Have any atheists completed a 12 steps addiction recovery program?

Question

How does it work, with the higher power bit?
Has anyone started out as an atheist an found God through it?
Or successfully completed the program without a Higher Power?
Or, if not God, what else have people used as their Higher Power?

Answer 1

I am an atheist, or at the least non-theistic with regard to my worldview, and I have been part of a 12-step recovery program for quite a few years.

The idea of the higher power is that you have something to believe in other than yourself... which is important when self will and an egocentric lifestyle were steps on the path of addiction. But anything can be a "higher power"... one thing that works for atheists is using the group as a higher power. Say it's Alcoholics Anonymous you're in, for example. You can use A.A. as a higher power in and of itself... it's more powerful than you by yourself, and it's a whole that's greater than the sum of its parts. It definitely qualifies, and you may find that something as simple as that is all you need.

I have taken to using the term "god" even though I'm not much of a theist. I suppose in the most general way, I deify the universe. I see and I am amazed by the world around me, and I know there are forces at play that absolutely dwarf me, and yet at the same time I am an interconnected part of everything. It's fascinating, and for me that's enough to say "god" over, though I don't ascribe any concrete qualities to that "god" beyond believing in something good in the world... believing in the yin and the yang, and focusing on positive movement.

The idea is to live a spiritual life... not necessarily a religious one. And that's certainly possible for an atheists. Unless the atheist has villified spirituality along with religion, there ought not be a problem. Still, using the group can work for even the staunchest of atheists.

Here's an interesting quote from A.A.'s "Big Book", from "We Agnostics":

"The Wright brothers' almost childish faith that they could build a machine which would fly was the mainspring of their accomplishment, Without that, nothing could have happened. We agnostics and atheists were sticking to the idea that self-sufficiency would solve our problems."

So, the idea there is one of faith... faith that you can get better, and faith that the help of a "power greater" than yourself will be part of the cornerstone of your recovery. The term "god" is qualified in 12-step programs with the phrase "of our understanding"... that's very important. That allows Christians, Buddhists (who are non-theists), Hindus, Muslims, agnostics, and atheists to all live and recovery under the same roof. Just don't be thrown by the term "god" itself... it's a convenience. A god of your understanding can be the A.A. group (or whatever other recovery group) and that works perfectly fine. :)

I've heard of people using trees and all sorts of things as a higher power, but I think using the group itself or a very generalized idea of "something greater" probably works better for many atheists.

Good luck and hang in there one day at a time!

Answer 2

There is a chapter to the agnositc in the AA Big Book. An agnostic can function perfectly in the program. Someone who believes in no higher power will struggle.

Answer 3

Yes, many people in AA say that AA is their higher power, the magic of the group, the community, others find a higher power and call it god, others use any concept they find even science based mysteries or "light".

Answer 4

I know of a 12 step program to get out of catholicism.

but never heard of an athiest needing to get out of a codependent and self esteem bashing organization like the catholic church is.

but hey. good luck with that.

tom

Answer 5

i think what she is asking is :
not has anyone recovered from being an atheist.
but has anyone recovered from addiction who is atheist,
for many people recover with the "power of god"
i hope that clears things up

Answer 6

if you are in this world you can't be a atheists. just look around you, see God's creation. how can you not believing that there is a God.

Answer 7

not sure what on earth you are talking aobut - is this some kind of Christian therapy for so called deluded atheists ?

Answer 8

What are Atheists recovering from fairy tales small brained people tell! What are you republican?

Answer 9

What are Athiests meant to be recovering from then?