Do I need to get baptized again?

Question: Hello, I grew up in the church of Christ. I was first baptized around age 12. I later was baptized again because I became unsure if I did it for the correct reasons the first time. I thought I did it more out of fear of hell than belief and love of God. I…

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I think I have OCD

Question: Dear Mr. Hamilton, I want to thank you so much for all the help and time you’ve given up for us. Thank you for always using God’s word with your answers. I believe I have OCD. I think I have scrupulosity. I feel I have to do things a certain way or in order.…

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When is restitution required?

Question: I’m aware that I am very scrupulous. I’ve become very very numb to God because on one end I’m entirely too obsessive and want to be perfect. Then on the other end, I become numb to avoid trying to gain perfection. I’ve quit jobs due to my religious anxiety and feeling the need to…

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I don’t want to be sorry for the wrong reasons

Question: I was raised Catholic and have not been baptized yet as an adult. For repentance do we need to go back and set everything right before being forgiven? Must we confess every lie we ever told to every person? Or is asking God to forgive us enough? And to move on from our past.…

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False Memories Can Be Reversed

Source: Brianna Abbott, “False Memories Can Be Planted and Then Reversed, Researchers Find,” Wall Street Journal, 22 March 2021. “The work confirms previous research on the malleability of memories while pointing to potential techniques for recognizing and rooting them out.” “Some research suggests that true memories tend to be stronger for people than false ones, Nancy…

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I put a lot of pressure on myself

Question: I put a lot of pressure on myself to do things right. I sometimes think of rules that sound plausible, and because they sound plausible I follow them. As an example the “Bible says to be responsible with money, so you can’t buy anything that’s unnecessary.” This causes a lot of anxiety and makes…

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I’m not sure if my thoughts are sin

Question: I saw a website that makes going to heaven seem really difficult. I have religious OCD and I get blasphemous thoughts constantly and repent all day long. Some of the thoughts feel like I want them. What should I do? If I’m not sure if my thoughts are really sins, so I ignore them,…

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Thank you for your article on religious obsessive-compulsive disorders

Question: Hello, I would just like to thank you for your article on religious obsessive-compulsive disorders that I just stumbled upon. For years I have been suffering from this condition without realizing that it was a real condition, and thinking that I was the only person who had some of the thoughts you listed. I couldn’t…

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Will I make heaven if I don’t keep God’s laws perfectly?

Question: I read “I have OCD-Religion and obsess over bad thoughts. Is there anything you can do to help me?” today that, in a way, describes my feelings. Although most of it does not concern me, some do and I am wondering if I too have OCD. My problem basically concerns overthinking things. This started…

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