http://www.soberrecovery.com/forums/ A Secular Approach To 12 Step Programs Mon, 23 Nov 2009 12:18:31 GMT vBulletin 60 http://www.soberrecovery.com/forums/images/misc/rss.jpg http://www.soberrecovery.com/forums/ http://www.soberrecovery.com/forums/secular-12-step-recovery/189071-word-god-what-really-means.html Sun, 22 Nov 2009 20:11:12 GMT I think that I have finally deciphered the "God" issue. To me God in AA, is your own spiritual experience and relationship to the deity or "higher thing" in life that made sober. Higher thing can be concept such as love, the beauty of creation and your life, the collective conscious of mankind. Really abstract stuff

God in AA is different than the dictionary defination of God. At. Dictionary.com, God means "the one Supreme Being, the creator and ruler of the universe."

A lot of people get tripped by the "God" talk in AA and walked away from the rooms. For me, this was a frustration. But I was so desperate to remain sober and had an analytical mind so I learned that God meant some else than the dictionary defination of God

But I learned it really meant your spiritual experience with a higher concept. And that did not have to be God. I started to learn that AA was a left-brained program and that I had to have faith in the intangibles of life. I could not analyze my way to recovery; I have to action.

I had to learn that recovery was based on the concept of faith, love, service, courage, hope, acceptance, honesty, gratefulness and tolerance. These values are not tangible; but intangible. I had to take the leap of faith that living this lifestyle would not want to be return to drinking. There was no non-12 step fellowship in my area; only 12 step. Therfore, I knew the steps were the only solution for me.

Working the steps teaches an alcoholic to live this lifestyle. And this does not require belief in a supreme being. Rather, it is faith to live life by these intangible things, to learn how to grateful for things that you have today; to try to live resent-ful free life; to apperciate the beauty and serenity of nature. I could not place my faith in a supreme being, but I could my faith in these values.

For some people, to live this life requires a belief in a supernatural being because they think that is the solution. I differ with that belief because these beliefs do not require belief in a God. The values that I speak about are the underlining priniciples of humanism. This is what John Lennon wrote in his famous song "Imagine".

When we speak of God in AA, this life through working the steps is what we try to achieve. It is this belief that binds our fellowship together whether a person is a Christian or an atheist. People have been denied a chance of recovery because the fellowship did not communicate to the person. That is how I define God in the fellowship.

Secular recovery is very possible. That is how I work my program. And I wanted to share my heart with the group.
:c029: ]]> Secular 12 Step Recovery crisco http://www.soberrecovery.com/forums/secular-12-step-recovery/189071-word-god-what-really-means.html http://www.soberrecovery.com/forums/secular-12-step-recovery/188878-recovery_plan.html Thu, 19 Nov 2009 16:08:17 GMT So, I told my therapist that I was in AA and quit drinking. He was of course very supportive of this and suggested that I work on a recovery plan and we discuss it next time. I have no idea... So, I told my therapist that I was in AA and quit drinking. He was of course very supportive of this and suggested that I work on a recovery plan and we discuss it next time.

I have no idea what a recovery plan would look like. Does anyone have any thoughts or experience with this? I am one step away from just googling but thought maybe the fine folks at SR would have some thoughts. :) ]]> Secular 12 Step Recovery cambridge http://www.soberrecovery.com/forums/secular-12-step-recovery/188878-recovery_plan.html http://www.soberrecovery.com/forums/secular-12-step-recovery/188639-calling-all-buddhists-hp-question.html Mon, 16 Nov 2009 04:28:59 GMT What is a Higher Power when your a Buddhist? To me, the obvious answer is our own buddha-nature, true selves, original selves. What are some other possibilities? Taking Refuge? The Buddha, the... What is a Higher Power when your a Buddhist?
To me, the obvious answer is our own buddha-nature, true selves, original selves.
What are some other possibilities?
Taking Refuge? The Buddha, the Dharma, and the Sangha?
The Eigthfold Path?
Enlightment?
Nirvana?
Indra's Net? (Our interconnectedness with all of the universe?
The Four Noble Truths?
No-self?
The law of karma?
Impermanence?
Empitness (Shunyata)? ]]> Secular 12 Step Recovery WakeUp http://www.soberrecovery.com/forums/secular-12-step-recovery/188639-calling-all-buddhists-hp-question.html