That sounds good, but unfortunately, not something that would work for me, and I'd feel that would only serve to further enforce the thoughts, which I keep getting told is a bad thing, hard as that is to believe.

Do you get any therapy or counseling for your OCD?

I think part of my religious mantra, is a little link to when I was a young teen, before my faith hit the fan - I used to feel like God had my back - like, yeh, I was screwing up, things weren't going well, but God would understand, it was OK, he was there, watching, keeping me on the right track, but he wasn't, and that's life, things happen, no matter who's up in the clouds watching you. Silly stuff happened, and my faith went right out the window, as my eyes were open to the cold harsh reality. The thing is, what I lost was much more than just faith: I lost hope, and that was more important to me, than religion, I just didn't realise it at the time. Now that I'm older, I always appreciate that religion = hope, and I miss the hope it gave me. Anywho, self-analysis over. xD I guess the point is, I use my religious mantra, because maybe part of me is trying to claw its way to some hope. I'd say the mantra, but it's nonsensical jargon, contrived of random religious words or phrases, but somehow it meant something to me, and I guess still does.

There's been times in my life, when I've been desperate, particularly for family. Whenever I pray, on the such a very rare occasion, it's always a sense of "If there is anyone out there...", on the off-chance, kind of thing. Desperation can make your mind branch out to all sorts. I'm confident that if a God exists, he (or she) is wise enough to understand my train of thought, and can see (figuratively speaking) the logic I use, without being offended or feeling like condemning me to hell - I am, afterall, only human, in his image.

I quite like the idea that a God - a wise and superior entity, worthy of appropriate reverence and demanding respect - is out there in the form of life that we have yet to discover, as what we call "extraterrestrials" - far-out to some, but logical and intriguing to others.

Anywho, sorry for the ramble - I'm tired, and my thoughts just went crazy.

(BTW, absolutely no offense is intended - while I don't entirely agree with some religious stuff, that doesn't mean to say I don't respect, appreciate, and welcome it - we all need hope, guidance, morals, etc, and I'm jealous of those that have that)