Alcoholism Support Group
Alcoholism is the continued consumption of alcoholic beverages, even when it is negatively affecting your health, work, relationships and life. If you think alcohol is causing you to lose control, it's time to seek help. Our group is a safe place to vent, check in, get back up if you fall, and reach sobriety.
As some people know I am an atheist in AA. I got sober using the 12 steps but seeing them in a slightly different (but still spiritual) way as I don't believe in god.
I have recently been looking into atheist/agnostic AA online as it can be a bit lonely to be the only one that sees things differently. I found a website that has several alternative versions of the 12 steps including humanist, Buddhist and atheist versions.
I just wondered what AA members thought of this. Do you think that the steps are sacred and should no way be changed? Do you think that as long as the spirit is expressed the wording can be optional/changed? Do you think that if people used a different version of the steps it wouldn't really be AA? Do you think more people would be attracted to AA if there were spiritual options that were less god focused? Or is changing the steps changing the message?
Very interested to know what people think.
I have recently been looking into atheist/agnostic AA online as it can be a bit lonely to be the only one that sees things differently. I found a website that has several alternative versions of the 12 steps including humanist, Buddhist and atheist versions.
I just wondered what AA members thought of this. Do you think that the steps are sacred and should no way be changed? Do you think that as long as the spirit is expressed the wording can be optional/changed? Do you think that if people used a different version of the steps it wouldn't really be AA? Do you think more people would be attracted to AA if there were spiritual options that were less god focused? Or is changing the steps changing the message?
Very interested to know what people think.
Reading the AA literature really does seem like it is Christian based. I also think it was taken from the Bible because that is the way Christ lived - the person most of us want to be, the way most of us find the most happiness and fulfillment in life - self-sacrificing, serving, giving, forgiving, humility and gratitude.
I believe it is the wording in the BB and the other AA literature that turns others off.
After years of trying to get it and understand, I just replace this "God" with whatever - it's just something inside of me that I cannot understand. And it only matters to me.
I found the book "The artist way" a wonderful way of processing myself from the insides out when I was around 10 years sober along with other approachesit's helped me to fine tune who it is I might be in the deep recesses(that are not sooo evident) and helped in becoming even more comfortable with who I am and living with that as time passes and i get more awareness's:))
Billy
Billy
That being said, is there any two people out there that has done the steps identically? Methinks not.
I believe that first we have to remember the intent and purpose of the steps - a methodology that could be used to provide relief from the burden of alcoholism.
I believe that secondly you would never get changes through the GSR chain and posted to the conventions.
There is no reason that you could not formulate the steps to avoid bringing God into them. You'd be still trying to do the same thing. Would it help more people get sober? Damn if I know. Probably, as the thought of religion tends to push drunks away. Wouldn't replace traditional AA easily.
Interesting ...
Hugs,
Dennis
Such an approach could make non-spiritual people like myself, feel more like first class members and less apt to leave it. The rise of separate specialty agnostic AA might become less operative.
It also might solve the legal problem here in the states of sending people by the state to AA as currently many court decisions have classified AA as a religion.
The language used...well it is what it is. I've always believed coming to terms with the fact that I didn't like it and finding a way to push through anyway was part of the process for me and other people I know.
I think we can buy into the words and not the idea, or we can buy into the idea behind t not the words...one of those is more useful than the other imo :)
I'm not convinced anything needs to change in order to become more attractive but continuing to explore is not just useful but essential. Ive had plenty of assistance from alternative wordings and alternative understandings of the same principles..
P
Agreed Zach would never want to replace the original but in addition especially approved for use in Agnostic AA meetings I think would be excellent.
Here's some readings from a native American group: http://www.naigso-aa.org/AA%20readings%20used.pdf
Notice the steps...
Hugs