On this website you can find an agnostic version of the 12 steps of aa that may be helpful to atheists as well. The 12 steps and 12 traditions books helped me with this step as it is a little bit more in depth. Theyve helped save a lot of lives by providing a program of recovery. An atheists 12 steps to selfimprovement vince hawkins. The is a green book that the step meeting does to together. He also asked for a referral to a new doctor, but his union informed him it only uses addiction specialists who follow the 12step model. American author better known under the pen name of lemony snicket. This site, addicts 12 steps, is for atheist and agnostic newcomers to, and followers of, the aa 12 step program who want to give up problem drinking, drugging, gambling, overeating or sex, to name five examples, but who are put off by the god stuff in the. Alcoholism12 step support can an atheist work the aa 12 steps. Aas famous 12 step programme evolved from the tenets of a now forgotten evangelical christian.
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. For a liberating approach to aas 12step program of recovery, you might want to consider the little book. As a freethinker, or at least someone who values thoughtful inquiry and constant questioning, i decided to sit down and rewrite the 12 steps in language. On this website you can find an agnostic version of the 12steps of aa that may be helpful to atheists as well. We strive to provide information, tools and resources for working a 12 step program or any program using 12 step principles for recovery in as simple and effective way as possible.
At the moment i am at step 3, but because of my strict religious upbringing i am at loggerheads with it. How would an atheist work the 12 steps of recovery. There are comments off on welcoming the atheist into the 12step room tagged 12 step programs, atheists, tips and tricks as christians in recovery, we understand the. Find all uses of this word in the big book alcoholics anonymous and the twelve steps and twelve traditions of a. This atheist has learned a lot from 12step programs. The 12 steps for agnostics and atheists general adult. 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. It removes any references to god or a higher power in the 12 steps. How does an atheist successfully work through a 12step. Special resources for atheists in recovery sober nation. Unknown, an illumination of bernard writing the 12 steps of pride in 1 ad on benedicts 12 steps of humility see 12 steps 1500 years page on this website. Atheist in big book alcoholics anonymous, 12 steps and 12. He cannot attain in even a small degree the assurance of the. Theres no denying a 12 step modality works for many.
Ive also some friends there that came in atheists or agnostics, and found god andor reconnected to the religious paths of their youth including fundie baptist. As a program of selfdiagnosis, selfmotivation, and selfaction, each individual is free to interpret the 12 step program according to their own point of view, or ignore the 12 steps completely. Second, to get sober and to stay sober, you dont have to swallow all of step two right now. Aug 16, 20 why choose a 12 step program over something more rational andor secular. The traditions help make it a safe place to share and learn.
Just substitute god with your own personal definition and experience of resources external to you that help you stay sober, heal, and grow. Aug 23, 2018 there are 12step alternatives for hindus, 12step alternatives for buddhists and 12 steps for humanists. As an atheist, wood suggested alternatives to the 12 step program, including secular support groups like smart recovery and lifering secular recovery, but his doctor rejected them. I still concentrate on my own recovery, because if i am well, then i can be of value to others, but if i am sick, then i am of no use to anyone, not even myself. Alcoholism 12 step support can an atheist work the aa 12 steps. Rational recovery, smart recovery and secular organizations for sobriety sos. Step 1 we admitted we were powerless over our addiction that our lives had become unmanageable step 2 came to believe that a power.
This is twelfth step work in the very best sense of the word. 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. It is lifeless, hopeless, and is the ultimate dead end. Zindler, the editor of american atheist press, the book has 12 major chapters, plus bibliography, subject index, and numerous penandink illustrations. Everyone in the fellowship needs to define their experience of their higher power. Native american step meditation, see spirituality section of the new book. We agnostics as found in the alcoholics anonymous big book. Aug 12, 2012 for a liberating approach to aas 12step program of recovery, you might want to consider the little book. Everyone can develop their spirituality without having a belief in god. Atheist recovery twelvestep groups as religious organizations. The step 2 phrase came to believe suggests a process and a progression of faith that evolves over time. The 12 step fellowships are spiritual, not religious, recovery programs. Atheist recovery a rational look at the 12 steps of aa. Apr 15, 2018 twelve step groups as religious organizations.
