Athiest's definition of GOD?

[justsomeguy]

Hey all, I hope this isn't construed as a religious debate or derogatory towards christianity. (My kids will be going to church because I believe in the morals.)

I went to my first AA meeting today, and will be going to another one tonight.

I really enjoyed it and I think it will be great for me. The thought of AA being religious has always been a bit of a scare for me, but not anymore.

So, I'm looking for ideas that could help Athiests view the concept of "God" as it relates to AA (and the world) differently?

I personally have alot of faith in people, and believe in us and the general good of mankind.

I came up with a Rough draft, God; The culmination of the potentional of groups of people to influence and change the lives of others for the better.

Ideas, thoughts, problems with this as a theory as it relates to AA? ....

[JigOvLife]

I like that fella, kinda the 'collective consciousness' approach.
I have problems with the 'There is a God and you're not it' stance.

I like the Bill Hicks view...
"...We are the Universe experiencing itself subjectively".

Just my ruminations. Can't declare a belief 'cos I'm also an ardent fan of Robert Anton Wilson's 'Maybe' logic.

I wish you all the best adapting yourself to the program.

[indigo]

Welcome JigofLife.

[liveweyerd]

Sorta like the whole is greater than the sum of its parts?

That's true.

[Boleo]

Athiests are right (Technically).

God is such a Gentleman that he will stay out of your life if you want him to.

[freya]

How about "Nature" ??? "The Energy of the Universe"???? or even "The Force" ????? (and, no, I don't mean for that to sound hokey).......Someone mentioned "the Collective Consciousness", but personally, if I were leaning in that direction, I'd prefer "The Collective Unconscious" a la Jung....

freya

[ColdSweat]

Someone on the women's recovery board told me (an atheist, we both are), that GOD can stand for anything. My favorite was "Group of Drunks" (sober ones ). I'm very comfortable with that and it makes me smile .

[freya]

....I've also heard a lot of people say "Good Orderly Direction"......

[digderidoo]

I came up with a Rough draft, God; The culmination of the potentional of groups of people to influence and change the lives of others for the better.

Sounds like a good enough definition, that's similar to the one i started with.

Paul

[windysan]

?

[Lenina]

Someone once mentioned to me that perhaps God was a note, like music or a vibration. I think that since the first thing we hear in the womb is mother's heart so it makes sense to me.

Sorry, I'm not very good at expressing my thoughts.

Lenina

[freshstart]

If you are speaking in terms of AA then what you have is dead on because it's what you believe. AA never said you have to believe in my God or her God.... one of the suggestions in the 12 steps is that you "come to believe that a power greater than yourself can restore you to sanity" then in step three you make "a decision to turn your will and your life over to the care of God as you understand him"

if you believe that that power that you have come up with can restore you to sanity then that's all you need for now.

I, personally, believe in a loving God that has been by my side through every single second of my hell with me. I thought he abandoned me... that he gave up. that wasn't it at all. he was there the whole time waiting. i think he knew i would come back to him. i know he hoped i would but my God is a gentleman... he would never force me.... he would only wait. and now... now that i've been around the mountain again and found him standing beside me when i was done my faith is a totally different animal. BUT that's my personal belief. That's what I found. AA doesn't say you have to find my God. It says you have to have a spiritual awakening... a total psychic change.... you have to find a God of your understanding. If you have found it in what you stated and that god can help you have a total psychic change then there you have it. Go with it. You'll figure it out. Just keep going to meetings and keep an open mind.

FWIW

[tennis71]

How about "the power of humanity as a whole which is greater than myself?"

[MelinaArt]

God, as I see it: The manifestation of human Lovingkindness. So, in essence, small gestures: smiles, hugs, kisses, etc. And big ones: rescuing others in peril, donating valuable goods to worthy causes, etc. Perhaps these are lame examples, but I trust you get the gyst.

[BUTTERFLY-7]

I agree with freshstart, If you are not ready for that Step
just repeat the slogans One Day at a Time, Easy Do's It,
a Power Greater than ourselves could be the self Conscious Group of A/A/.

I was Bough up in a very religious Catholic Family, and as I grew up
I don't ever remember having faith, or believing, until I hit my Bottom
that's when I came to Belief, that a Power grater than me could restore me
back to sanity, but it wasn't from the morning, to the night, that this Belief sink
in, it took time and allot of Healing, and mending, to do to get to that Place

one of the problems I had was looking at this Power, (whom' I choose
to call my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ),Like a Loving, and Understandable God,
or nevertheless I couldn't even talk to this power greater than my self
with confidence, or trust, "But This too Shall Pass",and as I star it sticking
to A/A/ and N/A/ Little, by Little, the "Miracle Happen " AND I was
set free from my Fears, and Doubts,