Hexakosioihexekontahexaphobia is literally defined as the “fear of the
number six hundred sixty-six (666).” It is a fear that originated from the
Biblical verse Revelation 13:18, which indicates that the number 666 is the
Number of the Beast, linked to Satan or the Anti-Christ. Outside of the
Christian faith, the phobia has been further popularized by various horror
films. People suffering from this disorder will strongly avoid things related to
the number 666. A prominent example is Nancy and Ronald Reagan who, in
1989, when moving to their home in the Bel-Air section of Los Angeles, had
the address of 666 St. Cloud Road changed to 668 St. Cloud Road.
Certain women also express concerns about giving birth to a child on June 6,
2006 (abbreviated 6/6/06). In the science community some experts have
questioned whether the condition should be classified as a phobia.
However, it has been determined that the fear is pervasive, and at times
has even impacted entire communities. Fear of the number 666 can
manifest in many different ways, depending on the severity of the condition.
It has been described as a form of obsessive compulsive disorder. Many
people all around the world consciously avoid having the number 666 occur
in their daily life. People may also become particularly nervous or
uncomfortable if the number appears frequently, drawing connections
between coincidental events.