Nov 08, 2018 by john huey one big hoax a view of the book one big tent published by aa grapevine. P86 the god world agnostic and atheist members in a. Pioneering atheist and agnostic aa members fought long and hard to make it explicit that belief is not a prerequisite of staying sober. Atheist alliance international aai is a global federation of atheist groups and individuals committed to educating its members and the public about. Find all uses of this word in the big book alcoholics anonymous and the twelve steps and twelve traditions of a. In 72 years of publishing, grapevine has never devoted an issue to atheist and agnostic membersuntil now. The test from the book is to go into a bar or buy some booze and have just one drink. For me, going to outpatient rehab and being scared out of my mind helped. Wilson, one of the founders of alcoholics anonymous aa. How atheists in aa climb the twelve steps without a higher. Dec 20, 2019 the above is an excerpt from the book common sense recovery. Books that are helpful to atheists, agnostics and freethinkers in recovery from. A nonprofit serving greater detroit from ferndale, mi since 1972. Aa without god alcoholics anonymous has helped millions of people recover from alcoholism.
We agnostics i n the precedingchapters you have learned something of alcoholism. The 164 and more book, ebook, and web site are all concordances which display passages from the big book alcoholics anonymous, the twelve steps and twelve traditions, and the a. Atheist alliance international aai is a global federation of atheist groups and individuals committed to educating its members and the public about atheism, secularism and related issues. Big book alcoholics anonymous chapter 4 we agnostics pages 44 57. A secular sobriety will help alcoholics and addicts to understand the fellowship and program of alcoholics anonymous without having to accept anyone elses beliefs or having to deny their own. While i appreciate the intent of aa, the people in it, and the twelve steps, i found it useless. His first fulllength book, the moscow poetry file, was published by finishing line press in.
We agnostics in the preceding chapters you have learned something of alcoholism. A freethinker in alcoholics anonymous a book this book really helped me cope with the god problem of aa and 12step fellowships in general. The big book has plenty of examples of alcoholics who abstained for years at a time, only to succumb to a mental blank spot and drink themselves to ruin. Somewhat ironically, the groups name, we agnostics, is derived from the title of the fourth chapter of the big book of alcoholics anonymous, which mainly details the reasons why the original founders of aa, bill w. Alcoholics anonymous has always prided itself on its broad availability and appeal to all, even atheists. The book was originally written as a journal by longterm member adam n. To one who feels he is an atheist or agnostic such an experience seems impossible, but to continue as he is. May 30, 2007 it sounds to me your brother in law needs a more open mind, and a more open heart. Simply put, when we do not understand how something works, we chalk it up to god. As agnostics and atheists we hold the view that our ideas should be informed by logic and reason. Aug 22, 2008 alcoholics anonymous has always prided itself on its broad availability and appeal to all, even atheists. But aa s 12step programme demanded, or at least strongly suggested. Alternatives to alcoholics anonymous friendly atheist. Narcotics anonymous, cocaine anonymous, marijuana anonymous, 12step drug and alcohol treatment programs, and all other 12step groups are, in terms of ideology, carbon copies of alcoholics anonymous.
No religion no prayerjust warm friendly folks like you gathering together for support and sobriety. As the authors, arlys g and martha cleveland, so wonderfully put it in this pioneering work. Are there atheists in alcoholics anonymous and narcotics anonymous in this video, i discuss my experience with atheism and 12 step programs. Aa beyond belief provides a space for agnostics, atheists and freethinkers in.
A collection of alternative 12 steps 20 contains 20 variations of aas stepsbuddhist, cbt, humanist, and atheist versionsthat have been used at different aa groups for over 40 years. Mar 08, 2019 somewhat ironically, the groups name, we agnostics, is derived from the title of the fourth chapter of the big book of alcoholics anonymous, which mainly details the reasons why the original founders of aa, bill w. In part because of her lifes work, alcoholism became seen as less a moral issue and more a health issue. Im a staunch atheist and the 12 steps programs kind of offend me as far as the higher power. Sorting and rendering passages in the proprietary format of the 164 and more concordance does not in any way imply affiliation with or endorsement by either alcoholics anonymous. Atheist and agnostic readers may still ask why they should seek help in alcoholics anonymous. Oct, 2016 alcoholics anonymous officially recognized atheist and agnostic membership in the october edition of grapevine, the international journal of alcoholics anonymous. This was certainly true when the book alcoholics anonymous was written in 1939.
