Title: Retire the Term “God Complex” — Replace It with “Delusions of Dominance”
To: The American Psychiatric Association, American Psychological Association, educators, media professionals, and the public
The term “god complex” has been used for decades to describe arrogance, superiority, and obsession with control. But the phrase is not only clinically inaccurate — it is also deeply disrespectful to God. By using His holy name as a slur, the expression reduces the Almighty to a punchline for human arrogance.
It is time to retire this harmful phrase and replace it with a term that is both accurate and respectful: Delusions of Dominance.
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Why the Change is Needed
1. Disrespect to God
God’s name is holy and should not be mocked or attached to human flaws. The Bible reminds us:
“You shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain.” (Exodus 20:7)
“Be still, and know that I am God.” (Psalm 46:10)
Calling arrogance a “god complex” suggests that sinful pride mirrors the nature of God — which is false and blasphemous. Arrogance is the opposite of God’s character, which is just, holy, and merciful.
2. Cultural Irreverence
Every time the phrase “god complex” is used, it casually places humanity on the same level as the Creator. This normalizes irreverence toward God in everyday speech and encourages pride — the very sin that led to Satan’s fall (Isaiah 14:12–15).
3. Lack of Clinical Accuracy
The term “god complex” has never been a recognized diagnosis. In psychology, traits like arrogance and exaggerated superiority are classified as symptoms of narcissism, mania, or delusional disorders. Professionals already use terms like grandiosity and delusions of grandeur — so why should society cling to a sensationalized phrase that offends people of faith?
4. A Better Alternative Exists
We propose adopting “Delusions of Dominance.”
It is accurate — “delusions” refers to false beliefs, and “dominance” captures the obsession with power and superiority.
It is memorable — strong, clear, and easy to use in conversation, education, and media.
It is respectful — no longer dragging God’s name into an insult.
With all due respect, this seems like unnecessary moralizing.
St. Paul, in 2 Corinthians 4:4 speaks of “the god of this age” (ὁ θεὸς τοῦ αἰῶνος). He is using the expression ὁ θεὸς “the god” seemingly in reference to the devil. If one looks purely at the surface level, isn’t it deeply insulting and offensive to call the devil “god”? So why is Paul doing this? The reason is because Paul is using the concept of “god” to refer to the way in which this present age is held under bondage. Language consistent throughout the New Testament that creation and the present time, and the whole present arrangement of things, is held in bondage to dark cosmic powers–death, the devil, etc. This is not an elevation of these dark powers to godhood; but a recognition that there is something deeply wrong with the way things are, it runs right through the middle from the smallest things to the biggest; from each individual human person, to the smallest creatures, to the whole universe itself–it’s a state and condition of how things are that is presented as what God is redeeming and saving us–and all creation–from.
My point here isn’t to give a biblical lesson; but rather to highlight that the term “god” can be used in a lot of ways depending on context. The concept of a “god complex” is not an insult to God; it is instead a use of “god” to indicate the state of a person’s mind who suffers from delusions of grandeur.
It is entirely unnecessary to be offended on God’s behalf for this.
I’ve worked in psychology and mental health for 20 years and have never come across the term ‘God complex’ in a clinical setting.
I have understood it would mean a person is trying to be “God”. Satan has had this problem.
And there are ones who claim they are God.
But there are dominating people who do not believe they are God. So, you might have diagnosis making a distinction between who supposes he or she is God or is trying to be, versus someone who simply does have delusions of dominance.
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