August 13, 2011
Not the “God” Word 10
It never ceases to amaze me how every time I’m in a meeting and someone says God instead of higher power there’s always at least one person that cringes or has something to say under their breath. And it’s not always newcomers, that’s the amazing part. You see, it’s become almost taboo because we don’t want to offend someone. However, God is mentioned in the A.A. steps and literature. We don’t push religion, we do push God! And yes you can call it whatever you want, but God is a non-denominational characterization of a power greater then ourselves, and without the recognition of that power we could not progress in our recovery.
In my opinion in and out of the rooms these days that is a large problem with society in general: Everybody is too afraid to offend someone, especially when it comes to the God topic. In the rooms, I do not push my religion but I do use the word God. And I’m not afraid to either, as it should be for everybody. I even say amen after we pray out! OMG! I’m terrible, right? I mean it is a prayer, isn’t it?
One of the beautiful things of our program is that you don’t have to do or say what I do and say. My program is my program and I know it would not work for everyone; therefore, I have God to draw on when it comes to giving it away, because really it’s his program not mine! Wow, did I just say that aloud? Get the pitchforks!
It’s true though. I mean, do you really think that two drunks all those years ago are the true creators of 12-step programs? Or that Jimmy K. didn’t feel comfortable in the rooms of A.A. for the greater good of millions of others for a reason? God has been pushing, shaping, and moving these things for a reason, and that reason isn’t to be pushed to the sideline and ignored. Let’s give our thanks and our gratitude where it belongs.
Bill W., Doctor Bob and Jimmy K. — great visionaries and truly caring people as they were — still were not gods, they were just mere men, and even they were created by something. Everything we see and touch was created by something at some point — even the keyboard I’m typing on now. With the keyboard I can trace its origins back to a factory, and then the material for that keyboard to another factory, and those ingredients back to another factory, and those back to some plant, and that back to the earth at some point. Well, where did that come from?
You see if we know that everything has to be created somehow, then why is it so hard for us to concede to the fact that there is a God? Because I know neither anybody nor I create some things, but they are there for me to see and touch. That’s the whole problem with the big bang theory is where did this “matter” that was just floating around in space that exploded to create the universe come from? It had to be created, and I know I can’t create it. Therefore, it had to be created by something more powerful then myself, something beyond my comprehension: God!
Aug 16, 2011 @ 17:09:42
When I came to the rooms, the word God almost drove me right out the door. In my life, God and religion were the same and anything but benevolent. I know I’m not alone. For me, the key was realizing that my higher power is a god of MY own understanding. It’s my relationship, my concept, and personal to me. http://www.intherooms.com/addiction/finding-my-higher-power/
Aug 16, 2011 @ 17:10:30
My Higher Power is Jesus Christ and I won’t deny Him for anyone. Offended or not.
Aug 17, 2011 @ 06:04:29
This guy eloquently states my opinion on the subject.
Anyone who feels they may be on the hotseat of an intervention or is being pressured to participate or convert to the AA faith should watch and learn from this vid.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1uTypnaP5X4&feature=feedf
Aug 17, 2011 @ 10:46:39
I know God exists and has been in my life forever, especially when I got serious about getting sober and sincerely asked Him to help me while sitting in a jail cell facing some heavy charges. The love I felt from My father was too much for words, he came to me and wrapped me up tight in His love, I WAS HEALED THEN AND THERE, it was like being cleansed from top to bottom or washed clean, new day, new life, the past was gone, all the guilt, remorse, self pity disappeared in a millisecond. I know there is a God and I am not it, He saved me from certain death.
