What is a higher power in AA?

[likerdup1]

10 hours ago, orchis said:

AA also constantly uses the terms "God", 'He/Him' and 'prayer' which do not allow a neutral interpretation.  
 

The AA program is not left to much interpretation nor should it be because it's meant to save lives.  But the literature is clear and very specific that if one who wants to do the program of AA one need not believe in a monotheistic, Judeo-Christian God, spirits of Buddhism, the Islamic God, or any kind of conventional religious God. All that is required is simply an open mindedness that a Power Greater, Higher Power, Spirit of the Universe etc etc etc of ones own understanding ( however complete or incomplete that understanding is) may be accessed through doing the Steps (this is essentially how to do step 2) and a willingness to do the steps. That is all.

[orchis]

11 hours ago, likerdup1 said:

one need not believe in a monotheistic [etc, etc]

so why the constant obligatory use of "God", "he/him", "prayer"?
AA asks people to say these words in meetings; 
I was excluded for not wanting to utter terms contrary to my beliefs. 
I was also advised by others to just use those terms 'for the sake of it just as they did". Groupthink.
 

[likerdup1]

19 minutes ago, orchis said:

so why the constant obligatory use of "God", "he/him", "prayer"?
AA asks people to say these words in meetings; 
I was excluded for not wanting to utter terms contrary to my beliefs. 
I was also advised by others to just use those terms 'for the sake of it just as they did". Groupthink.
 

 Obligatory? How? How exactly were you excluded? Sounds fishy there my friend.. or fishing?

[Yellowtail]

The missionary stories are almost as hilarious as the 7%.

 

Most people that go to AA do so at the direction of the court, they only want to get their card signed and have no intention of getting much less staying sober. 

 

AA is 100% effective for the people that actually follow the simple program.