Excerpt

If only her husband, Rick, understood that. He's exasperated about the money Ruth keeps spending for the church and school. Doesn't he see that these are their best defenses in shielding their children from the dangers of the world?

But the forces that threaten Ruth's faith, her family-her very life-are not the ones she expects. Ruth doesn't realize that her heartfelt desire to obey God is mingled with dangerous currents of OCD-Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. Her own strategies for protecting her family may be the very thing that tears them apart.
     

 Other Side of Darkness Discussion Questions: Melody Carlson

1. “It’s not good enough” is a statement Ruth often hears while growing up, and later on she internalizes and repeats
it. How do you react when you hear words like that?

2. Ruth, the middle child, never feels she’s wanted or even loved. Do you think this is real or imagined? Why?

3. Why do you think Ruth begins to experience OCD symptoms at such an early age? What do you think could’ve
been done to help her?

4. Were you surprised to discover that OCD sufferers are at  greater risk for spiritual deception? Why or why not?

5. Why do you think Ruth was so consumed with a need to feel clean?

6. How would you react if a loved one became involved in a church like New Fire?

7. Ruth “unselfishly” donated time, energy, and money to the church, but it only seemed to get her deeper into trouble.
Why do you think she continued to do this?

8. Sometimes Ruth and her daughters believed they saw actual demons (an element inspired from a real-life story).
How do you explain this?

9. How did you feel about Ruth’s role as a wife and mother? Explain.

10. Everyone is subject to some kind of obsession or compulsion. What are yours? And how do you keep them under
control?

11. Ruth had a good friend in Colleen. What would you do if you believed a close friend or relative was experiencing a
serious mental illness?

12. Ultimately, Ruth came to realize that God was not the one who had led her to such dark spiritual places. And while
she welcomed that realization, she still needed psychological treatment and care. Why?