For that again, is what all manner of religion essentially is: childish dependency. Albert Ellis
Meditation: If people who create the institutions within religion keep other people in a childish dependency, they are using religion for their own purpose of achieving power or for having control over others. This is abuse. Abuse of claimed “god given”, but really “man made” authority. If the goal of religion is to infantilize people, it becomes “opium” for the masses and seizes to have any meaning other than becoming a method of brainwashing and manipulation. However, when we realize that the true goal of religion is to empower and mature humanity, we attach ourselves in a healthy way to the “God beyond God” (Term first created by Meister Eckhart and later used by Paul Tillich). And so, the dependency on “God beyond God” is not meant to keep us in a childish state, but it becomes a relational and maturing power of connectedness. Finding myself in a primary relationship with an empowering and liberating God, helps me develop a mature spirituality. Being fully dependent on the “God beyond God” actually frees us from all earthly and religious authorities that claim power and obedience from us. Being dependent on this “God beyond God” helps us grow into independent and differentiated mature adults. If we can just surpass the “God that religion tries to sell us”.
Prayer: “God beyond God”, thank you for allowing us to depend on You, while giving us the freedom to become responsible and mature adults. Thank You that we do not have to stop our critical thinking. You encourage us to question all worldly powers, including religious authorities. Our dependency on You frees us from any and all false authorities that try to keep us immature, dependent and non-questioning. As Jesus was individuated, mature and free from worldly and religious attempts to control him, You want us to become mature, differentiated and free followers of Jesus. And we are deeply grateful. Amen
When I was a child, I used to speak like a child, think like a child, reason like a child; when I became a (wo)man, I did away with childish things. 1. Corinthians 13:11
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