Claims alcoholics anonymous forces participants to believe in god james lindon, an ohio atheist and humanist convicted of drug charges, filed in cleveland federal court a. The story of how many thousands of men and women have recovered from alcoholism generally known as the big book because of the thickness of the paper used in the first edition is a 1939 basic text, describing how to recover from alcoholism, primarily written by william g. That was certainly true when the book alcoholics anonymous was written in 1939. With ministers, and the worlds religions, i parted right there. When i went to my first alcoholics anonymous meeting, 15 years ago, god was and always had been the opium of the people. He has been widely anthologized and published since then. The stories told in the big book, personal testimonies in meetings and the twelve suggested steps have.
And i believe the author and her viewers could profitably refresh their memories on the facts as presented in my 46 published books and 1600 articles on alcoholics anonymous history and the christian recovery movement. Nov 29, 2015 when i went to my first alcoholics anonymous meeting, 15 years ago, god was and always had been the opium of the people. While he has got the program in spite of the god references in aas 12 steps and big book, he has encountered many agnostics and atheists who have been put. I have devoted 24 years to researching the roots and history of alcoholics anonymous. Dec 23, 2015 i went to aa after getting out of rehab and struggled with this a bit. Is there an atheist version of the adult children of.
The book is published by alcoholics anonymous world services. Alcoholics anonymous is a fellowship of men and women who share their experience, strength and hope with each other that they may solve their common problem and help others to recover from alcoholism. An atheists guide to alcoholics anonymous describes in a gentle and enriching fashion how the key ingredients of recovery are better understood today via science and secularism. The twelvestep philosophy of alcoholics anonymous aa is an integration of the early medical model of alcoholism, basic christian principles, philosophy and psychology. An atheists guide to alcoholics anonymous presents the key elements of recovery from alcoholism some of which are detailed in the 12 steps in a refreshing and nonreligious manner and is helpful to atheists, agnostics and everyone else in recovery in the fellowship of alcoholics anonymous. That book resonated with me so much, i just couldnt put it down and when i was. The above is an excerpt from the book common sense recovery. I tried a higher power being the universe or science but didnt really work. Atheist recovery twelvestep groups as religious organizations. Alcoholics anonymous, without the religion the new york. The word jesus did not appear even once in the first 164 pages of the big book. The second edition 1955 consisted of 1,150,000 copies.
The publication began in 1944, just five years after the founding of aa. An atheists unofficial guide to aa do you want to stop drinking. And the name christ occurred but one time, and that only in the kind of negative context which one would expect in a book written by an angry atheist big book pages 1011. To the uninitiated, this secular aa meeting seems the same as any. Browse the directory of online meetings alcoholics anonymous. If you are an atheist in aa and aa is your lastchance saloon, then you have to develop an authentic and powerful workaround to make sobriety breathe for you. The big book was originally published in 1939 by aa founders bill w. Bob smith, decided it was better for their recovery to go forward with god rather than without him. I have been an atheist since long before i came to a. How atheists in aa climb the twelve steps without a higher power. I suggest you get the aca materials workbook and red book and daily meditation book and edit and rewrite it im not kidding in a way that works for you and h. Very occasionally, when a human being finds themself in a position of complete mental and physical collapse, there is a fleeting moment of such tremendous intensity that it can. Claims alcoholics anonymous forces participants to believe in god james lindon, an ohio atheist and humanist convicted of drug charges, filed in cleveland federal court a lawsuit against presiding.
Apr 15, 2018 twelvestep groups as religious organizations. Experience, strength and hope the a declaration of unity god word. As an atheist activist in aa bob as also a prolific contributor to the websites aa agnostica and aa beyond belief. Sorting and rendering passages in the proprietary format of the 164 and more concordance does not in any way imply affiliation with or endorsement by either. I went on to found a couple of freethinker groups in my area before returning to traditional aa.
