[nandm]

I'm not going for this God stuff. How could there possibly be a God when there are so many starving people and wars where everybody says God is on their side. What about those sanctimonious church goers who judge me for my sins and then commit their own. I am not going to accept damnation and hell fire from some old man with a white beard sitting in the clouds. What about all those preachers who talk about heaven and then live like hell?

First, no one is telling us that we have to believe in anything. If we do not care for the conception of God suggested by other people we need not even consider it. Most of us have had our objections to the idea of God. When we look at them in the light of alcoholic destruction we see that they are insignificant and that our prejudices only serve to block us off from the Power we need to recover.

We Agnostics begins by defining alcoholism (44:3) and presenting the basic premise of this bok, that alcoholism is an illness which only a spiritual experience can conquer (44:4). Alcoholics are sometiems resitant to accept such a solution so we are presented with alternatives (44:6). Why our moral codes and firmly held philosophies are not sufficienc to overcome alcoholism is explained clearly (45:1-4). Access to a Power greater than ourselves is the solution to our powerlessness and a promise is made to show us exacley ow to find this Power (45:4-9). Our many objections to accepting this solution are addressed.

It is suggested that we lay aside our prejudices and that willingness is all we need to begin to get results (46:9). The directions for Step Tow are given in the form of a simple question (47:9). We are cautioned to abandon attitudes that handicap us. All we have to do is acknowledge the existence of this Power and we can begin to use it (46:12). This Power is within the reach of everyone. To begin, all we have to do is to set aside our prejudices and take an honest look at the God idea (47:3). Sound reasons for believing are enumerated (48:52). The efficacy of self-sufficiency is discussed (52:9-10). A reasonable and practical description of faithe is given and our choice is laid before us (53:8-10)

We agnositics have no direct experience accessing a Power greater than ourselves. This chapter masterfully addresses our objections and gives us practical reasons why we should try this way of life. Instructions on how to mkae a begining are also provided.