sasycat

I started reading the Big Book today for first time. I read the first two parts. It seems a bit confusing at parts and at other parts i can totally relate. How neccessary is this book to recovery?

Irish Virus

Is reading the Bible important in order for us to understand Christianity?

The Big Book is essentially the Bible for alcoholics in my opinion. Seek and you will
find answers in it.

KEEGANSDAD

Try The Joe and Charlie Big Book Study.

It can guide you thru the Steps as outlined in the Book.

http://www.xa-speakers.org./pafiledb...category&id=13


Welcome !!

Keegansdad

sasycat

Irish - see thats where you lose me. I dont believe in the bible. I do believe in HP, but not a man written book being called the word of God. No offense to any meant!!! Thats my whole problem with the Big book also...it is written with Christianity in mind.

sasycat

Thanks for that link ... ill go check it out now.

Irish Virus

Read Chapter 4 of the Big Book (We Agnostics). It was written for you. It may help you understand where AA is coming from. If you do believe in a Higher Power, then you do possess what is necessary for recovery.

With the Big Book, I read the personal stories in the back of the book first while drinking my daily case+ of beer a day. I found the stories so fascinating that I could neither put down the book nor my beer. Then I moved on to the first chapters where they explain AA in more detail.

Even though a lot of serious members say do not read the stories until later, I recommend reading them first.

jpeace2

I agree with Irish. I read the stories first, especially when I found one that was me to a T. I found the beginning a little confusing until I started reading the stories and then could follow the rest of it a little better. I have just started listening to the Joe & Charlie tapes and they really do help....a lot. So will Ch. 4 if you read it.

1Marty

The Big Book confused me at first too. It took a while for the information to sink in. In fact its still sinking in for me. The important thing to remember is that the program is a spiritual program. One purpose of the book is to help you find and connect to a power greater than yourself. The book does mention God a lot. But all you have to do is replace that with higher power if you so chose. So just understand that you may not understand it all at first. Keep an open mind and stick with it.

tyler

While AA stresses the fact that your HP does not have to be a Christian God, that message if often lost in the overzealousness of some of it's members. AA can be an incredable helpful program, a life saver for many, but there are other options for recovery out there. Here are links to some that encourage a more secular method of recovery.

Lifering www.unhooked.com

SMART Recovery www.smartrecovery.org

Rational Recovery www.rational.org

SOS Secular Organization for Sobriety www.cfiwest.org/sos/find.htm

Women for Sobriety www.womenforsobriety.org

And we can’t forget http://www.soberrecovery.com/links/a...sto12step.html

Again, don't want to disuade you in any way from AA, I have much respect for the program and those it helps. Just wanted to give you some options. Take care.

Slowbriety

Read it like a text book not like a novel.




peace.