Narcotics anonymous, cocaine anonymous, marijuana anonymous, 12step drug and alcohol treatment programs, and all other 12step groups are, in terms of ideology, carbon copies of. I went to aa after getting out of rehab and struggled with this a bit. The only requirement for membership is a desire to stop drinking. Assessments were conducted at intake and in 3month intervals using the form 90, religious behaviors and background, and the alcoholics anonymous inventory. Alcoholics anonymous officially recognized atheist and agnostic membership in the october edition of grapevine, the international journal of alcoholics anonymous. In spite of the strong emphasis in aa on spiritual beliefs and practices, findings. Atheist in big book alcoholics anonymous, 12 steps and 12. Also, dont buy that bullshit about if you can not drink for 2 weeks you are not an alcoholic. Alcoholics anonymous aa is a world famous spiritual programme of recovery for alcoholism but can a nonexistent higher power really. If, when you honestly want to, you find you cannot quit entirely, or if when drinking, you have little control over the amount you take, you are probably alcoholic. Another important book for atheists and agnostics in aa is the alternative 12 steps.
We believe truth is best discerned through observation, experience and evidence. Grapevine, and grapevine are registered trademarks or service marks of a. Bill wilson, cofounder of aa, who in collaboration with the early members of the fellowship wrote the twelve steps and the book alcoholics anonymous. Atheist alliance international a positive voice for. We hope we have made clear the distinction between the alcoholic and the nonalcoholic. How atheists in aa climb the twelve steps without a. Aa meetings claim to be nonreligious, but every time the subject turns to faith in god or thanking god. This was quite an onerous task that took some time to complete and it is, given how bad a book this is, something i would not have taken on had the errors and misrepresentations embodied in this work been of less consequence. John hueys student work of the 60s70s was influenced by teachers in vermont such as john irving at windham college and william meredith at bread loaf. It is very tangible, and it is easy to understand and to contact. I cannot prove there is no god, because it is impossible to prove a negative statement like that. Marty mann october 15, 1904 july 22, 1980 was an early female member of alcoholics anonymous aa and author of the chapter women suffer too in the second through fourth editions of the big book of aa.
Atheist sues over being forced to attend alcoholics anonymous. This captivating book provides a wide view of the world of agnostic atheist aa. But those men were also humble enough to admit that their book should be suggestive only, and to predict that more would be understood over time. My friend has 53 years in the program and is atheist. Alcoholics anonymous, without the religion the new york times. Common sense recovery began as the journal of a longstanding member of aa during a time in his life when he was struggling to reconcile the religious language of alcoholics anonymous with his newfound atheism and. Aa beyond belief provides a space for agnostics, atheists and freethinkers in alcoholics anonymous to freely share their experience, strength and hope with each other and aa as a whole. This site, an atheists unofficial guide to aa alcoholics 12 steps, is for atheist and agnostic newcomers to, and followers of, the aa 12 step program who want to give up problem drinking, but who are put off by the god stuff in the alcoholics anonymous twelve steps. It includes a secular and nonsexist version of the first 164 pages of the big book bringing a 78 year old text into the 21st century. Page 55 of the big book basically states deep within all of us there is a fundamental concept of god. Aa beyond belief provides a space for agnostics, atheists and freethinkers in alcoholics anonymous to freely share their experience, strength and hope with each other and aa as a.
After many years he returned to writing poetry in 2011. Jun 12, 2018 are there atheists in alcoholics anonymous and narcotics anonymous in this video, i discuss my experience with atheism and 12 step programs. How can an atheist succeed in alcoholics anonymous. His book key players in aa history is a revealing account of the true stories behind the people who founded and developed alcoholics anonymous. An atheists guide to alcoholics anonymous answer addiction. We can learn the universal, generic pattern of lifes dance from the 12 steps. Norfolk, a 47yearold house painter from stevensville, md. I have the view that my higher power is a force thats the result of a change.
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