Athiests in AA??
Paused
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: Washington
Posts: 5,093
Marte, don't you think that hate is a waste of time and energy? It is so harsh. You may dislike AA, not believe in it, but why hate? I say let it be and move forward and leave the hatred behind. For claiming to be an humanist, it seems you are lacking in concerns, interests and the welfare of humans who choose a different belief system than your own. What would motivate someone to hate a program that saves lives?
Administrator
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: CA
Posts: 10,681
Has anyone who considers themself an atheist or pagan on this site ever gone to AA? I have been sober for 44 days, and I think I am going to make my first attempt at going tonight. I was wondering if anyone had any suggestions. I know that you are supposed to take what you seem is prevalent and leave the rest, but does anyone have any more advise? Thanks.
Member
Join Date: May 2005
Location: Nowhere
Posts: 889
'Hate' is the word I choose for expressing my feelings about my personal experiences with 12 step programs, I am not saying AA/Na prolly does a lot of good for many ppl. And I hated it mostly cuz of my atheism/humanism, but yes it goes for me personally.
Marte
Marte
Member
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: UK
Posts: 1,415
Yes Morning Glory, I considered myself to be an atheist, and I went to AA. What did I learn? That there is more wisdom in AA than there is in me even though I had deluded mysefl otherwise, and if I opened my ears and shut my mouth it was all willingly and freely given with no religious strings attached. I learned that my atheism, though sophisticated and complex, was an egotistical affectation. I leanred that I could live better. I learned so much that I don't have the words for.
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Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: UK
Posts: 1,415
DK
this is from the old preamble of AA
I think it would've been great if they had kept it, although the sentiment is still very much the same - and certainly in the UK, where I have never heard a meeting end with the Lord's Prayer, though I understand it's pretty widespread in the US (and if I was at a meeting where they did do it, I would recite along with gusto!).
this is from the old preamble of AA
We feel that each person's religious views, if any, are his
own affair. The simple purpose of the program of
Alcoholics Anonymous is to show what may be done to
enlist the aid of a Power greater than ourselves regardless
of what our individual conception of that Power may be.
own affair. The simple purpose of the program of
Alcoholics Anonymous is to show what may be done to
enlist the aid of a Power greater than ourselves regardless
of what our individual conception of that Power may be.
Member
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: UK
Posts: 1,415
Doorknob said:
LOL, you and I have touched on this one before, I think.
~believing in G*d isn't a character defect. Believing that one IS G*d is a character defect!
So, not believing in God is a character defect?
~believing in G*d isn't a character defect. Believing that one IS G*d is a character defect!
Member
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: UK
Posts: 1,415
I'm afraid they do.
You're a fan of David Hume. He also said "any man who makes a study of religion, regardless of his conclusions, is a religious man".
Pride - defined as "putting one's self on a level with God" - is a medieval way of describing an egotistical condition. This condition has many manifestations - grandiosity or self-pity, self-righteousness or chronic uncertainty, excesses of fear or of anger - the list goes on and on. What they have in common is an overinlfated sense of self. Self-obssession. The individual ceases to remember the functional truth - the universe doesn't need us to endure, but we need the universe.
To believe that you know the nature of the universe is to believe as a God. That's Pride.
You're a fan of David Hume. He also said "any man who makes a study of religion, regardless of his conclusions, is a religious man".
Pride - defined as "putting one's self on a level with God" - is a medieval way of describing an egotistical condition. This condition has many manifestations - grandiosity or self-pity, self-righteousness or chronic uncertainty, excesses of fear or of anger - the list goes on and on. What they have in common is an overinlfated sense of self. Self-obssession. The individual ceases to remember the functional truth - the universe doesn't need us to endure, but we need the universe.
To believe that you know the nature of the universe is to believe as a God. That's Pride.
Knucklehead
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Davenport, WA
Posts: 4,005
I don't believe I know the nature of the universe, and I don't make a study of religion. To me, it's all mythology, and I'm not particularly interested. If the predominate addiction support groups were secular, there would be no issue, and no need for this discussion.
Don't get undies in a bunch
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: South Shore MA
Posts: 7,120
Originally Posted by doorknob
I believe that I am most likely worm dirt.
Don't get undies in a bunch
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: South Shore MA
Posts: 7,120
**** ma
When I stopped drinking, I guess I could say I was athiest at the time.
The princples that AA teaches towards finding recovery were given/shared with me by a strong AA leader. A God idea never came into play. When people would speak of God, I would ignore those words but hear what was being said aside from that.
I had been about 15 years alcohol free before I started my journey with the Lord. I did not become a Christian till I was 43 years old. AA had nothing to do with my choice, nor did AA influence my choice either way. As a matter of fact... life and people being people may be why I stayed away from church and God til I was 43.
AA is a good program that works to help all who will listen find a sober way of life.
When I stopped drinking, I guess I could say I was athiest at the time.
The princples that AA teaches towards finding recovery were given/shared with me by a strong AA leader. A God idea never came into play. When people would speak of God, I would ignore those words but hear what was being said aside from that.
I had been about 15 years alcohol free before I started my journey with the Lord. I did not become a Christian till I was 43 years old. AA had nothing to do with my choice, nor did AA influence my choice either way. As a matter of fact... life and people being people may be why I stayed away from church and God til I was 43.
AA is a good program that works to help all who will listen find a sober way of life.
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