As someone who's been through two D.U.I.s I am very familiar with AA meetings and to be honest i thought they helped curb my alcoholism quite a bit. Unfortunately, after 4 years since my last one i feel like i am in need of help once again -- this time before trouble. I'm from San Diego and I wanted to know if anyone knew about AA meetings in this area that aren't so religious. I know, i know AA is "not allied with any sect, denomination, politics, organization or institution." but anyone who's been to one knows darn well most people rely on God or a "higher power" in order to help their problem. I simply want to know if there is any group that tends to help each other without that. People that want and/or need to quit by the power of HUMAN interaction and support. Don't get me wrong; i was raised Catholic and still practice these days. I just don't want to mix my AA experience with God and don't want to be pressured to do so or be judged as not a good enough christian by removing God from this aspect of my life. Please let me know.
As someone who's been through two D.U.I.s I am very familiar with AA meetings and to be honest i thought they helped curb my alcoholism quite a bit. Unfortunately, after 4 years since my last one i feel like i am in need of help once again -- this time before trouble. I'm from San Diego and I wanted to know if anyone knew about AA meetings in this area that aren't so religious. I know, i know AA is "not allied with any sect, denomination, politics, organization or institution." but anyone who's been to one knows darn well most people rely on God or a "higher power" in order to help their problem. I simply want to know if there is any group that tends to help each other without that. People that want and/or need to quit by the power of HUMAN interaction and support.Don't get me wrong; i was raised Catholic and still practice these days. I just don't want to mix my AA experience with God and don't want to be pressured to do so or be judged as not a good enough christian by removing God from this aspect of my life. Please let me know.
1st, welcome to MIP Chris, ... Good Question!
I don't know of any AA group that is a 'religious' group ... our main success in recovery is coming to believe in a power greater than ourselves and we come to embrace this help for spiritual healing ... cause we are 'spiritually' sick ... and furthermore the Big Book tells us:
Our description of the alcoholic, the chapter to the agnostic, and our personal adventure before and after make clear three pertinent ideas:
(a)
That we were alcoholic and could not manage our own lives.
(b)
That probably no human power could have relieved our alcoholism.
(c)
That God could and would if He were sought.
So knowing this, we have a dilemma, we can either seek relief thru human aid, or a spiritual aid ... human aid did nothing for me, I don't about anyone else, but humans compounded my problem ... it was only through a spiritual solution did I find relief from my malady ...
Self knowledge only built up the person I was trying to get rid of ... For me, when I went to the meetings, I slowly learned how others got well ... and when I followed their steps, I too, got better ... I don't know what else to tell you ... God did for me what I could not do for myself .. 'period' ...
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'Those who leave everything in God's hand will eventually see God's hand in everything.'
If you don't want God or any concept of a higher power, forget AA. It's not for you. Try a secular program, counseling, anti-drinking medication, etc. It didn't work for me - in fact, it was a miserable failure, but I had to experience it in order to "get" AA.
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The sway of alcohol over mankind is unquestionably due to its power to stimulate the mystical faculties of human nature, usually crushed to earth by the cold facts and dry criticisms of the sober hour. ---William James
I know plenty of people who have used the AA fellowship as their higher power: the power of people coming together. Maybe give that a shot? You can use whatever you want as a higher power. Some people have chosen nature. AA definitely doesn't require a belief in a traditional conception of 'God'. Many choose to refer to their higher power as 'God'. This was a bit jarring to me at first but I quickly got used to it.
AA meetings with those who push the GOD concept...and their religion?
I just take what I need....with an open mind...and leave the rest...to each their own..
I use the GOOD ORDERLY DIRECTION....and
A spiritual power...that I understand... quite simple really
A bunch of drunks trying to stay sober...together...one day at a time...and learning how to live sober...without alchohol..IS a Higher Power...to me...
Everything in the BIG BOOK of Alcoholics Anonymous...is suggested...as a programme of recovery..
Yup, WE remember ITS NOT "WHO" OR "WHAT" this Power is BUT how it can help us in our recovery...You have a God of your understanding professed through your faith beliefs and that is your guide in the Solution, Our solution, the Steps applied in all areas of our lives guided by God and worked with a sponsor...Sometimes this program may seem more difficult for some if they come through the doors already having their own concept of God then those 'who come to believe' through a process ,not an event....I personally have had the same God since I was a child but the relationship has totally changed through the years.. There are as many meetings as there are days in the week and there is nothing from stopping you from looking around. Sometimes making different meetings just keeps things fresh...There are many different roads to recovery you will have to find what works for you WE are responsible for our own recoveries..The program is on pg 59(3rd edition)Here are the STEPS we took which are a suggested program of recovery...Hope to hear more from you ,have a blessed and productive day!!!
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Selfishness-self-centeredness! That, we think, is the root of our troubles.
Don't get me wrong; i was raised Catholic and still practice these days. I just don't want to mix my AA experience with God and don't want to be pressured to do so or be judged as not a good enough christian by removing God from this aspect of my life.
I was raised a Catholic too...So I had a concept of what God was also...of my understanding. But I turned my back on God at a very young age....Coincidentally about the same age I had my first taste of alcohol. That God never left me....I just blocked it off. I'm not sure I understand the mixing your AA experience with God statement? For myself...Those steps are the only reason I have a relationship with God....Nobody pressured me....Or judged me. Nobody ever even asked me what my God was....They just showed me a way to remove what was blocking me from God....And for that....I am forever grateful.
I hope you find something that works for you....One thing I did notice in reading the directions for the steps....The idea of the phases they can be broken down into....Surrender....Confession....Restitution....These weren't completely foreign to me. What it came down to for me was....This illness had taken everything I had...And wanted me dead. My way wasn't working....What do I have to lose trying their way? I wish you the best.
