Do You Push Your Higher Power Onto Another In Recovery?

[aasharon90]

Hi Im Sharon and Im an Alcoholic.

Has anyone ever tried to push their Higher Power onto you?

I often hear others say they don't like going to meetings because others push the God word around too much. Does this happen at ur meetings?

I was raised by my own faith and for me it works. I keep my faith to myself unless others are sharing about theirs. As far as meetings....i hear the words faith, Higher Power or whom ever others choose to rely on for strength and guidance.

I for myself dont like to be preached to or at. I had my schooling and rearing from my parents in my early yrs. and therefore im cool with the knowledge i have gather so far.

No one needs to save me and make me switch to their religion to stay sober.

When i was in treatment, id hear them use Higher Power instead of the G word. I was cool with that because i realized that i was amongst many different people in the same room. Different races, faiths and addictions.

For the councilor to help all of us they used the Higher Power therory as an example. The Higher Power could be ANYTHING u wanted it to be just as long as u felt that u could rely on it to help u stay sober one day at a time.

I had my Higher Power....who did u have?

Thanks for letting me share.

[upanddownjj]

There are some people who are so excited about THEIR new found Religion - that they are taught and feel the need to do this..However this is NOT the way in AA - we are not affiliated with ANY religion and people are free and encouraged to discover a God of their own understanding..Often people are mislead my the use of the word GOD in the literature, however many people use this as an acronym ...Group Of Drunks....Good Orderly Direction for example...some people use Nature as their Higher Power...a Higher Power can Be anything - as Long as it is NOT ME - my best thinking got me here

A sister in Sobriety
July20,1999

[findingout]

Hey Sharon,

Interesting topic

When I first started to go to meetings, I did feel like others were trying to push their higher power on me. I used to be very sensitive to this and would raise the shields as soon as anyone even mentioned their higher power. I hadn't been around long enough to learn that people could talk about their higher power without having a secret or not so secret desire to convert me to their belief or that I could actually take some benefit from listening to them talk without having to believe exactly as they did.

This change in attitude on my part has been one of the great things that has happened to me as a result of my experiences in the program.

[Kellye C]

I grew up with knowledge that there is a God. I never doubted that. If anyone asked me I would tell them that I was a Christian. Unfortunately the God of my understanding at the time was one of a punishing God who was going to send me to hell unless I was "perfect". Believe me whe I say I constantly fell short of that idea. It reached a point where I turned my back on God because I figured why try? I'm never going to measure up.

I wanted to go to church in my drinking days but wouldn't. I felt like I had to quit drinking on my own before I could go and present myself too him. I felt like I was too unworthy of his time and love. I did go once in Feb 04 and was prayed over about the alcholism but that didn't stop me from picking up again so once again I felt like I wasn't worthy.

In coming to AA I had little hope that this would work for me. I was there simply because I had nothing else to try. Through sitting through many meetings I started learning about other people's God and how they pretty much felt the same as I did when coming in but that the concept was transformed.

This is what happened to me. I basically turned to the God of their understanding first and then revamped my own concept of God from wrathful waiting to send me to hell, to one who loves me and wants the best for me but is gentleman enough to watch me struggle and beat my head agains the wall before crying out for help. I think of him as a father figure basically. No parent wants their child to suffer but sometimes they have to in order to learn an important lesson. I feel this is how my God does. He lets me walk through things but the second that I figure out that I'm off course and screwing up I give it tom him and he gladly picks it up.

For those newcomers coming in with no concept of God or a desire for one, don't let that keep you away. A lot of people use this God (Group of Drunks) as their HP. They believe that the group believes. That is enough to get started. I don't try to cram my beliefs down anybody's throat

Hope this helped someone,
Kellye

[Peter]

Originally Posted by aasharon90

Hi Im Sharon and Im an Alcoholic.Has anyone ever tried to push their Higher Power onto you?

The quickest way someone will lose my attention is when they start preaching to me or try forcing their religion on me.

[mygirls_mylife]

I am new to sobriety and AA. I have also rediscovered my religion and spirituality just previous to giving up the fight.

I hate to think that I could turn anyone off and I dont want to "preach" to anyone, but then again, I like to share what GOD is doing for me. When I first talk to people I refer to theri Higher Power. I am not naieve enough to think that my religion or spirituality is the same as the next person's. But I see no harm in sharing what my God is doing for my life.

