Andy F

Exactly Neeranam. If alcoholics admit that rigorous honesty is the only thing thats going to help them get well, then sadly, they wont be making much progress with the "spiritual malady" acting out on sex and love addicition

So true! Thanks for sharing

New blog: What does it mean to be an atheist, agnostic. or freethinker in 12-step recovery? https://aaforagnostics.com/blog/what-is-an-agnostic/

Thanks for sharing that. I really liked what you had to say! ????????????

As an addict and alcoholic, the word "limit" wasn't a part of my vocabulary. I am forever grateful for the 12 steps ????????????

It was in Thailand I had my rock bottom. Got recovery in London. Now retired in Thailand with the same (age appropriate) lady for almost a decade ????????????

I was over 20 years sober in AA when I succumbed to sex addiction. Thankfully, I didnt drink but I went on a massive dry drunk. I became so unwell acting out with sex addiction that I had to redo the 12 steps again in the SLAA program https://slaafws.org/ I hope you like the blog about this aspect of the spiritual illness https://aaforagnostics.com/blog/sex-addiction/

I was over 20 years sober in AA when I succumbed to sex addiction. Thankfully, I didnt drink but I went on a massive dry drunk. I became so unwell acting out with sex addiction that I had to redo the 12 steps again in the SLAA program https://slaafws.org/ I hope you like the blog about this aspect of the spiritual illness https://aaforagnostics.com/blog/sex-addiction/

The “God” word pamphlet In May 2017, the ‘general service conference’ of Alcoholics Anonymous approved and published a pamphlet that was called The “God” word. It was a very important event for all atheists, agnostics and freethinkers that come to AA to get sober. As I mentioned in a previous blog this pamphlet was inspired and initiated by an AA group in London. It is known as the Thursday Islington Atheist, Agnostic and Freethinkers group. This blog will not be about the creation and publication of the pamphlet. Rather, it will focus on the very first line of this all-important piece of AA literature.....................continue to the blog: https://aaforagnostics.com/blog/is-aa-a-religion/

Taking life "one day at a time" in Alcoholics Anonymous ???? https://aaforagnostics.com/blog/one-day-at-a-time/

Thanks for sharing that Aussieroaming ????????????

For an alcoholic, I believe AA meetings are a good habit. The bad habit is over thinking or "stinking thinking" as it has been called in AA. This seems true whether the alcoholic is drinking or not. The good thing about AA meetings is that they gradually replace negative thinking habits with positive ones ????????????

When newcomers arrives in AA, they soon notice the slogans hanging on the walls of the meeting. Among them is the slogan "Keep it simple" The newly sober member, still dazed and confused coud be forgiven for asking "keep what simple? What is it in AA that I'm supposed to keep simple"? Here is an interpretation of this simple slogan that, as an agnostic in AA has meaning for me. Hope you like the blog https://aaforagnostics.com/blog/keep-it-simple-meaning/

Thank you! Apology accepted. I am also passionate about the AA program from a secular perspective. Have a great 24! ????????????

I have been through the steps many times as an agnostic. They guided me towards a non-God centered spiritual awakening. Are you saying that the program won't work for millions of Buddhists who do not believe in God? You gave your self the somewhat arrogant permission to call me sophomoric. Are you sure that it's not you who is sophomoric, or at the very least bigoted?

A spiritual awakening is by no means dependant on a God awakening. Jim Burwell was AA's first atheist. He convinced Bill to add the clauses "as we understand him" in steps 3 and 11. He was decades sober in AA before he passed away. He founded AA on the west coast in San Diego. Carl Jung places the emphasis on the "vital spiritual experience" Never once did he tell Roland H that he had to believe in God. His message to Roland was the vital spiritual experience. You are entitled to believe what you believe just like tradition 3 tells us that any alcoholic is a member of AA if he so declares. This is irrespective of what he believes. AA is open to all so let's remember AA's well used slogan "Live and let live"

Well "likerdup1", we have to agree to disagree. I was a homeless street drunk whose life was devastated by alcohol. I had very negative experiences with religion and religious people when I was young. The idea of a monotheistic religious God was impossible for me to grasp. Initially, The Gift Of Desperation, Group of Drunks and Good Orderly Direction were all useful acronyms for powers greater then myself. What was life changing when my ego collapsed and I surrendered. For the first time in my life, I became teachable. My recovery has involved a gradual reduction of the maladapted alcoholic ego This has resulted in a gradual non-God centered spiritual awakening. The two principle of "Love and Tolerance" offered by the Big Book of AA have become my higher powers. I am guided by Dr. Bob's farewell message to AA. "Let's not louse it up with Freudian complexes. Let's us remember the simplicity of the program. Our program is based on two simple concepts: "Love and service" https://www.aa.org/dr-bobs-farewell-talk If there is a God, then I'm pretty sure that this is how he would like me to behave to my fellow travellers. These beautiful qualities are undoubtedly powers greater then me. In fact most religious texts proclaim the God IS Love ????

My experience to date has been beyond my wildest dreams. I have used AA (Group Of Drunks) itself and the suggestions of a sponsor (Good Orderly Direction) as my higher powers ???????????? These acronyms for GOD have done for me what I could not do for myself. I am an agnostic and satisfied customer of Alcoholics Anonymous

Dear friends As an agnostic alcoholic, I was in AA for 25 years before I found a concept of a higher power that worked for me. It was a game changer in my recovery. I hope you like the blog I wrote about this dramatic event in my sober AA journey. https://aaforagnostics.com/blog/getting-to-grips-with-a-higher-power/ Have a great 24! Andy F ????????????

It was first published by AA in 2018. Up until that time, AA was very conservative in its attitude to the spirituality of the program. The general position was that recovery was from alcoholism was only truly accesible to those that believe in a monotheistic God. Thankfully, since 2018 with the publication of 'The "God" word pamphlet, AA is changing and becoming more "agnostic friendly"

If you are interested, "The twelve steps for agnostics" is all about finding a non-God centered spiritual awakening. https://aaforagnostics.com/

For the record, I dont have any more wisdom about AA then anyone else.. Im just an agnostic alcoholic who had to find a way of working the steps without being concderned about the "God" word With regard to there being enough literature in AA for atheists, agnostics and freethinkers, this is just not the case. How many alcoholics have left AA or have never come to AA in the first place because they see AA as somekind of religious cult. The first bit of conference approved literature was only recently published in AA, Its an AA pamphlet called 'The "God" word. Here it is: https://www.aa.org/sites/default/files/literature/assets/p-86_theGodWord.pdf

Dear friends, My name is Andy and I am an expat living in Thailand. I am also an alcoholic in recovery. I am sober today only with the ongoing love, help and support of Alcoholics Anonymous. In the AA program it is regarded as vital that if alcoholics are to be successful in their recovery, they should turn their will and lives over to the guidance of a higher power. This is usually referred to as the care of God ‘as we understood him’. I am however an agnostic. In AA this has sometimes been an enormous challenge. For this reason, I have published a book entitled “The Twelve Steps for Agnostics”. The book is available on Amazon worldwide The purpose of my website is to tell you about the book and my successful journey towards recovery as an agnostic in AA. https://aaforagnostics.com/