For others, it’s secular morality (morality based on empathy and experience rather than religious dogma or superstition): “What if I lied and didn’t notice?” “What if a small mistake reveals that I’m secretly unethical?” These worries unleash rituals of confessing, apologizing, reassuring, repeating, re‑reading, mentally reviewing the day, or avoiding situations where a moral misstep could happen, triggering intrusive thoughts.