[digderidoo]

I have been attending AA since January, i am now 4 1/2 months sober. My craving and desire to drink has gone, this has been the most surprising and empowering things that has happened to me.

I have had a sponsor since June, with the intent of working the steps.

Throughout this period i have felt that i have got step 1 and 2, thinking it's step 3 i struggle with.

The reality is i haven't got step 1. I know i am powerless over alcohol, but as regards my life being unmanageable is what i have an issue with.

This part of step 1 for me leads to think about whether i really need an AA program to work, whether i actually want to go through the steps.

Maybe i can remain sober, by carrying on the way i am. I am happy, i am loving life, i have put things into place that has turned my life around over the last year.

I have an issue as to whether i want to take that journey of going through the steps. I guess the main issue i have is the spiritual side to the program. There are many steps that speak of God, 6 i think. Do i really need God, albeit of my own understanding, in my life? The reality is that at the moment i do not.

I have been looking into the Oxford Group over the last few days and come to realise that these steps have been taken directly from this group. Making amense, taking an inventory, handing your will over to God on a daily basis, even sharing in meetings, are taken from the Oxford Group.

This leads me to think after i have been brought up in a religious way, do i really want to adopt a program that has it's foundings in religion?

Any thoughts on this would be greatly appreciated. It is not my intention to start a thread debating God or debating the AA, but i would be interested to hear from anyone who experienced similar issues themselves.

Paul