Religion VS. Individual Responsibility

The religion vs spirituality debate has been done over and over again and will continue to be done over and over. Many people have, are and will continue to search for something they're just not finding in their chosen religions. The codependent person's chosen religion has become their salvation where their respected spiritual leader will stand in judgement to either rescue or condemn their moral behaviors. Many people will allow this to happen because it releases the codependent person from taking responsibility over their own actions. What happens when the codependent person's spiritual leader reveals to them that they too are human and therefore are capable of making mistakes. A codependent person's whole world can become jaded because all of their faith was put into a man or women of God when it should have been placed in God /Creator in the first place.

Men and Women of God/Creator are here to inspire and motivate those who need to find their way back to God. However, at the end of the day it is up to the individual to build his or her own relationship with God/Creator. No one is perfect and the sooner we learn this, the better off we'll all be. Every person has good and bad in them with the potential to build and the potential to destroy. One's character can be determined on which element they allow to exist more, the good or the bad. Religion has become big business and with big business comes the power to influence. Codependent people are literally putting their life in their spiritual leader's hands. Codependent people have made their spiritual leaders final authority over their life. How far is too far and is having this type of power dangerous for the leaders or individuals? There is absolutely nothing wrong with religions that inspire their congregations to lead better more fulfilling lives and where the sanctuaries are a place for worship and for the members to fellowship. However it is a problem when these religions abuse their power to influence and the members end up becoming dependant on that power that is being abused. Codependent individuals are no longer thinking for themselves and therefore waiting on instruction on what to do next, when they should be searching for that truth inside of themselves. The same truth in spiritual leaders is also inside of every human being.

Spiritual leaders are more advanced on this spiritual journey of life and therefore have the responsibility of sharing their wisdom. However everyone is capable of being both student and teacher. When the teacher is no longer here to teach who is going to keep the cycle of information going? When the codependent person fails to realize this and stays a student, not only does the codependent person become stagnated in his or her own spiritual process but everyone loses. Religion is not a bad thing when you know what part it plays in your life, along with knowing your own responsibility in developing as a spiritual being. Individuals will be held accountable for the choices they make in life not the organizations that they chose to put all their power into. All religions may not agree on doctrine, but they do all agree that there is a Higher Power, a Higher Existence. That Higher Power or Higher Existence is the final authority not the man or women of God/Creator

How to know if you have become codependent on your religion.

You can no longer make decisions on your own. Every decision has to go through your church or leader.

You believe everything your spiritual leader tells you as the ultimate truth and aren't willing to dig deeper to find your own.

When you do wrong you feel as though you need to go to church to be condemned or forgiven by that leader.

You don't know how to reach God on your own.

Church has become routine and you aren't really applying the lessons that you learn to your life.

How not to be codependent on your religion

Get to know yourself, and acknowledge the good and bad that is inside of you.

Allow yourself to be guided by your inner wisdom.

Ask God/Creator for strength and be prepared for what unfolds.

Be willing to learn new things but also be willing to teach.