There has been much debate about whether or not AA is religous or spiritual. When I attend meetings, I find that most people present are Christian and worship the Christian God. The word "God" is exchanged verbally and written in their literature. I am not Christian and when I accidently let that be known, I am told to "choose" a higher power. Frankly, I have no need to have a higher power to help me change a bad habit or behaviour. Like many humans, I make mistakes and can change. Sometimes I repeat my mistakes which is part of a personal learning process. I need to feel holistic pain to make changes from self-defeating behaviour like addictions to substance or drugs. Alcohol is a drug. I need to assume full responsibility for my behaviour without help from a mystical and mysterious spiritual being or religion. It's the human way! It works!
2006-06-11 07:36:54 · 20 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Cultures & Groups ➔ Other - Cultures & Groups
I think AA is religion. And you can be forced by the law to go to AA. I also think AA is useless. It has the same success rate as people who try to quit without it. Plus it teaches people that they are powerless, dependent on AA, and slaves to alcohol. It's just a substitute addiction, it doesn't help the person develop the strength to have control.
2006-06-11 07:39:47 · answer #1 · answered by Hillbillies are... 5 · 5⤊ 5⤋
AA claims to be "spiritual, not religious", but an unbiased quick look at the program says otherwise. You can pick your God, but your God must end up having the same attributes as everyone else in the rooms. AA's God cannot cure alcoholism, only grant you a daily reprieve. The God I was brought up with could raise the dead, alcoholism wouldn't faze Him in the least.
The Christian God gave us free will, I doubt he'd like having that gift rejected; the program teaches that free will is evil and you must turn your will over to God.
In the program, God is supposed to supply miracles on demand, something you won't find in most other religions.
Every higher court that has heard the case has decided that AA is at least religious in nature and a few, that AA is a religion unto itself.
"Spiritual, not religious" is nothing more than wordplay. Religion conjures up rules and dogma while spirituality is a more vague, warm fuzzies type of feeling. AA fits the model of a religion:
1) Belief in a deity
2) Dogma
3) Sacred text (or words)
4) Ceremony
5) Hierarchy
2006-06-18 04:51:51 · answer #2 · answered by raysny 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
AA groups (and other 12 step groups) vary a lot in their attitude and flavor. Shop around and see if you can find one you are comfortable with. I'm not a Christian but I was lucky enough to find a twelve step group with enough of a mix of religious and spiritual attitudes that I had room to be myself. I would be very uncomfortable in a group that insisted I be Christian.
The mix of religions and spiritual attitudes you find in an AA group (or any twelve step group) are at least partly a reflection of the area you live in. A town that's mostly Christian is likely to have alot of Christians in it's 12 step groups. An area with more agnostics, or atheists, or whatever will be more likely to have people of those persuasions in it's meeting.
As far as taking "full responsability" for your behaviour, I never saw the twelve steps as letting folks off the hook. Making ammends is a serious and real part of working the steps.
Having said all that, AA may not be a good fit for you. Have you checked out any of the other groups that help people stop drinking? Women for Sobriety? Rational Recovery? If you haven't heard of those and want to try a different approach, check out the links below.
2006-06-11 08:08:05 · answer #3 · answered by blue glass 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Hi, how's it going? I've been in AA, but at the moment am not attending. I happen to be a Christian, but what I liked about AA is you can choose anything as a higher power. I chose my love of my children. I was told I could choose a doorknob, but I think that's kinda stupid. What did make sense to me was to choose the group or the power of love or anything that was really important to you as your higher power. All I know is it helped me. Good luck and God bless. Also, relapse is a part of recovery. Don't give up. I see it as being on a diet. If you screw up and eat half a pie, you don't give up. You get back on the horse and do better the next go round. Love ya!
2006-06-11 07:54:00 · answer #4 · answered by olelady55 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Definition is from dictionary.com [my comments are in brackets]:
re·li·gion ( P ) Pronunciation Key (r-ljn)
n.
Belief in and reverence for a supernatural power or powers regarded as creator and governor of the universe.
[As in "higher power," or "God as we understand Him"]
A personal or institutionalized system grounded in such belief and worship.
["It's a "we" program, not an "I" program" practiced by treatment centers & rehabs worldwide - "fellowships" meet pretty regularly, whether daily or weekly, just like churches do.]
The life or condition of a person in a religious order.
["Alcoholism" is the condition; "AA" allegedly is the cure.]
A set of beliefs, values, and practices based on the teachings of a spiritual leader.
[The 12 Steps, The Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous, Bill Wilson & Dr. Bob, the Oxford Group, etc., etc.]
A cause, principle, or activity pursued with zeal or conscientious devotion.
[12-stepping & "carrying the message" are part of their missionary work.]
More...
Let me ask you this: Can you think of any other fellowship that meets regularly to discuss "spirituality," follows a set of beliefs that includes confessing of one's sins & religious conversion, studies a book that mentions the word "God" 132 times, that is NOT religious?
Some U.S. courts have concurred that AA is indeed religious by nature.
2006-06-12 06:19:24 · answer #5 · answered by oaksterdamhippiechick 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think that the AA program is a wonderful program for those who want help. Obviously you don't want it or think you need it. SO why are you there????????????? A higher power can be something that you believe in. Don't put down AA if you don't like it, just leave. No one made you go there to begin with.
2006-06-11 07:45:40 · answer #6 · answered by just m 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
As an addict I understand.
Its a way of blaming your problems on someone else, which can work, but as you say i like to take full responsibilty for my action s and see my soberness as personal development and an achievment done through self discipline.
Everywhere they relate cure to god and it should not be that way.
Just use it as a way of channelling out your inner worries and carry on with your way of thinking as i beleive is the right way.
good luck mate
2006-06-11 07:44:38 · answer #7 · answered by que pasa 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Here is what I have heard from the tables Religion is for people that are afraid to go to hell Spirituallitty is for people that have all ready been there you do not have to believe in god use good orderly direction doing the right thing at the right moment at the right time
2006-06-11 07:40:49 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
People wiser than you, who founded AA, realized that true and lasting change can only come through the help of God. If you reject that principle, you have not yet completed Step 1.
Best of success.
2006-06-11 07:44:28 · answer #9 · answered by Thinker 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
you are on the right path for change comes from within not from the outside. the answer to your question is that i too see the hypocrisies of the A.A. it was founded by an Atheist and a Doctor. so what gives with all this higher being stuff? we will never know.
2006-06-11 07:43:58 · answer #10 · answered by ? 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It Works , If You Work It !
--- See what works 4 u
a favorite slogan of mine "Stick 2 the Winners"
God - of our understanding
also GOD - good orderly direction
AA - Altered Attitude
--- and by the way, i'm not a christian alkie
2006-06-12 21:36:40 · answer #11 · answered by sεαη 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