Introduction
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder also known as OCD is used to refer to a condition of compulsive actions and/or obsessive thoughts in a person that last for about a fortnight and are also associated with increased anxiety. The obsessive thoughts characteristic of OCD patients are in most cases distressing and take on forms such as images, ideas and urges (Measday 1). It is important to note that despite the distressful and unpleasant nature of the thoughts they are always considered as belonging to the patient. Psychologists point out that in initial stages of OCD, patients try to disown the obsessive thought; however this only aggravates the anxiety experienced. With time the patient starts to accept that the obsessive thoughts are their own (Cosgrove 1); however, this is more like coercion since patients do so as they are unable to cope with the increased anxiety of denying the thoughts. The compulsive action s in OCD as normally defined as ‘stereotyped behavior’ that the patient does repeatedly mostly of which is ritualistic. For example, if a patient is obsessed with the idea that someone is threatening their life, their compulsive actions would include double checking doors to ensure they are all locked before sleeping and trying to live a life secrecy to avoid compromising information to their ‘attackers’. Just like obsessive thoughts, a patient initially tries to fight off compulsive actions but this resistance reduces as the condition progresses with time (Measday 2).
Definition of Ritual
Most people can identify a ritualistic practice when they see it; the most common definition for rituals is a set of actions that are done repeatedly in a formal manner. Rituals are also in most cases associated with religious activities. However, the broader definition of a ritual also includes menial activities that are done repeatedly and in a formal way even though they are not religious in any way; for example, some individuals have to make their beds in a certain way and also sleep in a particular position for no medical reason. Anthropologists are able to identify societies based on their ritualistic activities (Smay 2).
There are several definitions of rituals and most anthropologist and other scholars do not agree on one definition; however, most of them agree on key elements that characterize rituals. One such element is that rituals have a social meaning to mainly the performer and in most cases also for the people around them. Also, rituals are associated with symbols which possess a meaning in their performance. Another key element that scholars agree on that rituals possess is that they must be done in a formalized and mostly conscious way (Smay 3). For example, a person who uses a certain road everyday is not performing a ritual if they do it out of convenience and for no formal reason; however, if the same person was to use the same road because they believe it ensures that their day is good, then that would be a ritual.
Identifying the general elements in identifying rituals was important to ensure that a common ground is set when analyzing religious rituals relationships and in ensuring that not all activities done by religious people are assumed to fall under the category of rituals. These having been established, we can now proceed to analyze the relationship between religious ritualism and OCD.
The Link between Religion and OCD
The most basic and universally accepted definition of religion is having faith and worshipping a super human power often referred to as a God. Freud was the first person to advance the idea that there existed a link between religious activities and OCD. In his argument, Freud defined obsessive neurosis as a personal religion and religion as a universal obsessive neurosis (Cosgrove 1). Most scholars have supported this argument as more studies show that some religious activities resemble general symptoms of OCD as highlighted in the introduction. For example, the Islamic religion requires the faithful to wash five times each day before praying. These cleaning activities which are often ritualistic are referred to as Wudu (Cosgrove 2). The obsessive nature of such rituals can be seen in the fact that if a mistake is done in the course of cleaning then the whole washing has to be repeated. Freud and other scholars who believe there is a relationship between religious activities and OCD argue that religious beliefs are often based on compulsive ideas such as this one that the faithful are unclean.
Evidence showing the existence of a Link between Religion and OCD
Religious leaders are performing rituals in the world we are living in today which appeals to OCD patients who are not depressed because they are all the time seeking the next new step (Hermesh, Masser and Gross 202). For example, Hinduism and Judaism have very many rituals which you have to follow.
In Orthodox Judaism there are very many ritualistic behaviors existing with the constraints on the activities one does every day. In this religion numbers have magical value and there are several ritualistic beliefs about various days of the year. The number eighteen for example is considered magical in the religion. Food preparations, cleansing of the body and modes of entering and leaving places of worship are some of the rituals which are performed. Touching and prayers have to be conducted in a certain ritualistic way also.
Other rituals relate to the number of bones of the body and rules of conduct. According to this, there are six hundred and thirteen rules of behavior similar to the bones in the body. Numbers also form part of the rituals. The numbers used must be easy to learn. The example of Ten Commandments is used to explain simplicity in familiar numbers. It is easier to remember the number ten as opposed to eight or nine.
In Islam what to eat, washing your hands after relieving yourself are some of the religious rituals performed. There is a similarly between the rituals done in different religions. People with OCD have made a habit to seek sanctuary in performing rituals (Cosgrove 3). They however cannot function in society when they perform rituals to make their anxiety go away. Religious leaders on the other hand have failed in empathy and are shifting away from normal ways. More so, In Hinduism there is a mantra you have to say two million four hundred thousand times to get an afterlife.
