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Martin Luther’s Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder: How the Great Reformer Cured OCD and What He Learned
“So great and so much like hell that no tongue could adequately express them.”That is how Martin Luther described the terrifying religious fears he suffered as a young man.
Up to now, no one has correctly diagnosed them. Dr. Osborn demonstrates that Luther’s tormenting thoughts represented an unmistakable case of clinical obsessive-compulsive disorder. Remarkably, Luther overcame his fears through employing a form of modern “exposure and response prevention therapy,” recognized today as the treatment of choice for OCD. Dr. Osborn makes clear that it was precisely through experiencing and curing his fears that Luther learned the truth about righteousness and faith. Without the benefit of his obsessional fears, one could argue, the Great Reformer would never have pursued the Reformation at all.
This book is essential reading for OCD sufferers, Martin Luther fans, historians, and students of religion and psychology alike.
Up to now, no one has correctly diagnosed them. Dr. Osborn demonstrates that Luther’s tormenting thoughts represented an unmistakable case of clinical obsessive-compulsive disorder. Remarkably, Luther overcame his fears through employing a form of modern “exposure and response prevention therapy,” recognized today as the treatment of choice for OCD. Dr. Osborn makes clear that it was precisely through experiencing and curing his fears that Luther learned the truth about righteousness and faith. Without the benefit of his obsessional fears, one could argue, the Great Reformer would never have pursued the Reformation at all.
This book is essential reading for OCD sufferers, Martin Luther fans, historians, and students of religion and psychology alike.
118 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 22, 2023
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
November 1, 2025
Interesting and encouraging read!
February 19, 2026
When a person I love was diagnosed with OCD, religious-type, I went on a search for ways to understand. This book was enlightening and appreciated both in understanding the condition of OCD (by reading the Appendices first) and how Martin Luther’s experience with OCD impacted the Reformation.
Notes:
I feel like this description of Martin Luther’s OCD is a mirror of what my loved one was like in the deepest pit of his trial.
One well-respected German priest and theologian wrote that Luther was “so overwhelmed by such a gloomy, depressing state of mind that he developed wildly confused, contradictory and destructive ideas that dominated his whole life and thought.” Pg 3
This was insightful regarding treatment:
As put succinctly by one leading OCD researcher, “You have to purposefully think your unwanted distressing thoughts in order to make them less frightening.” Pg 43
In order for ERP to be effective, compulsions must be prevented. A modern therapist would insist that a patient with Luther’s compulsions immediately stop his excessive confessing, praying, and ascetical practices. Pg 44
When the compulsion was “works” I was concerned there would be misunderstanding of God’s prompting in our lives. This passage was helpful to me in understanding Luther’s thoughts:
Critically, Luther never in his life denied the importance of good works. The view he came to, however, is that a person performs works naturally after receiving God’s gift of righteousness, out of both thankfulness to God and the activity of the Holy Spirit. Pg 48
Without Luther’s experience of OCD, we might not have had the great reformation. This brief book provided great insight into how God works all things (even great trials) together for good.
Luther’s famous doctrine of justification: We are justified by grace alone through faith alone.
Notes:
I feel like this description of Martin Luther’s OCD is a mirror of what my loved one was like in the deepest pit of his trial.
One well-respected German priest and theologian wrote that Luther was “so overwhelmed by such a gloomy, depressing state of mind that he developed wildly confused, contradictory and destructive ideas that dominated his whole life and thought.” Pg 3
This was insightful regarding treatment:
As put succinctly by one leading OCD researcher, “You have to purposefully think your unwanted distressing thoughts in order to make them less frightening.” Pg 43
In order for ERP to be effective, compulsions must be prevented. A modern therapist would insist that a patient with Luther’s compulsions immediately stop his excessive confessing, praying, and ascetical practices. Pg 44
When the compulsion was “works” I was concerned there would be misunderstanding of God’s prompting in our lives. This passage was helpful to me in understanding Luther’s thoughts:
Critically, Luther never in his life denied the importance of good works. The view he came to, however, is that a person performs works naturally after receiving God’s gift of righteousness, out of both thankfulness to God and the activity of the Holy Spirit. Pg 48
Without Luther’s experience of OCD, we might not have had the great reformation. This brief book provided great insight into how God works all things (even great trials) together for good.
