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.
What happens when controversy rears its head and cracks in our unity appear?
Even though controversy is inevitable is it desirable? The answer must be yes. For without controversy whatever unity that exists is as solid as the mist on an Autumn morning. It is merely a numbers and influence game, a fantasy and not a reality.
How can you stand for a unity that doesn't solidly exist upon matters of belief? Not only does the emperor have no clothes, but the empire is invisible too.
What is the point in having an agreed statement of essential beliefs that no one really adheres to because no one is willing to enforce it? If we have any concern for the truth we would surely want it to be made clear rather than being obscured by fog of meaningless ambiguous phrases.
Controversy, however, as most of us fear, can quickly become an ugly business. We can rapidly move the emphasis from what is right, to ourselves being right, or being seen to be right. Patient listening, charitable interpretation, and a desire for unity can be soon lost.
We are on a knife edge as we deal with these matters. Truth must not be traded, sounds words must not be emptied of their meaning, and compromise must not be the master of integrity. Desperate prayers for wisdom are to be top of the agenda, and we must think our way through these matters seeking understanding, light and clarity.
Perhaps this fear is what lies at the root of an unwillingness to engage in controversy even when there is an irreconcilable disagreement on matters of truth and error. We see the fraying tempers, the soured relationships, the carrying of tales and exaggerations, and we rightly feel that we want no part of that.
Martin D.
Even though controversy is inevitable is it desirable? The answer must be yes. For without controversy whatever unity that exists is as solid as the mist on an Autumn morning. It is merely a numbers and influence game, a fantasy and not a reality.
How can you stand for a unity that doesn't solidly exist upon matters of belief? Not only does the emperor have no clothes, but the empire is invisible too.
What is the point in having an agreed statement of essential beliefs that no one really adheres to because no one is willing to enforce it? If we have any concern for the truth we would surely want it to be made clear rather than being obscured by fog of meaningless ambiguous phrases.
Controversy, however, as most of us fear, can quickly become an ugly business. We can rapidly move the emphasis from what is right, to ourselves being right, or being seen to be right. Patient listening, charitable interpretation, and a desire for unity can be soon lost.
We are on a knife edge as we deal with these matters. Truth must not be traded, sounds words must not be emptied of their meaning, and compromise must not be the master of integrity. Desperate prayers for wisdom are to be top of the agenda, and we must think our way through these matters seeking understanding, light and clarity.
Perhaps this fear is what lies at the root of an unwillingness to engage in controversy even when there is an irreconcilable disagreement on matters of truth and error. We see the fraying tempers, the soured relationships, the carrying of tales and exaggerations, and we rightly feel that we want no part of that.
Martin D.
Billy
Billy
I have found that for me one of the ways to avoid the ugly potential of controversy is to stick to principles and avoid it becoming about personalities.
I used to be like that - I was afraid of not fitting in, of people not liking me. I would agree with anything if it was the low risk strategy - unless I was drunk of course when I became obnoxiously opinionated and a devils advocate. Basically I had nothing to stand up for, no principles, nothing - I was what you wanted me to be.
I am grateful I am not like that now. I dont hold onto things so tightly that i cannot change but i am willing to stand up for the principles I believe in and I hope they are spiritual principles rather than driven by my ego.
On the flip side though, I have a problem with the anti-intellectualism that seems to prevade many alcoholic communities. It seems when someone does not agree-a valid insult is that you need to shut up and listen. Ok, listen to who though? I just think that no one has the the keys to truth, and discussing it rationally without hitting below the belt is healthy
. It is just that many make insulting comments to others when there is a valid interesting debate going on. But there again-when someone gets off topic and insults the person-not the issue, that is in and of itself quite revealing.
My point is-it's all good! Can learn from this whole pile of stuff.