In Judaism there people who make a living watching people make rituals and those who actually perform the rituals. In high school graduation and community transition ministers are called to make prayers (Hermesh, Masser and Gross 201). People gain benefits like health insurance and retirement packages. Things such as knocking of wood for good luck were introduced not because they are true but to give satisfaction to someone as a form of ritual. Through religion, people with OCD get a sanctuary. People with strong OCD go ahead to invent the rituals. The top four OCD behaviors are thus similar to the most common rituals done in many religions. In this regard, people with OCD are not normally depressed.
OCD is characterized by worry, apprehension which is brought out by someone repeating certain behavior several times. The brain lies that the feelings are true. When suffering from OCD, the person will believe in the reality of what they are going through. The people with OCD do not respond correctly to warnings of the brain about the thoughts they have constantly.
With OCD what one values is interfered with as a person is stuck to a certain compulsive feeling for a long time. Although in history religion is about compassion, today it is about the rituals performed. One is always thinking that what they do next will result in perfection. In religion we have prohibitions equal to the number of days in the year. The number of things God wants us to do is equal to the number of bones in the body.
The bottom line is that no one knows the truth. In Islam when you say prayers with clean teeth they are rewarded more than those who do not. The magic numbers are seven, ten, seventy and a hundred. People with OCD therefore seek to give a name to the anxiety they are feeling. They do this through following the rules in food preparations, prayer and conducting activities while in the house of worship.
Religion provides sanctuaries to people with OCD. The rituals are very similar. The cleansing of the body, food preparations, entering and leaving places of worship and numerology are identical to the OCD behaviors. At the moment it is not yet known what exactly starts OCD.
Research has shown that the disorder has started due to the gene and brain differences. It is associated with family lineage and genes.OCD can start either in childhood or as an adult. Information that is certain about what causes OCD has not been conclusively made. It is normally associated with the everyday stress that people go through in life.
In comparison of Religion Rituals people normally have to do something similar each day. One has to arrange silverware in a certain way, eat in a specified way, and store utensils in a given set of rules. The rules are very detailed. What to eat, which hands to wash and how to do it in a particular sequence. Instructions given are very explicit.
When one is bombarded with all these rituals at the same time has traits in OCD, leads to a mentally ill individual. Their life is destroyed and they cannot function in society. Religious Rituals can lead to fuelling of OCD. Many people thus hide their illness till when they cannot further be helped.
Sometimes people are also not aware that what they are going through is medically treatable. There are few specialists who deal with OCD and treatment is not easily affordable. Despite these constraints, the disorder can be dealt with to lead to a healthy individual.
Evidence showing that there is no Link between Religion and OCD
There are many studies showing the relationship between religious activities and OCD; however there is also significant evidence that shows that there is no link between the two. In a study conducted on 33 OCD patients and 24 others suffering from a different anxiety disorder and the results from the clinical sample compared to the occurrence of obsessive-compulsive symptoms, it was established that there was no religion more common among OCD patients as compared to other groups (Steketee, Quay and White 5). Also established in this research was that religiosity was not in any way greater amongst OCD patients than other subjects. Similar findings were generated in another study conducted by Hermesh, Masser and Gross (13). This study focused specifically on the relationship between OCD and the Jewish religion. The sample group which comprised of patients with panic disorders, OCD patients, and general surgical patients as the control group was aimed at measuring the levels of OCD symptoms and religiosity in the sample. The research established that religiosity in OCD patients was not in any way significantly higher than among patients with other conditions. Other non-clinical samples correlated these findings that there was no link between OCD and religiosity (Siev and Cohen 831). However, it is important to note that all these studies identified the fact there was a connection between obsessive-compulsive traits and OCD.
Discussion
In conclusion, it can be noted that there exists a relationship between religious ritualism and obsessive-compulsive behavior. Most of the activities involved in religious ritualism have characteristics similar to OCD symptoms.
Works Cited
Hermesh, H., Kavitzky Masser and Isserof Gross. “Obsessive-compulsive disorder and Jewish
religiosity.” The Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease 191.3 (2003): 201-203. Print
Steketee, G., S. Quay and K. White. “Religion and OCD Patients.” Journal of Anxiety Disorders
5.4 (1991): 359-367
Smay, Diana. “The Disease of Ritual: Obsessive Compuslive Diosrder as an Outgrowth of
Normal Behavior.” Np, N.d. Web. 12 May 2012.
(http://www.marial.emory.edu/pdfs/ObsessiveCompulsive.pdf)
Siev, J. and A. Cohen. “Is thought-action fusion related to religiosity? Differences between
Christians and Jews.” Behaviour Research and Theory 45.4 (2007): 829-837
Cosgrove, Elizabeth. “Religious devotion: A risk factor for mental illness? Examining the link
between religiosity and obsessive-compulsive disorder.” Royal College of Psychiatrists,
2011. Web. 12 May 2012.
(http://www.rcpsych.ac.uk/pdf/Elizabeth%20Cosgrove%20Religious%20devotion.%20A
%20risk%20factor%20for%20mental%20illness.pdf)
Measday. Alex. OCD and Religion,2011. (http://geonius.com/ocd/religion.html)