How does an atheist successfully work through a 12 step program like aa. Atheist sues over being forced to attend alcoholics anonymous. Im an atheist and i was able to come to believe in power greater than myself sufficient to take the 12 steps and recover. Apr 16, 2008 so i am a member of a 12 step programyay ive been clean for 4 years. Alcoholics anonymous aa 12step program as described in the the big book, aas guide for people recovering from alcoholism, has many references to god and religious themes, and step 11 is no different. The 12 steps for agnostics and atheists general adult psychiatry. As an atheist, wood suggested alternatives to the 12step program, including secular support groups like smart recovery and lifering secular recovery, but his doctor rejected them.
Obviously, the dilemma of the wanderer from faith is that of profound confusion. Of course, an atheist can either change the 12steps to match their beliefs, or they can change their beliefs to match 12step doctrine. There are also organizations that are meant to be alternatives to aa for people who are seeking secular recovery groups or groups that are not 12step based. For the atheist, those twelve steps on the wall and in the book represent. There is no mention of religious beliefs, doctrine, or dogma in the meetings or in the approved literature. In fact, i have a book called 12 steps on the buddhas path, which is pretty killer. No religion no prayerjust warm friendly folks like you gathering together for support and sobriety. We can learn the universal, generic pattern of lifes dance from the 12 steps. Aug 27, 2007 from aas book 12 steps and 12 tradtions first, aa does not demand that you believe anything. Being an atheist does not stop me from working the program. Jul 26, 2015 there are 12step alternatives for hindus, 12step alternatives for buddhists and 12 steps for humanists. Best treatment of time travel in a movie ever, period.
There is plenty of room in the 12 step fellowships for atheists and agnostics. Handler has hinted that the baudelaires in his childrens book series a series of unfortunate events. Agnostic in big book alcoholics anonymous, 12 steps and 12. An atheists 12 steps for people put off by the god references. I found the stories in the book alcoholics anonymous, vicious cycle and tightrope to help me come to an initial understanding that the program and. The traditional 12 steps of aa has long been a dilemma for the. Of course this book may not resonate with all readers, but i recommend it highly for someone wanting a humanisticsecular path for 12 step recovery. An atheist s 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. An atheists 12 steps includes six of the secular 12 steps unaltered from the aa versions. First, we came, that is, we showed up and stumbled in the door. The age of the earth as being 6,000 years approx can be proven without any doubt to be a lie and a proof of this fact does not need to rely upon the fossil records, carbon dating or. Alcoholics anonymous, narcotics anonymous, smokers anonymous, overeaters anonymous, are all variations of the 12 step program, billed as a nondenominational rehabilitation program for people with substance abuse and other psychological, social and physical issues many in the free thinking community consider programs like alcoholics. How does an atheist successfully work through a 12step program like aa.
From aas book 12 steps and 12 tradtions first, aa does not demand that you believe anything. Its not all that different from conventional practice. An atheists 12 steps for people put off by the god. Not corrected, atheism will lead not only to bodily death a necessary step on the journey, but also mindal death, soul death, and personality extinction. 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. So i am a member of a 12 step programyay ive been clean for 4 years. Atheists are people of faith, ie they believe there is no god without any evidence proving there is no god. British author of fiction, notably the book the curious incident of the dog in the nighttime 2003 daniel handler born 1970. Atheisms dirty little secret is that it is the ideology of the walking dead. I think atheists can succeed in 12 step just as much as anyone else. Bill wilson, cofounder of aa, said that the rest of the steps keep us sober but only step 11, meditation, keeps us growing. In the 12 steps book there is a line that goes something like the hoop that you. Steps of asking for forgiveness can be a part of any human beings life.
You can get a much deeper understanding of the steps and traditions in a step meeting. A nobelievers higher power by marya hombarcher and beyond belief agnostic musings for 12 step life. This isnt like the 12 step program, i know, but i dont meant to be disrespectful. I am decidedly not religious, and i would describe myself as agnostic although not fiercely atheist. The other half dozen have been changed to remove god references and demonstrate how the program can be worked with no god.
