RELIGIOUS OCD

[angejes]

I have this fear of going to Hell and I consistently research to see if I'm saved and seek reassurance from people. My doctor diagnosed me with OCD. Is this religious OCD?

[THL1]

Hi angejes

Yes I think this is OCD. There may be a religious basis to it, perhaps if you grew up in a religious tradition that emphasised hell for sinners (as I did).

I recently realised that my fixation on going to hell was OCD.

I ruminate on the idea that there is a non-benevolent deity who will punish me in the afterlife, through a combination of extreme physical and mental torture.

I don’t get a sense that this is because of my (bad) behaviour in this world just that suffering seems random in this world so it’s a possibility my fears will come through.

I think this is OCD because of its extreme nature, in my case-most people (without OCD) probably have these thoughts but don’t react to them too much.

I am trying to live with the possibility that my fears will come through (as no-one can be certain about things of this nature) and doing ERP on this-it is difficult to do as it’s all imaginable.

I think it has helped me in the way ERP is supposed to work-habituation, I live with the possibility it may happen but ERP has lessened the fear I think. I did get some professional help at the beginning of my journey as this is difficult stuff.

I can’t be sure there is or isin’t an afterlife and if there is that I won’t be punished for eternity. This is a difficult fear/OCD to live with but I think ERP and general understanding of how OCD works has helped me and also helps me focus on the things I can be certain of- my family, the potential for joy and happiness in this world.

I think you should get professional help if you’ve not yet had it.

Best Wishes

[Mcfly64]

Yes angejes this is ocd. Part of my ocd are similar to the thoughts you have. Part of it for me as well is being scrupulous which means I always have to do and think the right thing or I will be punished.

[sportsfan01]

Feelings can be deceiving. This is what satan wants you to feel. It’s most likely ocd. I struggle with the same thing, fear of going to hell or getting possessed. I used to worry if I should feel saved or not. But the Bible says nothing about feeling. We take it on faith and faith alone. God loves us. There is nothing we can do through works to earn favor with God. If you’ve accepted Jesus as your savior and only him as your savior for your sins then you are saved. God’s love and promises are eternal. We are saved not by anything we have done. But by what he has done and who God is. “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.”‭‭John‬ ‭3:16‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

bible.com/bible/114/jhn.3.1...

[OdysseusReturns]

You will never be able to know whether you’re going to hell or not. At least, I’ve been at that one for 11 years. Some denominations believe you can know (mostly new -age Christianity), but unless you fully believe those doctrines, you cannot know as far as I’m concerned. It is a natural worry but will paralyze you if you let it.

[cambridgeborn]

Teaching children about hell and damnation (as I was taught in Catholic school) is tantamount to child abuse! It is appalling to me that parents would allow this and would even support a school system that imposes this nonsense on defenceless children. I believe my OCD is a direct result of this frightening early religious training. It's time that responsible adults stood up to religious bullies and said "No more!" Scrupulosity and religious/moral OCD is a dreadful scourge. I know that a loving God would never want to inflict such terror on people. I'm 72 now and I still bear the scars of that early indoctrination. Enough is enough.

[3BirdLover in reply to cambridgeborn]

The old Catholic church taught these awful teachings without teaching about salvation in Jesus Christ. I believe the Catholic church is much better now and is doing much more teaching on salvation through Jesus. I was brought up in the Catholic church and with these old teachings about damnation (not based on the Bible), I developed extreme religious scrupulosity at 6 years old and it continued through the years. At 24 years old I learned the TRUTH about what the Bible teaches, learned through the Lutheran church what Jesus did for me and never looked back. Because of these harsh teachings, I still have periods of the religious scrup coming up here and there, but the TRUTH is that Jesus died for my sins, once and for all, and if i believe that (which I do), I will be in heaven with Him when I die. As another person said, it has NOTHING to do what what I have done, but has EVERYTHING to do with what Jesus did for me! REJOICE and have joy!

[OCDAdvocateKatie IOCDF Advocate]

I love seeing all of the advocacy in this post. I just wanted to add on by offering a few resources. We are currently continuing to build out faith/OCD resources at iocdf.org/ocdandfaith (new site launching soon!). I also chair a special interest group for those navigating faith/OCD concerns, and we would love to have you.

Feel free to sign up here - forms.gle/SVoU2k3PJeKYPKPv8

[3BirdLover in reply to OCDAdvocateKatie]

I had signed up for this but forgot about it Is there a way to still view this?

[OCDAdvocateKatie IOCDF Advocate in reply to 3BirdLover]

Hi! We are actually meeting tonight - look for a meeting from me this morning

[OCDlady79]

Mark DeJesus has a podcast and website that talks about religious ocd a lot because he was a pastor with OCD Also, my belief is there is no literal hell of everlasting torment that is a pagan belief, the Jews never believed such a thing and still don’t. The word hell is actually Sheol or hades which is the realm of the dead and nothing to do with torment. If you want to clear up the hell issue visit tentmaker ministries online.