Atheist/Agnostic AA groups, how do they work?
Rockin 'n' rollin' everyday
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: Midwest
Posts: 1,256
I talked with an AA who is also an atheist with ~ 38 years. He believes there is more religious expressions and more structure to general AA meetings than the used to be. He attributes it to more people coming to AA from the treatment centers.
I don't know about that. I have about half that time...I did not come into the program from a treatment center. But I have been sober since my first meeting...I do not/cannot have another drink.
I am still comfortable with the AA program. When people get religious or too spiritual for my liking, I state that the AA Preamble.
I don't know about that. I have about half that time...I did not come into the program from a treatment center. But I have been sober since my first meeting...I do not/cannot have another drink.
I am still comfortable with the AA program. When people get religious or too spiritual for my liking, I state that the AA Preamble.
Up from the ashes
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Northern California
Posts: 213
Opening and closing statements
Opening Statement
Welcome to the [AA group meeting Name] meeting of Alcoholics Anonymous. My name is [your name] and I’m an alcoholic.
Alcoholics Anonymous is a fellowship of men and women who share their experience, strength and hope with each other that they may solve their common problem and help others to recover from alcoholism. The only requirement for membership is a desire to stop drinking.
There are no dues or fees for A.A. membership; we are self supporting through our own contributions. A.A. is not allied with any sect, denomination, politics, organization or institution; does not wish to engage in any controversy, neither endorses nor opposes any causes. Our primary purpose is to stay sober and help other alcoholics to achieve sobriety.
This group of A.A. attempts to maintain a tradition of free expression, and conduct a meeting where alcoholics may feel free to express any doubts or disbeliefs they may have, and to share their own personal form of spiritual experience, their search for it, or their rejection of it. We do not endorse or oppose any form of religion or atheism. Our only wish is to assure suffering alcoholics that they can find sobriety in A.A. without having to accept anyone else's beliefs or having to deny their own.
Closing Statement
In closing, I would like to quote Bill Wilson from his book Alcoholics Anonymous
Comes of Age:
Who first suggested the actual compromise words I do not know, but they are words well-known throughout the length and breadth of AA today: In Step Two we decided to describe God as a "Power greater than ourselves." In Steps Three and Eleven we inserted the words "God as we understood him." From Step Seven we deleted the expression "on our knees." And, as a lead-in sentence to all the steps we wrote the words: "Here are the steps we took which are suggested as a Program of Recovery." AA's Twelve Steps were to be suggestions only.
Such were the final concessions to those of little or no faith; this was the great contribution of our atheists and agnostics. They had widened our gateway so that all who suffer might pass through, regardless of their belief or lack of belief.
[Alcoholics Anonymous Comes of Age
New York: Alcoholics Anonymous World Services, 1957, p. 167]
Welcome to the [AA group meeting Name] meeting of Alcoholics Anonymous. My name is [your name] and I’m an alcoholic.
Alcoholics Anonymous is a fellowship of men and women who share their experience, strength and hope with each other that they may solve their common problem and help others to recover from alcoholism. The only requirement for membership is a desire to stop drinking.
There are no dues or fees for A.A. membership; we are self supporting through our own contributions. A.A. is not allied with any sect, denomination, politics, organization or institution; does not wish to engage in any controversy, neither endorses nor opposes any causes. Our primary purpose is to stay sober and help other alcoholics to achieve sobriety.
This group of A.A. attempts to maintain a tradition of free expression, and conduct a meeting where alcoholics may feel free to express any doubts or disbeliefs they may have, and to share their own personal form of spiritual experience, their search for it, or their rejection of it. We do not endorse or oppose any form of religion or atheism. Our only wish is to assure suffering alcoholics that they can find sobriety in A.A. without having to accept anyone else's beliefs or having to deny their own.
Closing Statement
In closing, I would like to quote Bill Wilson from his book Alcoholics Anonymous
Comes of Age:
Who first suggested the actual compromise words I do not know, but they are words well-known throughout the length and breadth of AA today: In Step Two we decided to describe God as a "Power greater than ourselves." In Steps Three and Eleven we inserted the words "God as we understood him." From Step Seven we deleted the expression "on our knees." And, as a lead-in sentence to all the steps we wrote the words: "Here are the steps we took which are suggested as a Program of Recovery." AA's Twelve Steps were to be suggestions only.
Such were the final concessions to those of little or no faith; this was the great contribution of our atheists and agnostics. They had widened our gateway so that all who suffer might pass through, regardless of their belief or lack of belief.
