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FightingIrish · 07-02-2009, 11:19 PM

Hi Clay,

I'm an agnostic (at best) who has so far been working the A.A. program and participating fully in the A.A. fellowship for the past 22 months.

A.A. does not demand that you believe in anything. There's a good thread on Step Two over on secular 12-step forum that pretty much encapsulates my understanding of "God" as it pertains to the 12 steps.

The key for me is surrendering to the fact that I am powerless over alcohol, that I of myself do not have the resources to stop on my own, and that there is a solution that can work for me, because it has worked for others.

It goes back to Honesty (am I powerless), Open-Mindedness (am I even willing to believe that something I can't comprehend has worked for these other people), and Willingness (am I willing to do these simple steps in order to stay sober.)

Whenever I see "God" in the A.A. literature, it represents for me whatever is beyond my own understanding that is working in the lives of others...for example, the possibility that I too can be sober and happy is a power greater than myself, because I have seen desperately hopeless people become happy, joyous, and free.

My higher power is basically two words: not me.

Michael

07-02-2009, 11:19 PM	#4 (permalink)
FightingIrish problem with authority Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: ny Posts: 868	Hi Clay, I'm an agnostic (at best) who has so far been working the A.A. program and participating fully in the A.A. fellowship for the past 22 months. A.A. does not demand that you believe in anything. There's a good thread on Step Two over on secular 12-step forum that pretty much encapsulates my understanding of "God" as it pertains to the 12 steps. The key for me is surrendering to the fact that I am powerless over alcohol, that I of myself do not have the resources to stop on my own, and that there is a solution that can work for me, because it has worked for others. It goes back to Honesty (am I powerless), Open-Mindedness (am I even willing to believe that something I can't comprehend has worked for these other people), and Willingness (am I willing to do these simple steps in order to stay sober.) Whenever I see "God" in the A.A. literature, it represents for me whatever is beyond my own understanding that is working in the lives of others...for example, the possibility that I too can be sober and happy is a power greater than myself, because I have seen desperately hopeless people become happy, joyous, and free. My higher power is basically two words: not me. Michael __________________ "Better to light a candle than to curse the darkness."