Saturday, August 12, 2006
A.A.: We Agnostics: Stay for the Second Act
"After a while we had to face the fact that we must find a spirtual basis of life -- or else."
"If a mere code of morals or a better philosophy of life were sufficient to overcome alcoholism, many of us would have recovered long ago."
Alcoholics Anonymous
We Agnostics
Page 44
When I first came to AA, it was not to find a "spiritual basis of life." I came because I could not control my drinking and when I drank I couldn't control how much I would drink. I came because the lack of control over my drinking was causing unmanageable problems in my life.
At first it was just comforting to find other people who understood what I was going through. Then, it was enough to listen to them talk about their struggles and the solution they had found in AA. Some time later, I realized that none of these poeple took personal credit for getting their lives back on track. They gave credit to their Higher Power. They were sober and they were happy. Neither of which had I been in years. I wanted to live life like they were.
What I found was that when I took the drink away, I still had some pretty big issues and bad habits. Because I had always dealt with my problems by drinking, I didn't know how to deal with those remaining issues. AA has a spiritual toolbox to help me deal with life's problems.
The point is that I may not have been attracted to a "spirtual program." Afterall, I thought I was fully capable of taking care of myself. I was looking for a few expert pointers on how to get a handle on my drinking. I got that and so much more. Today, a simple non-drinking program is not sufficient. I keep coming back to AA for the life lessons and the spiritual connection.
Coming to AA with my drinking problem was absolutely the right move -- it wasn't the cure I had expected -- and I couldn't be happier.
Get the latest edition of:
Alcoholics Anonymous
AA Services
aa addiction alcoholism recovery sponsornet substance abuse
"If a mere code of morals or a better philosophy of life were sufficient to overcome alcoholism, many of us would have recovered long ago."
Alcoholics Anonymous
We Agnostics
Page 44
When I first came to AA, it was not to find a "spiritual basis of life." I came because I could not control my drinking and when I drank I couldn't control how much I would drink. I came because the lack of control over my drinking was causing unmanageable problems in my life.
At first it was just comforting to find other people who understood what I was going through. Then, it was enough to listen to them talk about their struggles and the solution they had found in AA. Some time later, I realized that none of these poeple took personal credit for getting their lives back on track. They gave credit to their Higher Power. They were sober and they were happy. Neither of which had I been in years. I wanted to live life like they were.
What I found was that when I took the drink away, I still had some pretty big issues and bad habits. Because I had always dealt with my problems by drinking, I didn't know how to deal with those remaining issues. AA has a spiritual toolbox to help me deal with life's problems.
The point is that I may not have been attracted to a "spirtual program." Afterall, I thought I was fully capable of taking care of myself. I was looking for a few expert pointers on how to get a handle on my drinking. I got that and so much more. Today, a simple non-drinking program is not sufficient. I keep coming back to AA for the life lessons and the spiritual connection.
Coming to AA with my drinking problem was absolutely the right move -- it wasn't the cure I had expected -- and I couldn't be happier.
Get the latest edition of:
Alcoholics Anonymous
AA Services
aa addiction alcoholism recovery sponsornet substance abuse
# posted by Bill B. @ 11:17 AM 
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What does agnosticism or atheism have to do with living by yourself? The accumulated wisdom, experience, and support of the group can be had without believing you're not in control of your own life (a bizarre kind of twisted theory anyway). There are many means of support and requiring a "God of my understanding" does not have to be one of them. The "We Agnostics" chapter defines agnosticism and atheism without a clear understanding of what they even believe and sets those philosophies up as straw-men to be knocked down. There's an excellent set of the steps for agnostics at www.agnosticaanyc.org. You don't have to throw the baby out with the bathwater.
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# posted by 
: 5:32 PM
: 5:32 PM << Home
