Is AA a religion?

[Andy F]

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/

 

 

[digger70]

AA    No Religion ,They are Batteries.

[Mad mick]

[HappyExpat57]

To some it is, to others it isn't. They don't come around my house Saturdays knocking on my door, so I really don't care.

[Tropposurfer]

Spent 35 years in AA around the globe.

Some see the material originally written in the Big Book (basic text and guide to sobriety) and the 12 steps and 12 traditions texts (written a few years after the BB was written as the needed progression of understanding the pathway to and holding onto a sober life and in its traditions, and to serve and the principle guidelines to the unity of the 'fellowship' of AA) as being religious in its references to God in these texts.

Some in AA see it as a some sort of extension/manifestation of a faith/religion, and in their journey come to a form of faith in a  singular God as known in some of the major Christian faith's we all know of.

Personally I do not and from an early time in my AA journey see the concept as many speak of but as a 'spiritual' journey not a God based one.

You hear the phrase' The Higher Power' used by folks who hold a wider non-prescriptive idea of a Power outside of yet paradoxically inside of self that underpins the entirety of all matter and existence.

One of the fundamental tenants of AA is the acceptance of others; who, how, and what they are, think and feel. Sadly as we are human some in AA insist on holding onto and projecting their biases and bigotries and declaring that this is what AA and its writings mean and demand of us.

Edited January 26, 2023 by Tropposurfer

[Neeranam]

It is not a religion at all. 

It is not a self help group, the help comes from God, as you understand him. 

 

AA success rate has plummeted in recent years as non-alcoholics are allowed to stay. These heavy drinkers can recover without God, alcoholics can't. 

 

There have been many 12 step groups invented, based on AA. 

 

Why don't atheists start a new program, rather than trying to change AA? 

 

Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) is a ubiquitous recovery mutual-help organization that continues to arouse controversy, in part because of the program’s spiritual orientation

 

John F Kennedy was maybe a good president but this is wrong. The help we need to recover does NOT come from each other. 

[mikebike]

11 minutes ago, Neeranam said:

AA success rate has plummeted in recent years as non-alcoholics are allowed to stay. These heavy drinkers can recover without God, alcoholics can't. 

I do not understand this paragraph. 

[Andy F]

15 hours ago, Neeranam said:

It is not a religion at all. 

It is not a self help group, the help comes from God, as you understand him. 

 

AA success rate has plummeted in recent years as non-alcoholics are allowed to stay. These heavy drinkers can recover without God, alcoholics can't. 

 

There have been many 12 step groups invented, based on AA. 

 

Why don't atheists start a new program, rather than trying to change AA? 

 

Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) is a ubiquitous recovery mutual-help organization that continues to arouse controversy, in part because of the program’s spiritual orientation

 

John F Kennedy was maybe a good president but this is wrong. The help we need to recover does NOT come from each other. 

I'm an agnostic in AA and am 25 years happily sober in AA. It was suggested by some God squad bleeding deacon on this platform that I can't be a real alcoholic if I don't believe in Hod. I was a homeless and hopeless drunk for years before I came to AA. What about Jim Burwell? He was an early member of AA that was an atheist. He was responsible for convincing Bill W to include "as we understand him" in steps 3 and 11. Moreover, because of Jim, Bill included the word "suggested" in Chapter 5 of the Big Book. "Here are the steps we took which are "suggested" as a program of recovery"

 

As the result of working through the first 9 steps, I am the grateful recipient of a "non-God-centered" spiritual awakening. In the words of Dr. Bob, I try and keep the program simple. "Love and service to others" is the basis of my spiritual awakening. Check out Dr. Bobs Farewell talk online

 

 

 

 

[Neeranam]

4 minutes ago, Andy F said:

As the result of working through the first 9 steps, I am the grateful recipient of a "non-God-centered" spiritual awakening. In the words of Dr. Bob, I try and keep the program simple. "Love and service to others" is the basis of my spiritual awakening. Check out Dr. Bobs Farewell talk online

Will check it out. I used to be a Buddhist, I understand. 

 

The Thais I have worked with use, "Sing Sud Sid" as a Higher Power. 

[Andy F]

5 minutes ago, Neeranam said:

Will check it out. I used to be a Buddhist, I understand. 

 

The Thais I have worked with use, "Sing Sud Sid" as a Higher Power. 

https://www.aa.org/dr-bobs-farewell-talk

 

Have a great 24 Neeraman!????????????

[likerdup1]

AA is not a religion. They shun affiliation with religious groups.

Let's make one thing clear. There is no being "IN" the program of AA. You are either doing it or you are not doing it. One can be "IN" meetings of the fellowship but one can only DO the program.

 

Being "In" AA is not the same as actually doing the program of AA. There are plenty of atheists and agnostics visiting the meetings of AA everyday all over the world. BUT, if they want recovery the AA way they will have to do the program which demands they be open minded and get past their prejudices toward spiritual terms and be even willing to believe a Higher Power might exist. This is required TO DO THE SECOND STEP of the 12 step PROGRAM of recovery.

 

 

The God Word pamphlet has to do with acceptance of people from all beliefs and walks of life IN THE MEETINGS OF THE FELLOWSHIP. It has always been the case that people of all beliefs and walks of life are accepted in the fellowship. But, if they want to do the 12 step PROGRAM of AA they will have to get past their prejudices toward spiritual terms and toward the possible existence of a Higher Power, Spirit of the Universe, Universal Mind, or God.. whatever you want to call God. They will need to drop their old atheist or agnostic ideas and become open minded to the possible existence of a God of some sort. From there they do the 3rd step and through demonstration of the 3rd step decision they do the rest of the steps which brings about a personal experience of a Higher Power. 

Edited February 5, 2023 by likerdup1