I have been reading a book called "The Hijacked Conscience" by Debra Peck. It discusses people who are OCD with regards to religious scrupulosity.
I'm thinking this book should have been written fifty years ago. Or maybe thousands of years ago.
I'm also thinking about scripture passages that trigger this type of OCD. Examples might include 1st Corinthians 11:27 which speaks of the possibility of unworthily taking the sacrament and "eating unworthily to their own damnation" or Matthew 5:28 which says "whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery..."
These verses, often used when teaching young people in church, may be used with good intent, but
an OCD person hearing these verses would overreact and think they were going to hell or become depressed, which is almost the same thing.
Did God intend or foresee this?
Religious Scrupulosity OCD
-
deacon blues
- Posts: 2004
- Joined: Tue Oct 18, 2016 7:37 am
Religious Scrupulosity OCD
God is Love. God is Truth. The greatest problem with organized religion is that the organization becomes god, rather than a means of serving God.
Re: Religious Scrupulosity OCD
I remember in our ward, a stake pres was handing out “all-in” buttons, a token for those who engaged in the sacred practices: temple visits, home and visiting teaching, family home evenings. It was curious—many who wore these badges of honor hadn’t completed every task, while others, diligently committed, remained unnoticed.
Are you “all-in”—a perfect, unwavering believer? or are you a cafeteria style Mormon - picking and choosing, or worse, perhaps you are a NOMie?—Please do not cast a shadow on the hearts of the earnest seekers - we invite you to be silent during meetings, do not speak, not allowed to pray. The honest in heart - grappling with the weight of perfectionism, it was a ward goal "be ye therefore perfect" our yearly goal and motto for the ward
relentless loop of obsessive thoughts, striving to tick every box - never quite arriving - forever worthless and in need of the church to save us.
Those temple recommend interviews, I said I wasn't perfect, no one is "worthy" come on?? what kind of question?? I mean Romans 3:10-12 "There is none righteous, no, not one; ... say your worthless, and you will be told of your flawless worthiness. It turned the sacred TR into something hollow. The impossible standards left the honest adrift. A lie. Everyone sitting in that temple, liars. Honest struggles are insufficient, the journey itself lost all its meaning.
Are you “all-in”—a perfect, unwavering believer? or are you a cafeteria style Mormon - picking and choosing, or worse, perhaps you are a NOMie?—Please do not cast a shadow on the hearts of the earnest seekers - we invite you to be silent during meetings, do not speak, not allowed to pray. The honest in heart - grappling with the weight of perfectionism, it was a ward goal "be ye therefore perfect" our yearly goal and motto for the ward
relentless loop of obsessive thoughts, striving to tick every box - never quite arriving - forever worthless and in need of the church to save us.Those temple recommend interviews, I said I wasn't perfect, no one is "worthy" come on?? what kind of question?? I mean Romans 3:10-12 "There is none righteous, no, not one; ... say your worthless, and you will be told of your flawless worthiness. It turned the sacred TR into something hollow. The impossible standards left the honest adrift. A lie. Everyone sitting in that temple, liars. Honest struggles are insufficient, the journey itself lost all its meaning.
“You have learned something...That always feels at first as if you have lost something.” George Bernard Shaw
When it is dark enough, you can see the stars. ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson
When it is dark enough, you can see the stars. ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson
Re: Religious Scrupulosity OCD
I haven't really unpacked that box on my broken shelf yet. But I remember when I was TBM, I HAD to read the scriptures every day, no matter what. I was afraid that bad things would happen to me if I didn't.
...walked eye-deep in hell
believing in old men’s lies...--Ezra Pound
believing in old men’s lies...--Ezra Pound
Re: Religious Scrupulosity OCD
Yes, maybe I should suggest this book to my wife's book club. She definitely has it. We must do scripture study daily (1 full chapter no less), fhe and family planning weekly and don't forget come follow me. I think she would like to wear one of those badges to my chagrin. It makes staying in a mixed faith marriage more challenging. I guess I just have to look for things that might get her to think and bring them up sometimes. Anyone else have this struggle?
Re: Religious Scrupulosity OCD
Yes, maybe I should suggest this book to my wife's book club. She definitely has it. We must do scripture study daily (1 full chapter no less), fhe and family planning weekly and don't forget come follow me. I think she would like to wear one of those badges to my chagrin. It makes staying in a mixed faith marriage more challenging. I guess I just have to look for things that might get her to think and bring them up sometimes. Anyone else have this struggle?