[Alcoholics Anonymous Comes of Age
New York: Alcoholics Anonymous World Services, 1957, p. 167]
Member
Join Date: Oct 2009
Posts: 159
What a great post - I wish there was an agnostic/atheist group around my part of the country. London is a bit far, I'm afraid...
It is really interesting to read the format of the meetings, and I look forward to the chance to attend one. Keep it comin!
It is really interesting to read the format of the meetings, and I look forward to the chance to attend one. Keep it comin!
Member
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Indianapolis, IN
Posts: 5
Indianapolis Area Atheist & Agnostic Meeting
I'm happy to announce the formation of a meeting in the Indianapolis, IN area specifically designed to serve atheists, agnostics, free thinkers, humanists, rationalists...
A weekly Open Meeting of Alcoholics Anonymous designed to serve those of us who have doubts about - or no belief in - a supernatural higher power.
In this group, we don’t consider any part of our literature infallible or sacrosanct, and we recognize the historic and cultural context in which AA initially developed. We are grateful for those founders and their passionate dedication to helping other alcoholics achieve sobriety. We simply prefer to focus on the tangible, measurable actions and attitudes in the steps and how we can implement them into our lives in order to achieve and maintain our individual sobriety.
Thursday Nights, 6:30PM - 7:30PM
The Big Room Upstairs @ The Carvel Club
4627 Carvel Ave., Indianapolis, IN 46205-2022
A weekly Open Meeting of Alcoholics Anonymous designed to serve those of us who have doubts about - or no belief in - a supernatural higher power.
In this group, we don’t consider any part of our literature infallible or sacrosanct, and we recognize the historic and cultural context in which AA initially developed. We are grateful for those founders and their passionate dedication to helping other alcoholics achieve sobriety. We simply prefer to focus on the tangible, measurable actions and attitudes in the steps and how we can implement them into our lives in order to achieve and maintain our individual sobriety.
Thursday Nights, 6:30PM - 7:30PM
The Big Room Upstairs @ The Carvel Club
4627 Carvel Ave., Indianapolis, IN 46205-2022
Member
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Minneapolis, MN
Posts: 26
There's an Agnostic AA meeting a mere block from my apartment. I go occasionally, but I don't really like the vibe of the meeting. It is a small meeting and there always long awkward silence. I wish I could make it a more comfortable meeting, but I guess I could also just accept it for what it is...
Human
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Posts: 101
Originally Posted by carlri 
I'm thinking of going to the Agnostic AA meeting in Hollywood tonight. Anyone from here going to be there?
That "We Agnostic" meeting has been there for 25 years. We read apendix 2 only and then the promises at the end, and then the prayer "When anyone anywhere reaches out for help. I want the hand of AA to be there."
That meeting is an official AA meeting.
Blu**ed Lines...A ClockWork SR
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: AZ
Posts: 2,529
Just substitute dog and higher purpose for "God" and spirituality with healthy maintenance of neuro receptors. Regular AA can work just as well for us athiests and agnostics even when we overly obssessive concerning semantics.
Last edited by ElegantlyWasted; 04-30-2010 at 02:18 PM. Reason: Edit needed
Go ask the Multivax
Join Date: Apr 2008
Posts: 2,481
Originally Posted by carlri
I'm thinking of going to the Agnostic AA meeting in Hollywood tonight. Anyone from here going to be there?
(random smiley...just cause i can (grin))
Member
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: West Avalonia
Posts: 85
Originally Posted by johnclavin
Hollywood, CA? Yes, I am usually there, everyone knows me. It is on Sunset at Alexandria in the Hospital bldg.
That "We Agnostic" meeting has been there for 25 years. We read apendix 2 only and then the promises at the end, and then the prayer "When anyone anywhere reaches out for help. I want the hand of AA to be there."
That meeting is an official AA meeting.
That "We Agnostic" meeting has been there for 25 years. We read apendix 2 only and then the promises at the end, and then the prayer "When anyone anywhere reaches out for help. I want the hand of AA to be there."
That meeting is an official AA meeting.
Member
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: West Avalonia
Posts: 85
Originally Posted by Alizerin
Darn it. I lived in Ventura County all my life til 7 years ago. I would have definitly met you there!
:-)
Human
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Posts: 101
Originally Posted by Alizerin
How many people were there, I'm curious?
I would say maybe 25 people. I guess I should have counted. Like Carl said alot of people just share about what is happening in their life. But for me to have a meeting where you can talk about alternative philosophies of sobriety is a very cool situation. It helps me put the other meetings in perspective.
Currently Active Users Viewing this Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
