In AA meetings, they have to follow the 12 steps. I was just reading them, and about 9 out the 12 are about accepting God and allowing God to lead you to sobriety. Out of curiosity, are Atheists welcome to AA meetings? How do they go about the 12 steps? I'm not an alcoholic, so please don't assume anything. This is just a random question that popped into my head.
2007-09-15 18:29:49 · 18 answers · asked by munkees81 6 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
they do not have to believe in God.
AA impresses the adherent to have belief in a 'higher power'.
2007-09-15 18:36:53 · answer #1 · answered by Tim 47 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's not actually 'god' per se, but rather "a higher power...whatever that higher power may be".
My brother was literally told that if he didn't accept the higher power aspect of the program, that he'd never be able to advance towards sobriety (this isn't indicative of every group, but it is telling of the attitudes in general).
Needless to say, he took himself to a rehab program that use methods, other than 12 steps.
Frankly, the 'higher power' aspect does a disservice to the addict in 2 ways.
First, it forces the addict to deny his own culpability for the CHOICES that were made, leading to the addiction. Addiction is not a disease. By doing this, the person can't take any credit for the inner strength they showed in moving beyond the addiction. Instead, it was the 'higher power' that got them through.
Second, the program has a way of not curing the addict, but switching the addiction. Those who find Jesus, follow him with the same fervor that they chased their drug or drink of choice. Hell, some people even claim to become addicted to going to the meetings, believe it or not.
EDIT: youngsoulrebel81, the numbers are actually much lower than 41%. The last reliable study placed the success of 12 step programs at approximately 5 to 10% (it's nearly impossible to get a truly accurate count though, since AA will not publish any kind of success or fail numbers). Apparently, cold turkey is just as effective...http://www.orange-papers.org/orange-effectiveness.html
2007-09-15 18:52:51 · answer #2 · answered by Bill K Atheist Goodfella 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
AA is an awesome group for helping people quit alcohol dependence.
I went to several AA meetings as a requirement for my medical school training program. AA has a very strict policy about absolutely no connection with any other organizations, which also includes Christian churches. Yes, it welcomes everyone. There's no fee. Donation is encouraged but completely voluntary.
If you are on Step 12, you have nearly completely quit alcohol, whether you accept God or not is a much less important regarding this situation.
2007-09-15 18:47:44 · answer #3 · answered by Good Kid 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Well, technically, the AA Big Book has been re-written to be Atheist-inclusive (don't ask me where, my father died five years ago), but it's really asinine, cos apparently, your "higher power" that is stronger than you can be, say, an oak tree on your front lawn. So, maybe AA is getting pro-pagan rather than atheist-inclusive? Hell if I know.
Regardless, there are other non-religious orgs for alcoholics, and honestly, AA is only about 47% effective in making people learn to either stop drinking or learning to drink responsibly. There are orther programs that promise to be more effective, but I don't know of any figures on those.
2007-09-15 18:41:21 · answer #4 · answered by Ruadhán J McElroy 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You asked if atheists are welcomed at AA meetings. Are atheists welcomed at Church? Doesn't the church try to send their message to non believers? How can the religious people try so hard to spread their idea of love and god and when a person is lost to drugs and alcohol and need god the most you think AA is going to ask if they believe in god?
2007-09-16 13:09:01 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
Everyone is welcome at AA meetings. The only requirement is a desire to stop drinking or using. The "God" element is generally left to a broader definition, a Higher Power, which can be anything, literally anything. For many atheists, the power of the fellowship, the power of alcoholics helping each other, can be and often is their Higher Power.
Members don't get hung up on who or what another person's Higher Power is. One person used an empty coke bottle. It is all about whatever works to keep you sober.
Good Question!
Blessings,
Lady Morgana )0(
2007-09-15 18:36:50 · answer #6 · answered by Lady Morgana 7 · 9⤊ 0⤋
I heard from a sober friend of mine in California that L.A. has at least three atheist AA chapters, so they do exist. But I don't think the god thing is really forced upon you in meetings.
2007-09-15 18:45:17 · answer #7 · answered by Petrushka's Ghost 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Some atheists attend AA and manage to sidestep the "accepting a higher power" bit by interpreting the phrase as something like "I need help from other people; I can't do it alone."
Other nontheists prefer to attend secular sobriety meetings: S.O.S. http://www.secularsobriety.org/
2007-09-15 18:41:18 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
A logical Atheist would debate those last few steps, but the religious community accepts everyone into AA. Jews, Muslims, and yes Atheists.
They do try to push JC down your throat, but they respect it if you do not accept him.
2007-09-15 18:37:16 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 5⤊ 0⤋
I'm not an alcoholic. A friend went to AA and quit because of the surrendering to a higher power stuff. I don't know if they have anything like AA for non-religious people. They should.
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2007-09-15 18:34:31 · answer #10 · answered by AuroraDawn 7 · 4⤊ 1⤋
AA has a few meetings for atheists.
2007-09-15 18:37:47 · answer #11 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