Aug 18, 2011 @ 00:35:28
I have cobbled together my own personal faith in a Higher Power who brings me great comfort. Actually, my interest in literature in college got me interested in world religions, so I wound up double majoring in both English and Religious Studies (I grew up in a family of atheists). Organized religion has always been problematic for me for a variety of reasons, but I do have a simple faith there’s something greater in the Universe than me, a sense that things happen for a reason, a sense that we are here for a purpose. My Higher Power is a loving spirit at the head of no one particular faith. I borrow things I like from the various religions–my sponsor is a practicing Buddhist. I find meditation, teachings about suffering and non-attachment, to be helpful. I also like many of Jesus’ teachings. I like the strong sense of tradition and community in Judaism. I like the devotion to family found in Islam. Faith gives me the desire to move away from self-pity, resentment, anger, and a place of self-centeredness into the joy of serving others. It’s here I’ve found peace of mind and contentment. I no longer despair; my life is filled with meaning. Carl Jung said that part of human nature is a hunger for the Transcendent; he speculated that addiction its his cravings, that irrational drive to fill some hole in yourself, in his own observations in working with patients seemed to him to be best filled (and more healthily so) by filling the hunger for the Transcendent instead. I can’t say that I’ll ever really fully understand who or what or how or where God is, but I will say the more He/She/It operates in my life, the better I feel.
Aug 18, 2011 @ 10:07:43
As an agnostic, I am one of those who “cringe” at the mention of god. That is because, for the most, part god and organized religion are inextricably connected. For those who are comforted in their belief in their god I say good for you. It has been my experience that the majority of people who profess a belief in god are looking to abrogate responsibility for their lives and actions. Saying that everything that occurs in the world is “gods will” is nothing short of foolish and delusional in my opinion. Also, if this “god” were on the job and omnipotent, this world would not be in as screwed up a condition as it is. As I accept your right to your belief, in return, I expect the same respect and tolerance. Proselityzing in the Fellowships, insisting that one day I will “get god” is insulting to me. Even this conversation carries a hint of promotion of god. Enough. The choice of a Higher Power is very personal. The less I hear about “god” the better I like it. So please remember, everyone does not share or appreciate all the extra god talk. I realize it’s part of the process for the majority, and don’t want the literature changed in the name of political correctness. Just hold your faith like you would a winning hand of cards…close to the vest.
Aug 18, 2011 @ 16:47:18
Take what you need, leave the rest.
Aug 21, 2011 @ 23:29:45
AA is NOT, I repeat NOT a religious program. So then why to overly zealous, militant Christians ram their beliefs down your throat. Don’t they realize this is offensive? As a non-christian I find this very offensive and NOT a part of AA.
Aug 24, 2011 @ 18:23:07
AA critics call us a religion in denial. I think what makes people cringe is proselytizing or the fear of “oh no, here it comes.” I don’t think AA is trying to convert people to Christian/Judeo faith but we feign empathy for atheists by acting like we understand where they are coming from. The tragic flaw of AA is the erroneous conclusion that everyone who resisted God at one time was atheist then and to get sober must slowly come around.
Bill Wilson wanted to be inclusive but he had faith-arrogance slips all the time. He believed in God but didn’t believe in organized religion, fine. He had a white-light experience in detox that he called a spiritual awakening; also fine, but he also says to atheists, “I once believed as you did.” How does he know that? Atheists don’t have a singular world view. They don’t believe a deity listens to alcoholics praying, nor does He hand out serenity, wisdom or courage to all the good sober boys and girls. But beyond that I don’t know that they would agree on much, except that the 12 steps can be worked with satisfactory results in a secular way without EVER coming to belief in Allah, Jesus, Zeus, Leprechauns or what have you. In the 12 and 12 Bill says all sober atheists come to believe in something more than their group as a higher power and call God by name. What kind of LSD trip is that? It’s just not true for most people.
AA could use a new language that includes everyone. The word God just has to go if we are to be a world-wide fellowship or every start growing again. It is a polite form of discrimination to add, “as we understand Him.”
That sound blasphemous but an atheist would tell us blasphemy is a victimless crime. Hey, they way I see it is they haven’t discovered anything new about math since 1939, not at the Grades K to 8 level anyway. But every couple of years they change the language of the books because they find better ways to say what they need to say. Why can’t we start all over and use a language that no one has to cringe over?
A Perspective on “Waiting: A Nonbeliever’s Higher Power”
Sep 01, 2011 @ 23:57:04
[...] for them, lash out with equal stubbornness? Shit, I just ranted all over Chad H’s article, Not the “God” Word. I get fed up at times. I came out of the closet about not believing a God exists and Letting Go of [...]