Luther’s famous doctrine of justification: We are justified by grace alone through faith alone.
August 22, 2023
What a great little find! The author does a fantastic job breaking down the clinical aspects of OCD (and treatment) with examples reflected through Luther’s life and writings.
For me, the book goes beyond a fascinating psychological case study and acts more as a tool that aids in self reflection. I have OCD and grew up in a Catholic household (though am no longer religious), and this book genuinely made me feel more grounded. Seeing aspects of my own life reflected through the life of Luther gave me comfort in the form of self-knowledge and reassurance.
I’d highly recommend this book to anyone struggling with OCD or any Protestants interested in why Luther broke from the Catholic Church
For me, the book goes beyond a fascinating psychological case study and acts more as a tool that aids in self reflection. I have OCD and grew up in a Catholic household (though am no longer religious), and this book genuinely made me feel more grounded. Seeing aspects of my own life reflected through the life of Luther gave me comfort in the form of self-knowledge and reassurance.
I’d highly recommend this book to anyone struggling with OCD or any Protestants interested in why Luther broke from the Catholic Church
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September 16, 2024I have no idea how to rate this book😅
That Luther had OCD tendencies seems pretty clear to me. However, some of the smaller arguments and historical reconstruction of Luther are probably debatable. I'd love to see how Luther scholarship would interact with Osborn's view of Luther using Exposure and Response Prevention therapy (ERP) and his characterization of different phases in Luther's life. Without it being my expertise, I'm a bit skeptical of his explanations and think he might be imposing too much of his psychiatric background on Luther.
However, Osborn provides helpful insights that "OCD is triggered specifically when a person feels overwhelmed by the responsibility for preventing harm" (11). He notes that in the moment the thought feels like the most important thing in the world to deal with (27). He also helped me to better understand ERP, how prayer can become a compulsion, and the cycle of trying to not think thoughts (86-90). Hearing about religious OCD from Luther and patients of Osborn was great.
That Luther had OCD tendencies seems pretty clear to me. However, some of the smaller arguments and historical reconstruction of Luther are probably debatable. I'd love to see how Luther scholarship would interact with Osborn's view of Luther using Exposure and Response Prevention therapy (ERP) and his characterization of different phases in Luther's life. Without it being my expertise, I'm a bit skeptical of his explanations and think he might be imposing too much of his psychiatric background on Luther.
However, Osborn provides helpful insights that "OCD is triggered specifically when a person feels overwhelmed by the responsibility for preventing harm" (11). He notes that in the moment the thought feels like the most important thing in the world to deal with (27). He also helped me to better understand ERP, how prayer can become a compulsion, and the cycle of trying to not think thoughts (86-90). Hearing about religious OCD from Luther and patients of Osborn was great.
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January 7, 2026very interesting!! both the Martin Luther parts and the general information about OCD and its treatment in the appendixes. appendices? yes.
I'm usually wary when people try to diagnose historical figures, but Martin Luther having a bad case of scrupulosity OCD fits so well. No WONDER I immediately clocked this monk from 500 years ago as being "like me" when I watched the Martin Luther movie when I was 7.
I'm usually wary when people try to diagnose historical figures, but Martin Luther having a bad case of scrupulosity OCD fits so well. No WONDER I immediately clocked this monk from 500 years ago as being "like me" when I watched the Martin Luther movie when I was 7.
June 27, 2024
Religious Scrupulosity or Religious OCD is a reading and research interest of mine. This book is a short but excellent read related to this topic. Dr. Osborn does a great job working with the biographical texts on Luther, the relevant psychological material, and the Scriptures. He highlights two extensive OCD episodes in Luther's life and how he responded to each of them. Along the way, Dr. Osborn points out how Luther's remedies might still be effective for Religious OCD suffers today.
October 31, 2023
An amazing read for someone who has OCD or loves someone with OCD, loves to learn about church history, or mental health! It was a quick and easy read, very engaging.
December 28, 2025
This book was like holding a mirror to myself and better understanding something in me.
January 30, 2026
Agree with the author here. It would be interesting to examine Luther’s later life in light of this eg. Antisemitism, anger and inability to compromise.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews