Athiests in AA??

Old 09-20-2006, 02:04 PM
  # 81 (permalink)  
Member
 
Latte's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Colorado Springs, CO
Posts: 2,391
Originally Posted by Blake

THere is alot of "god" talk in meetings, but it also says that what is meant is god, as we understood him. So you can choose anything to be that power greater than yourself. I personally use the program of NA, itself, as that power greater than myself...and it's worked so far. I have grown a whole whole lot since I got clean.
This is what many of my agnostic AA buddies do.

Welcome to SR

Last edited by Latte; 09-20-2006 at 02:05 PM. Reason: editing quote
Latte is offline  
Old 09-20-2006, 05:37 PM
  # 82 (permalink)  
Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Connecticut
Posts: 97
Hi

In the 164 pages of the BB and the 12x12 whenever the word Atheist (ism) is used a negative descriptive like belligerent, savage or cynical is used to portray them.

What a shame

Abbadun





Originally Posted by historyteach
I'm not really sure what you mean, Abbadun. Can you explain?
Thanks...

Shalom!
Abbadun is offline  
Old 09-20-2006, 05:41 PM
  # 83 (permalink)  
To Life!
 
historyteach's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: Rhode Island
Posts: 9,293
WOW! I wasn't aware of that.
It's too bad. But, there's also, "Take what you need and leave the rest."

The beauty of Secular is that none of those types of descriptions matter. We can move on and get past it, because, secular, by its very definition, is humanistic; having to do with the human, as opposed to the spiritual and or religious nature of life.

Wishing you well in your recovery. Care to share what works for you? Why not start a thread for yourself and share away so that others may learn.

Shalom!
historyteach is offline  
Old 09-20-2006, 07:01 PM
  # 84 (permalink)  
Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Connecticut
Posts: 97
Hi

I like Anne M. Fletcher "Sober for Good"

She interviewed people that got sober many different ways.

www. annemfletcher.com

Also like

Stepping Stones to Recovery for Men: Experience the Miracle of 12 Step Recovery by Stephen Beal

It has lots of God Talk, but is not insulting to Atheists

www. walmart.com/catalog/product.do?product_id=818877


"Taming the Monkey Mind" is a good book

Abbadun



Originally Posted by historyteach
WOW! I wasn't aware of that.
It's too bad. But, there's also, "Take what you need and leave the rest."

The beauty of Secular is that none of those types of descriptions matter. We can move on and get past it, because, secular, by its very definition, is humanistic; having to do with the human, as opposed to the spiritual and or religious nature of life.

Wishing you well in your recovery. Care to share what works for you? Why not start a thread for yourself and share away so that others may learn.

Shalom!

Last edited by historyteach; 09-22-2006 at 03:26 AM.
Abbadun is offline  
Old 10-29-2006, 11:47 AM
  # 85 (permalink)  
Member
 
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: UK
Posts: 11
So,

Is there anybody out there who is an atheist and has worked the steps?
carlton is offline  
Old 10-29-2006, 03:40 PM
  # 86 (permalink)  
Member
 
michski's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: California
Posts: 972
Smile

Originally Posted by carlton
So,

Is there anybody out there who is an atheist and has worked the steps?
Yep. If we're defining not believeing the last 2000 years of organized religion in the world than yes, I am an atheist. I have worked the 12 Steps and although I don't have an old dude with a white beard, Buddha, Allah, a doorknob or Jesus as my higher power I do humbly believe that I am not my own higher power. The 12 Steps showed me where I was making bad choices for my life. Drinking booze was one of them and hurting my family was another. That's it.. nothing more. It was so easy it blew my mind.
We get f^)ked up and all we think about is ourselves.. God didn't help me change my direction, although I have to admit as I was hanging my head over the toilet for a few days I did mention the G word, I don't believe that an external force showed me the way. I had a sponsor who got honest with me, I was able to be honest with myself and I finally grasped a way of living that allowed me to believe in my own self worth. Self worth comes with action.. God did not lead me to do that action, but desperation to have inner peace inside of my own head did...
michski is offline  
Old 10-30-2006, 12:03 PM
  # 87 (permalink)  
Knucklehead
 
doorknob's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Davenport, WA
Posts: 4,005
LOL, for a second I thought you posted the SMART version of "How it Works" (which I liked, btw)!
doorknob is offline  
Old 10-30-2006, 12:47 PM
  # 88 (permalink)  
I'm an addict.
 
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Hyde Park, NY
Posts: 1,201
Originally Posted by carlton
So,

Is there anybody out there who is an atheist and has worked the steps?
Yes.

I am not an athiest, but I am agnostic, so I'm in the same ball park. You do not have to have any belief in any god to work the steps. You just have to be openminded and read what the step is really saying instead of what you may percieve it to be saying.
Blake is offline  
Old 10-30-2006, 01:24 PM
  # 89 (permalink)  
Member
 
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: UK
Posts: 11
By atheism, I mean an absence of belief in the supernatural. I've tried, but it just doesn't stick. That's not a 'bad' thing, though, for the simple reason that it is true in my heart. And as just about anybody in the rooms would agree, recovery boils down to the capacity to be honest with oneself.
Everywhere I go in life I encounter powers greater than myself. I would no more claim to be my own higher power than I would state "I am taller than myself". I know from experience that there is a capacity within me to grow and recover, which exists irrespective of my own will. I got clean and sober by attending AA meetings, and drawing on the humane, and utterly human warmth and support I found there. These are just a few examples.
Ironically, things have become a bit sticky for me since I decided to knuckle down. get a sponsor and work the steps. My sponsor appears to take the steps, and for that matter the (AA) big book, almost word for word. Although he would probably disagree, his opinions about atheisms are on a par with those expressed in said book. Time to get a new sponsor.
I posed my question as a request for some hope, strength and experience. I don't doubt that there are other atheists who have made the steps work. At the moment, I do actually want to work my way through them. I just figured that it might be good to hear how others have done it.
carlton is offline  
Old 10-31-2006, 02:00 AM
  # 90 (permalink)  
Member
 
BSPGirl's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2005
Location: Nowhere
Posts: 889
Blah. I'm never gonna post here anymore. It's time for me to move on.

Marte
BSPGirl is offline  
Old 10-31-2006, 03:49 AM
  # 91 (permalink)  
To Life!
 
historyteach's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: Rhode Island
Posts: 9,293
I'm sorry you feel this way.
I hope you'll change your mind, and post some of your thoughts again.

Shalom!
historyteach is offline  
Old 10-31-2006, 05:59 AM
  # 92 (permalink)  
Big Idiot Man Child
 
windysan's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2004
Location: La
Posts: 5,664
i'm just happy being stupid. i'm too stupid to believe in anything or nothing.

(scratches head, ponders rough skin on elbow)
windysan is offline  
Old 10-31-2006, 10:23 AM
  # 93 (permalink)  
Member
 
Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: out there...
Posts: 2,653
Originally Posted by carlton
By atheism, I mean an absence of belief in the supernatural. .

I happen to believe that the natural is pretty Super!
Gooch is offline  
Old 10-31-2006, 04:31 PM
  # 94 (permalink)  
Member
 
Leo_the_Cat's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Chicago IL
Posts: 67
My Experience

I am an atheist.

When a first got to AA/CA I tried to have an open mind and I worked the steps out of the Big Book with a sponsor. I was sober for 19 months and on step 11 when I relapsed. After four months of drinking and drugging my circumstances were bad enough that I went back to AA/CA and again started working the steps with a sponsor. I relapsed after five months.

My circumstances became even worse and, after losing a number of things, I went to a residential treatment center based on the Minnesota model (i.e.-largely 12 step based) for 30 days. After I finishing an additional month of out-patient treatment in my home town, I decided to stop going to AA/CA.

I certainly believe that there are powers greater than myself, for example, at least half of the people that live in my apartment building. But God, as I understand him, does not exist and there is certainly no higher power to which I can turn over my life and will and to whom I can pray for knowledge of his (or her) will for me and the strength to carry out. Hearing seemingly constant messages to the contrary in AA/CA was not helpful and started to make me feel uneasy.

I do think AA/CA helped me stay sober when I came in the first time. The example of people living life on life's terms without drinking or drugging was very helpful as was the moral support of so many of the members. I do miss the fellowship but, for me at, this time, I find more serenity and peace by not going to AA/CA.
Leo_the_Cat is offline  
Old 11-01-2006, 03:08 AM
  # 95 (permalink)  
To Life!
 
historyteach's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: Rhode Island
Posts: 9,293
Welcome, Leo!
Glad you're here. And that you've found some serenity!
Do you follow any particular secular forum?
I hope to see you here and learn more of your story!

Shalom!
historyteach is offline  
Old 11-01-2006, 04:16 PM
  # 96 (permalink)  
Member
 
Leo_the_Cat's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Chicago IL
Posts: 67
Thanks for the welcome. I don't follow any secular forums. Do you know of any?

I have read a bit on the web about the "new" atheism. I am not sure I am up for their confrontational approach. My mom (who is Catholic) and I follow a don't ask, don't tell approach - she does not ask if I believe in God and I do not tell her that I am an atheist.

Originally Posted by historyteach
Welcome, Leo!
Glad you're here. And that you've found some serenity!
Do you follow any particular secular forum?
I hope to see you here and learn more of your story!

Shalom!
Leo_the_Cat is offline  
Old 11-01-2006, 09:49 PM
  # 97 (permalink)  
Reach Out and Touch Faith
 
shockozulu's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: On a Sailboat
Posts: 3,871
The secular forum I belong to is SMART Recovery. It is a secular program that is based on CBT. There are tools, meetings and a forum. However, the forum isn't as busy as this one, and is more program based, so I like to post here as well.
shockozulu is offline  
Old 11-02-2006, 01:22 AM
  # 98 (permalink)  
I'm an addict.
 
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Hyde Park, NY
Posts: 1,201
I am a member of NA, leo...NA is a "spiritual, not religious program" and my own personal spirituality is extremely secular in nature.
Blake is offline  
Old 11-02-2006, 03:39 AM
  # 99 (permalink)  
To Life!
 
historyteach's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: Rhode Island
Posts: 9,293
My bad, Leo;
I didn't mean to say "forum."
I meant to say "program."

Do you follow SMART, or any of the others? They are listed in one of the stickies on the top of this forum.

Shalom!
historyteach is offline  
Old 11-02-2006, 06:04 AM
  # 100 (permalink)  
Big Idiot Man Child
 
windysan's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2004
Location: La
Posts: 5,664
Blake, I never could understand what "spirituality" actually means. It is something I have trouble grasping.
windysan is offline  

Currently Active Users Viewing this Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
 
Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are On
Pingbacks are On
Refbacks are Off




All times are GMT -7. The time now is 11:31 PM.