I dont care whats in that goddamn book, the 77yearold will say laughing, you can be an atheist and stay sober. This is a unique, inspiring and helpful book for anyone regardless of belief or lack of belief who would like to work the 12 step program. There are three excellent recovery programs that do not contain the higher power component of a 12 step systems. An atheists twelve steps to selfimprovement to accompany any. Why choose a 12step program over something more rational andor secular. He also asked for a referral to a new doctor, but his union informed him it only uses addiction specialists who follow the 12 step model. A rational look at the 12 steps of aa atheist recovery. Members are not required to accept someone elses concept of god, only to trust that there is a power greater than themselves however they wish to describe it or understand it. You need to be a member of atheists, addictions, 12 step recovery, and alternatives to add comments.
There are also organizations that are meant to be alternatives to aa for people who are seeking secular recovery groups or groups that are not 12 step based. I found the stories in the book alcoholics anonymous, vicious cycle and tightrope to help me come to an initial understanding that the program and the fellowship are greater than trying to quit on my own. Secular aa offers over 520 face to face group meetings worldwide. An atheists 12 steps to selfimprovement to accompany any program want to beat drink, drug, gambling, overeating or sex addiction. He thinks himself lost to the comfort of any conviction at all. I have had issues with the god issues in the steps since i first went to aa about 6 months ago. There are 12step alternatives for hindus, 12step alternatives for buddhists and 12 steps for humanists. Mar 07, 2017 an atheists guide to 12step recovery aa agnostica. In a nutshell, step 11 says to discover the plan god, as you understand him, has for your life and find the power to carry it out. A collection of alternative 12 steps it contains 20 different versions of the steps, four secular interpretations of each step by authors like gabor mate and stephanie covington, templates so the reader can write his or her own personal version of the steps, and an essay on the. As the authors, arlys g and martha cleveland, so wonderfully put it in this pioneering work.
Feb 15, 2015 i think a lot of people confuse 12 step as being a religious program, but it is not. Another important book for atheists and agnostics in aa is the alternative 12 steps. Just resign from the debating society and quit bothering yourself with such. A secular guide to recovery, by martha cleveland and arlys g. In the 12 steps book there is a line that goes something like the hoop that you have to jump through is a lot wider than it looks.
In 2017, there were an estimated 117,000 meetings worldwide, with an approximate membership of over 2 million. Step 1 we admitted we were powerless over our addiction that our lives had become unmanageable step 2 came to believe that a power greater than. They have helped me develop a theory that i think of as what is really going on in recovery. The twelve steps c for research staff at the smithsonian institutes museum for the native american. Atheists, addictions, 12 step recovery, and alternatives. Any atheists that have knowledge of the steps and what you think of them.
Please dont be put off the 12 steps programme by the word god. May 18, 2018 the 12 step programs are spiritual, not religious. A secular alternative program to the 12 steps of alcoholics anonymous for. It removes any references to god or a higher power in the 12steps. Heres how i found recovery without god and the 12steps. Au contraire, i think that if you have to swear on the bible in court, or sing the us anthem, or even look at the almighty dollar bill as an atheist this can b trying and awkward, not to mention downright humiliating at times. I would suggest that you ask around the group if anyone has done a step meeting and what their experience was. May 18, 2018 alcoholics anonymous aa 12 step program as described in the the big book, aas guide for people recovering from alcoholism, has many references to god and religious themes, and step 11 is no different.
P86 the god world agnostic and atheist members in a. He cannot attain in even a small degree the assurance of the believer, the agnostic, or the atheist. Step 11 is about meditation see step 5, meditation of my book 6 basic living skills which gives me the direction and energy to carry out step 12. 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. I think a lot of people confuse 12 step as being a religious program, but it is not. Narcotics anonymous, cocaine anonymous, marijuana anonymous, 12 step drug and alcohol treatment programs, and all other 12 step groups are, in terms of ideology, carbon copies of alcoholics anonymous.
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