I was told when I got into AA take what you need and leave the rest.

Sometimes my love for God is overflowing and I have to tell people. I usually "feel" people out (not up) first before I start blathering away.

Good topic, Sharon. It makes me think and I hope never to offend anyone with my personal love for God.

Star

[2dayzmuse]

When I first came into AA the word God was foreign to me. I felt uncomfortable around people who made a lot of reference to God. Outside of AA when people talked that way I wanted to run. It was no different in AA. I felt the same, but I needed to get sober. I wanted it and needed it. At my first meeting when the chair asked if a member would lead us in the lord's prayer, my mind was racing. I about ran for the door. I had no idea that AA was like that. I did not want to be a part of any religious association. I know I have mentioned this before, but I sarcastically thought to myself as I entered the circle of intertwined hands, what's next? A rousing chorus of Kumbyah?

I kept going back because of my urgency for sobriety. I learned to put my differences behind me and was willing to open my mind to the whole concept of a HP. I felt awkward, but was desperate to change my life. I was told that believing in a HP would help. I was willing to have faith and hope. I had nothing else to hold on to, but hope. I took it and ran with it. What did I have to lose? Not a thing, not a thing at all.

I've come to know and rely on my HP. I choose to call my HP God. My life has change immensely since I have accepted a new way of thinking and living. If I hadn't have been an alcoholic, I never would have discovered my HP and found a special security and inner peace in knowing that I will be provided for. I truly believe that.

I try not to push my belief on other people. I remember how fragile I was when I first came into AA and how I wanted to head for the hills when God was mentioned. I try to avoid using that word with newcomers. It can be a scary word when you are unfamiliar with it. I want to allow newcomers to get a better understanding of the concept and how it works in the program. If and when they are ready, they will grab onto the concept and a whole new world will open up to them.

[Grasshopper]

Words like pushing,preaching,are in the ears and the understanding of the beholder.It has to do with my own thinking,has nothing at all to do with what others are saying.I am responsible for my thoughts.I put them there,no one else does this to me.How do i know this?Well one good example is when i first walked into the recovery rooms.My first AA meeting,a guy was shariing about all that God has done for him in is life.Made me,feel like puking,and i walked out.My cousin who had brought there saw my attitude,and we talked.I had alot of my OWN,resentments,anger that were inside of me,even before i had heard this guy sharring.Having all this "stuff" inide of me,it was natual for me,to take what the alcoholic was sharring,and turn it into something else.If i feel that another is preaching,its because i myself already have preaching thoughts about what another is sharring.Im the problem,not another.In program i learn tolerance,acceptance,and i also learn that what another shares,he is sharring,and for me,not,to feel or think that anyone is doing anything to me,personally,because they are not.They have the right to share,their experience,strenght and hope,without my judging it,and they can share with me,how it works for them.Once i did steps 4-9,all that 'stuff",left me,and i was open to have a relstionship with God.Today i share,my testomony how God is working in my own life.If another takes it anything other than what im doing,its ok,i understand,for i had been there too.Im not in the rooms to people please.I share all,with love.If another makes their own decision to be offened,thats on them,has nothing at all to do with me.I usually find that when another decides to be offended,and tells me about it,that behind their ofence they have expectaions of me changing,to be more of what they can accept.Doesnt happen.I am respectful towards others but not at the expence,of changing,what my life was like before program,what changed my life,and what my life is like today.I tell the truth,about this,all of it.And i allow others the rights and freedoms to think as they will.Im not in fear,that they will leave,walk out,,etc,,etc.I trully do believe in step one..
Thanks for letting me share,
God Bless,and take care!!!

[Little Missy]

When on line, I seem to use the term Higher Power. When at meetings, I just say God, but it is the God of my understanding. And that's what I like about it. I don't have to understand someone elses belief in God.

If someone shares that God "caused" this or that. That is not belief and I just let it go. I also do not attend church right now (or for a long time). I'm just not ready for someone to try to tell me what to believe.

When someone starts preaching at a meeting, I go into instant shut down. That is not what I am there for. All I know is I have to believe in something greater then myself. My Higher Power and I get along just fine. He doesn't cause my problems, or my sorrows, He helps me through them.

May I'm selfish with my HP, He's mine and I understand Him. You keep yours and I'll keep mine!!

[splendra]

people ask me what i'm smiling about i say oh you don't wanna know...