Have you heard of "backsliding"?

Question

Is that when people have a traumatic experience and become so afraid of living, dying, or losing their loved ones that they forsake all of the knowledge science has accumulated and revert to an ancient, superstitious religion because it promises "everything will be okay"? Does that term desribe this type of intellectual regression?

Answer 1

Sure, I've heard of backsliding, but in a whole different sense. I've heard the word a lot from local Fundamentalists who have a salvation experience, but then end up "backsliding", or reverting back to their former sinful behavior. I've never heard it used in the sense you're presenting it, but I suppose it's a similar principle (embracing either belief or skepticism, but then backpedalling to a previously-held pattern of behavior when things go awry).

Answer 2

Backsliding is usually a religous term for those that were once a part of a religion (usually Christianity), but have gone back to their old wicked/sinful ways and lost their salvation. This can be the result of a traumatic event in their lives, or it could be the result of them simply abandoning their faith. However, some versions of Christianity, don't believe that backsliding is possible (i.e. some Baptists and others believe once a person is "saved" that is impossible to lose that salvation).

Answer 3

Your point is made but you are actually closer than you might realize. As they say there are no Atheists in foxholes or on planes going down. I would say that many even those who don't believe when right in the face of death find that deep down in their soul they know that God (or god) exists. But this is not the backslider. He is one who knows and believes sincerely all along but when things are going easy, not rough. is usually when he starts to slip away from his spiritual duties and fervor and becomes weak, spiritually speaking. He then is more easily tempted to fall into sin and slide away from his high calling as a son of God and no longer behaves according to his high calling. This is the backslider.

Answer 4

The answer to your commented question is NO.

Backsliding is when a person has reached the point of knowing and experience God's grace and then begins to slide back. But I think you knew that.

http://www.carm.org/seekers.htm

Answer 5

The only way I've ever heard it used is almost the opposite. It's used by born-again Christians to refer to people who leave the church and revert to their old non-born-again lifestyle -- ie, they're sliding back into a life of sin.

Answer 6

I came across the term "backsliding" in Stephen King's "Carrie", in which Carrie's fanatical mother used it to refer to a loss of religious faith and a slide into sinful behavior. I have never seen it used in a psychological context to explain regression. I would refer to it as "arrested development", "denial", or "delusion", somewhat akin to schizophrenia.

Answer 7

Yes, backsliding is a made up word used in the church to describe "losing faith". It can be temporary or permentant. I don't know about you, but I'm sick of this churchy lingo.

Answer 8

backsliding is when people who once followed God choose not to for a while, most never return to following God.

Answer 9

I've usually heard it refer to when someone says something, is shown to be wrong, and then tries to retract or change their original statement after the fact.

Answer 10

heh, sure.

but i like intellectual regression alot more.

sound psychiatrist-y