From a purely philosophical standpoint, it seems like a belief in spiritual life and a Higher Power means that you are not an atheist. To me, an atheist is someone who "knows with certainty" that there is no higher power.

But I"m sure the definition is wider than that, and I don't mean to paint you into a box.

But I would encourage you not to paint yourself into a box with one specific label either. Maybe you're on a life-long journey and more will be revealed later? An open mind allows for growth.

LivinLife - it is definitely a lifelong journey and I am happy with the way my spirituality is and the way it grows. I really dont have a problem with my own spirituality it was more a question about whether someone who sees things the way I do fits in with AA and the way most people view things there. I obviously don't agree with statements such as "There is one who has all power and that one is god... " and in answer to the question in the big book "Either god is everything or he is nothing" I would answer nothing which is different from most people I know in AA. I don't have a problem with what I do believe I just sometimes feel on a different page when I am sitting in an AA meeting.

An audio book I'm listening to at the moment refers to god as 'she' and that really threw me the first time I heard it.

For me, 'Spiritual Experience' at the back of the Big Book sums it up brilliantly and I think all belong in AA. I like the sentence '..an alcoholic capable of honestly facing his problems in the light of our experience can recover, provided he does not close his mind to all spiritual concepts.....' . For me, spritual not religious.

Interesting question though Nicky with some interresting responses.

I've often heard of god referred to as an acronym for "Good Orderly Direction" which has helped many newcomers who are grappling with the idea of a deity. Thinking of it that way fits pretty well with any references in the Big Book -- although the pronoun "He" makes me cringe a little!

aa works for people who believe in God
aa works for people who don't believe in God
aa NEVER works for people who believe they ARE God

I think the only "belief system" necessary is the wish and/or ability to believe in yourself. JMO.

Thank you to everyone for your thoughtful replies. Every single one of them gave me something to think about. What they tell me is that an atheist does belong in AA and so when I experience that feeling of not belonging I need to look inside me rather than at AA for where that feeling is coming from. Sounds familiar - most things seem to involve me looking at me lol!!

"All major religious traditions carry basically the same message, that is love, compassion and forgiveness. The important thing is they should be part of our daily lives." - Dalai Lama

Hi Nicky Well done for putting this up
I say that Knowing you have many years sobriety in AA. It can be easy to assume that someone with over a decade sober in AA must have it all sorted so to speak
I share with you that non interventionist ability by any super natural power to intervene. I refer to myself as an agnostic but thats another discussion..I know we both attend AA in the UK different parts of the countrybut its generaly a secular country So I dont encounter any evangelical christians probably not many practising religeous people at all. Howeverthere seems to be a fairly typical "God of there understanding" yes personel GOD Like tonight for example a guy was sharing how he knows "his God is doing for him etc I just think If I thought I had one I'd have to implore this God to get some prioritys like the 25000 children under the age of 5 who die every day from lack of basic food and water
I know there HP is non of my business and mostly I just chill but yes sometimes I wonder If an Agnostic belongs in AA I usually counter balance this by looking for the positive stuff I get'such as
fellowship and good example but I supose this will allways come and go to some extent

Oh no Rivalino you have just encountered one!!! I'm coming to get you!!!!! LMAO

Ha Ha like it serenity No offence but I guess your pretty good at coping with us non theist types have a good friday (no pun inteded);-))

He he too late Rivalino, looks like Serenity has you in her sights :o)

Thanks Nicky, great reponses from you too. #22 says it well, I think.

As for me, I related to your last post. For me too "he" is not intervenionist on a personal, material level. I don't anthropomorphise or personalise him too much either, except perhaps in how I speak to others or how I turn to him sometimes. Yet I still choose to call "him" God and he does do for me what I can't do for myself, when I turn to him and when I do his work well. That might sound like a paradox/contradiction to others but I can tolerate it and it's just for me. I'll always talk about this if someone asks me directly but try not to talk about it in a way that might confuse others or mess with their own conception. And after all, actions speak louder than words right?

Please continue to be the inspiration that you are

P