I'm from San Diego and I wanted to know if anyone knew about AA meetings in this area that aren't so religious. I know, i know AA is "not allied with any sect, denomination, politics, organization or institution." but anyone who's been to one knows darn well most people rely on God or a "higher power" in order to help their problem. I simply want to know if there is any group that tends to help each other without that. People that want and/or need to quit by the power of HUMAN interaction and support. Don't get me wrong; i was raised Catholic and still practice these days. I just don't want to mix my AA experience with God and don't want to be pressured to do so or be judged as not a good enough christian by removing God from this aspect of my life. Please let me know.
I have found that AA meetings can vary greatly in how much religiosity one can expect to hear there. Although AA is based on not being religious, some members ARE very religious and some of those aren't shy about expressing same in a variety of ways in a meeting. That is probably why AA has been considered a "religious organization" in 3 separate Federal Appellate Districts, including the 9th, which includes your state.
Try searching the San Diego intergroup listings for agnostic or atheist meetings. Or check the online intergroup for agnostic/athiest resources, such as meetings or discussion sites:
Welcome to the MIP forum. If the group and people in the rooms can serve as a power greater than yourself, so be it. I agree with what Mike F said, and it has been my experience that I finally learned of a God/Higher Power and spirituality through the process of the 12 steps.
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Rob
"There ain't no Coupe DeVille hiding in the bottom of a Cracker Jack Box."
I have yet to attend a religious AA meeting. As an agnostic myself, I managed to keep an open mind on the subject until the steps revealed the miracle. Now I have certain spiritual beliefs, but still no formal religion.
AA (the Big Book) is very up front about it's spiritual solution. If you don't want to accept spiritual help then you can't get past step two which in essence sets out AA.s solution. But expecting AA to be something else is like walking into KFC and ordering a Big Mac. - It ain't gonna happen. That's the program of course, different ideas can be found around the fellowship. The most important thing is to keep an open mind and if that's not possible, find and try some other alternatives. I am only in AA myself becasue I tried everything else and found myself beyond human aid.
Some posters above have pointed out that AA's program is a series of suggestions which have worked for us. That's fine as far as it goes but I am still looking for the suggestion that "if you take what you like and leave the rest" you will get the same result as if you followed the suggested program fully. In fact the truth is quite the opposite; Half measures availed us NOTHING!
Dr Bob has something to say on the subject near the end of his contribution to the Book.
" If you think you are an atheist, an agnostic, a skeptic, or have any other form of intellectual pride which keeps you from accepting what is in this book, I feel sorry for you. If you still think you are strong enough to beat the game alone, that is your affair. But if you really and truly want to quit drinking liquor for good and all, and sincerely feel that you must have some help, we know that we have an answer for you. It never fails, if you go about it with one half the zeal you have been in the habit of showing when you were getting another drink.
Your Heavenly Father will never let you down!"
Theres no such thing as a non religous AA meeting.
I have found that, by far, most AA meetings are not religious. Sometimes a little bit sneaks in, but it's usually an individual religious AAer who injects it through his/her comments.
ETA: I have read about certain AA meetings, in certain areas of the country, which are unabashedly religious. But have never gone to one. It would not be very appealing. Has anyone here gone to a 'religious' meeting? What was it like?
-- Edited by Tanin on Tuesday 30th of July 2013 07:04:44 PM
I live in the Northeast and have been to many meetings in different areas. I've never been to an AA meeting that was religious. I've been to plenty that are Spiritually driven. There's a big difference. The Program is about having a Spiritual Awakening and acquiring a power greater than ourself to restore us to sanity. That power doesn't have to be religious based. Some choose to call their power God, which I do, but it's my God, a Spiritual God and not a pre-set God from a religious sector.
Solution based huh? The AA solution is to get us connected to the God of our understanding, who will solve our problem. Yet you offer a different solution in the name of AA?
In North S.D. county, there are two that I know of:
OCEANSIDE, "We Agnostics of North County", 2017 So. Coast Hwy, Moose Lodge(upstairs), 10 a.m.
SOLANA BEACH, "No. County Free Thinkers/We Agnostics", 1036 Solana Dr., Palmer Library/UUFSD, 6 p.m. (may not survive much longer due to poor attendance)
There may be others I don't know of, but if so, they don't stand out in the official AA online meeting directory. Good luck...
Ooh heavy one. I struggled for years with exactly this....
Now I'm a committed atheist. I don't believe in any god or goddess or multiples thereof.
Where's my higher power then?
It is the power of example.
It is the example of those in the rooms who stay sober....and those who don't.
Does 'god as we understand him' bother me? No, for some reason it doesn't. If it did I'd not be sober.
What about the serenity prayer? I don't say it. I don't have to.
What about step 3 and 7 prayers....I don't say them any more. What about prayer and meditation ...
Who am I going to pray to? No I won't fake it to make it any more so I don't pray. I do meditate, but I don't pray.
So what about those who do? They're doing what works FOR THEM. Good. Great. It's none of my business.
What about those who in the past have challenged me because I don't recite the serenity prayer etc. It's an honest programme. I tell them I'm an atheist. I'll tell them why if they ask.
The thing is I do not push my atheism on others. It's my business, just like their faith is theirs.
So if I've offended anyone, that was not my intention. AA works for me. Without religion. Without gods and goddesses.
It is quite acceptable to be an atheist and a pagan and still live an honest, programme lead life which some may call a spiritual life.
As the late and great Dave Allen would say,
'Goodnight, and may your god go with you'
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It's not having what you want, it's wanting what you got. BB
