The 12 step program believes in a "higher power." If someone doesn't believe in god, how can the 12 steps work?
2007-12-19 14:20:45 · 20 answers · asked by roshi7 1 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
There are programs for atheists, but AA does require a belief in a higher power. There have been court rulings based on this that have prevented court ordered AA meetings.
2007-12-19 14:32:03 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
You can use the group as your higher power if you have a problem with believing in God. G. O. D. can be your higher power (Group Of Drunks) with them you can get G. O. D. (Good Orderly Direction). When the program was in its infancy a member of it was an atheist. The other members of the group thought that there was no way he would stay sober w/o a proper higher power. The fellow in question stayed sober. So the founding fathers of AA changed the wording of the steps. Step 3 for instance was changed from, "Made a decision to turn our will and our life over to the care of God" to "Made a decision to turn our will and our lives over to the care of God as we understand him." remember the G.O.D. If a new member has a problem with the God part of our program we tell him/her to use the group as their higher power. The group is a higher power in that the group is staying sober.
As a member, I believe that Bill W. and Dr. Bob were touched by God. AA started with one group of 3 people Bob a doctor, Bill S. a lawyer, and Bill W. an honorary Indian Chief. (the term Doctor, Lawyer, Indian Chief comes from AA) in the year 1939. Today AA's message is in more than 180 countries. In 2005 there were over 105,000 groups. 1/3 of AA's members are women and about 1/9th are under 30!! When I let go and let God finally, I was able to understand the significance of a very famous quote given to us by a very great man. "Free at last, good God we are free at last"--Dr. Martin Luther King
To Mr. Snark who said the 12 steps doesn't work to well, you are utterly wrong!!! In its 1st year of existence AA boasted a 50% recovery rate. Of the 50% that didn't immediately get it 25 to 35 % returned and got it on a 2nd or 3rd try(The recover rate using psycho-analysis and other medical science methods is 0.05%.). It does work if you work it--I'm living proof.
2007-12-19 14:51:23 · answer #2 · answered by Deslok of Gammalon 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The 12 steps don't work too well, with or without the higher power part. They do help in some cases, but the success rate is still rather dismal.
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/07/25/health/25drin.html?_r=2&oref=slogin&oref=slogin
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_nbwg_7sY1o
(The other two parts of the video are in the "related videos" list)
I have, however, known a few atheists who have been court-ordered to attend AA meetings. First Amendment, anyone? In Georgia, this practice is alive and well.
2007-12-19 14:42:51 · answer #3 · answered by Snark 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
There are similar programs without that whole "accept a higher power" thing in there. Rational Recovery comes to mind.
2007-12-19 14:25:50 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
You know, I was just thinking about this. I looked it up and there have been people who have been turned down from programs like that because they're atheist or even Pagan. My mother (who's a believer in god and Jesus) said that she would very much like to start a secular program that anyone could come to.
2007-12-19 14:25:21 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
I've never been to an A.A. meeting because I hate drinking. But if you need it your higher power can be anything you want it to be. (The flying spaghetti monster?) Do this for yourself. Close your ears if someone in the group says something like "With God's help, I was able to........."
2007-12-20 00:59:12 · answer #6 · answered by pkvan 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I'm pretty sure the rest of the AA program will work for an atheist.
2007-12-19 14:23:43 · answer #7 · answered by Nate Lynch 3 · 1⤊ 1⤋
It wouldn't work for an atheist. An atheist can find a therapist that practices rational emotive therapy (RET), or an atheist can join Rational Recovery, a substance abuse program that has no "higher power".
http://rational.org/
2007-12-19 14:27:33 · answer #8 · answered by Robin W 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Maybe you can replace "higher power" with a cause that is important to you.
Perhaps a desire to "help fund AIDS research" would give a person the strength needed to overcome his addiction.
just a thought.
2007-12-19 14:28:15 · answer #9 · answered by Gamla Joe 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Only your Higher Power can answer that for you.
Seriously though,the term can refer to god or even just programming your super-conscious or super-ego.
2007-12-19 14:31:55 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