until the storm was over. It was kind of neat, because she could hear much better than I, and when I saw her head for that cabinet, I knew a storm was coming long before I heard it myself.

[UnrepentantSinner]

Tricky, while my cats (when I'm home during thunderstorms) seem to just avoid the windows your kitty reminds me of how I drive a vehicle during heavy lightning.

I still haven't mastered cowering in the drivers side footwell as my head get caught on the steering wheel however. :)

[Ruby]

Originally posted by UnrepentantSinner
I used to really like electrical storms because when I was younger immortal and invulnerable I thought there was something really cool about the power of heat creating this tremendous show of sound and fury.

These days apart from the usual sound healthy respect for the damage a lightning strike can do to the human body I have found that I am fearful of the possibility. Not because it could kill me and would hurt like hell, but for one stupid irational reason:

...the irony of it.

Does anyone else feel the same way?

I am not an atheist, but I am terrified of lightning. I wonder what that means :eek: