I have a person very close to me that has worked in the rehabilitation and recovery field for a long time. After reading a lot about *A and stepping, I asked "what do you do if you don't have a higher power". The response was "I don't know", followed up after a moment with "I don't think you can recover until you surrender to a god".
I was completely lost at that point. I also got very tired of being told I was being arrogant and elitist by not being spiritual and that I would have no support ever unless I "surrendered myself".
It's hard when it's pounded into your head that it's YOUR FAULT you can't find support groups that are acceptable. After all you CHOOSE to not believe in gawd.