This is http://www.essayz.com/a9803061.htm Previous-Essay <== This-Essay ==> Following-Essay Click HERE on this line to find essays via Your-Key-Words. {Most frequent wordstarts of each essay will be put here.} ========================================================== %CODEPENDENT ADDICTIVE RELIGIOUS LEADER PARADIGM+980306 %OVER-RESPONSIBLE INTRUSIVE MANIPULATIVE ABUSIVE+980306 %ARROGANT JUDGMENTAL CONDEMN CONTROL LAW SCRIPT+980306 %COLLUSIVE GAME SELF DECEPTION ORGANIZATION EVIL+980306 %SYSTEMIC RELATIONSHIP ALIENATION DISHONEST SINS 980306 Religious institutions face a major challenge in dealing with religious leaders who approach life in the manner of addicts and their codependent supporters --- as suggested above in the title. Such people and their religious institutions find it difficult to distinguish between the articulation of integrative principles and descriptions --- on the one hand --- and intrusive manipulative efforts which engender disintegrative alienation, with all the associated dishonest patterns of behavior which flow from alienation. Addicts and codependent supporters are prone to idolatry which focuses upon laws, rules, regulations, commandments, proscriptions, prescriptions --- according to which they are better than other people who are different in ways which the religious leaders find emotionally distressing. It might seem that institutions and organizations would be more reliable and trustworthy than individual leaders, and would be able to compensate for the weaknesses and failures of individual leaders. Unfortunately such an appearance is easily generated by religious leaders collectively playing collusive games of mutual self deception --- thereby hiding their own addictive/codependent relationships of mutual alienation and misunderstanding. In defending ourselves (INDIVIDUALLY OR COLLECTIVELY) against the dangers and threats pointed to above, we need to discern the relative seriousness of the numerous kinds of sins, threats and dangers which confront us. We may distract ourselves with minor sins, threats and dangers --- as part of collusive strategies to keep ourselves from recognizing the threats to our integrities (INDIVIDUAL OR COMMUNAL) which are posed by our most cherished sins, threats and dangers such as: SELF-RIGHTEOUSNESS ARROGANCE WINNING JUDGEMENTALISM DISDAIN INSOLENCE EXCOMMUNICATIONS SUPERIORITY EXCLUSIVITY DEFENSIVENESS TECHNOCRACIES MASKINGS People who have accepted the gift of the discernment of minor sins --- often cherish the above sins which are major threats to both personal and communal integrity through the works of alienation. Such people are likely to fear God's gifts of: HUMILITY HONESTY GENTLENESS VULNERABILITY MEEKNESS CHILDREN JUSTICE MERCY FORGIVENESS GROWTH CHANGE HEALING RECONCILIATION DIALOGUE OPENNESS INTEGRATION INTEGRITY COMMUNITY If we choose to be distracted by small things --- we are likely to be overwhelmed by large things, patterns and processes --- which we ignore in our fascination and preoccupation with our cherished small things. Our defenses often become our most serious threats; as in the global nuclear arms race. (c) 2005 by Paul A. Smith in (On Being Yourself, Whole and Healthy) ==========================================================