Agnostics, Atheists, and AA

[Pagekeeper]

I found this study on atheists and agnostics and thought some of you might be interested: Atheists, Agnostics, and AA. You must pay for the article in order to read the entire thing, but the conclusions are free and available on several sites, including this one: Results of Study.

In a nutshell, it appears that a belief in God has little or no effect on length of sobriety, but attending 12 step meetings seems to help. The most glaring problem seems to be that those who are atheist/agnostic are less likely to continue attending meetings, for obvious reasons (obvious to me anyway). The group in the most trouble is those who are "undecided"--meaning they don't know if they're agnostic, atheist, spiritual or what. They had the highest rates of relapse and drank the most. I guess there's some merit when they say, "God is everything or nothing." Nothing is okay, but "I don't know" may get you into trouble. For myself, I attend meetings for the support of others who share my problem. It’s been important for me to set boundaries. I used to just let others go on and on about their religious convictions, but now I politely stop them and let them know I’d rather discuss something else.

[ananda]

for me the sentance in the big book "god is everything or god is nothing" is the foundation of my recovery program....where it all begins....my answer is nothing and my path divereged from many.

I have found that as long as i am clear about my beliefs without harping on them constantly i am fairly well accepted and even appreciated in aa.

course as you stated AA is different everywhere.

[Pagekeeper]

I don't even discuss my beliefs, really, unless it plays a role in my recovery--at that point, why shouldn't I discuss it? No one in the meeting has stopped talking about God just because I'm there. Once in a while I'll joke around with people and tell them that I'll "pray to Darwin" for them.

[GlennMatthew]

Originally Posted by Pagekeeper

In a nutshell, it appears that a belief in God has little or no effect on length of sobriety, but attending 12 step meetings seems to help. The most glaring problem seems to be that those who are atheist/agnostic are less likely to continue attending meetings, for obvious reasons (obvious to me anyway). The group in the most trouble is those who are "undecided"--meaning they don't know if they're agnostic, atheist, spiritual or what. They had the highest rates of relapse and drank the most. I guess there's some merit when they say, "God is everything or nothing." Nothing is okay, but "I don't know" may get you into trouble. For myself, I attend meetings for the support of others who share my problem. It’s been important for me to set boundaries. I used to just let others go on and on about their religious convictions, but now I politely stop them and let them know I’d rather discuss something else.

yeah, i agree... as someone who came from a very very anti religious/christian life... it hard to talk about religion. my sponsor just said that he'd rather have me use the list of spiritual terms that he had me do in step two as my concept... and that really helped. i dont like to talk about what i believe in.. because i dont even KNOW what i believe anymore. the second step did NOTHING in the way of philisopical comfort... it made me question everything i believed in... but i was told that was okay. What I believe is an old idea...
anyway, im looking forward to having my 15 posts out of the way, so i can start my own threads... got lots to talk about.

[doorknob]

May you find Him now...

[Pagekeeper]

Originally Posted by GlennMatthew

yeah, i agree... as someone who came from a very very anti religious/christian life... it hard to talk about religion. my sponsor just said that he'd rather have me use the list of spiritual terms that he had me do in step two as my concept... and that really helped. i dont like to talk about what i believe in.. because i dont even KNOW what i believe anymore. the second step did NOTHING in the way of philisopical comfort... it made me question everything i believed in... but i was told that was okay. What I believe is an old idea...
anyway, im looking forward to having my 15 posts out of the way, so i can start my own threads... got lots to talk about.

I'll pray to Darwin for you, Glenn.