“Who are you to say there is no God?” In a few seconds he was overwhelmed by a conviction of the Presence of God. But there is One who has all power — that One is God.
Who am I to say there is no God Alcoholics Anonymous?
Pioneer A.A., minister’s son, and southern farmer, he asked, “Who am I to say there is no God?” takes him over long drives on bad roads. His parishioners are limited in number, but his friends are many, for to him race, creed, or social position makes no difference. It is not long before he drives up in the buggy.
How many times is God mentioned in the Alcoholics Anonymous book?
The very thought of making any modification to the book is unimaginable to AA organizationally and to its members. Consequently, the “official” AA program continues to rely on the divine, the sacred, the religious. The word “God”, or another version of “Him”, is found 281 times in the first 164 pages of the Big Book.
Who is our southern friend in AA Big Book?
Fitz Mayo, Big Book author “Our Southern Friend” pages 208-218. John Henry Fitzhugh Mayo, commonly called “Fitz” was the Big Book “Our Southern Friend.” He was among the first few to get sober in New York, probably the second after Hank Parkhurst. He has been described as a ‘blue blood” from Maryland.
Can you join AA if you dont believe in God?
You should know that regardless of your religious affiliations or no affiliations or god belief, you are welcome in AA and NA. The only requirement for membership is the desire to stop drinking or using. If you don’t like 12-step groups, there are other groups available.
Who are you to say there is no God big book?
“Who are you to say there is no God?” In a few seconds he was overwhelmed by a conviction of the Presence of God. But there is One who has all power — that One is God.
What does we agnostics mean in AA?
“We Agnostics” goes on to tell us that those who embrace spirituality will eventually encounter a spiritual awakening. The spiritual experience often comes into the conversation when discussing recovery from alcoholism and addiction, as it is seen as the very moment at which a person begins to truly embrace sobriety.
Is Big Book outdated?
It was written in the late 1930s and hasn’t changed since. It has become outdated and, in many cases, dangerous. For example, “The Doctor’s Opinion” runs just over 7 pages and remains, just as first written. It expresses the view of a doctor who never saw modern medicine.
Did Bill Wilson believe in God?
Bill Wilson, the iconic AA founder (and one of TIME magazine’s 100 most influential people of the 20th century) was himself an agnostic and an atheist at various points in his life.
Who wrote the vicious cycle in AA?
Jim Burwell Author of the story The Vicious Cycle. Jim is the author of the 2nd, 3rd & 4th Edition Big Book Story, “THE VICIOUS CYCLE.” Jim recorded this talk about the early days of Alcoholics Anonymous in Sacramento, California on June 15th, 1957.
Who is Jim in the Big Book?
James Burwell (March 23, 1898 – September 8, 1974), known as Jim B. or Jimmy B., was one of the Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) founding members. He was among the first ten members of AA on the East Coast, and was responsible for starting Alcoholics Anonymous in Philadelphia and Baltimore.
Can an atheist do a 12-step program?
All 12-step programs need to create an inclusive space for people with different religious values and beliefs. This is especially true because, when they participate, 12-step programs are just as effective for atheists as for theists.
Can you go to AA if not religious?
Is it religious? Alcoholics Anonymous has only one requirement for membership and that is the desire to stop drinking. There is room in AA for people of all shades of belief and non-belief.
What is the preamble of AA?
The AA Preamble Reads as Follows:
“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. The only requirement for membership is a desire to stop drinking.
What does AA say about higher power?
Alcoholics Anonymous
“Came to believe that a power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity.” “The alcoholic at certain times has no effective mental defense against the first drink. Except in a few cases, neither he nor any other human being can provide such a defense.
Do I now believe or am I even willing to believe?
“Do I now believe, or am I even willing to believe, that there is a Power greater than myself?” As soon as a man can say that he does believe, or is willing to believe, we emphatically assure him that he is on his way.
What page is we agnostics on?
Big Book – 1.04 Chapter 4 – We Agnostics | Alcoholics Anonymous.
Is the Big Book religious?
An alternative to AA called Smart Recovery, which was founded in 1994 and has about 600 meetings across the country, doesn’t use spirituality or religion in its program. AA is the biggest treatment program by far, with more than 2 million members.
Did Jim Burwell stay sober?
His sobriety date was June 1938 and he remained sober for 36 years, until his passing in September 1974. His story, “The Vicious Cycle“, was published in the Big Book’s 2nd through 4th editions.
What does cunning baffling and powerful mean?
In 12-Step settings, you have probably heard it referred to as cunning, baffling and powerful. This phrase is an apt description of a complicated diagnosis. Addiction goes beyond the simple action of drinking or using drugs.
Who wrote me an alcoholic in the big book?
It was primarily written by one of the founders of Alcoholics Anonymous (AA), Bill Wilson with two chapters, “To Employers” written by Henry Parkhurst.
What religion were the founders of AA?
AA’s co-founders Bill Wilson and Bob Smith were members of a Christian revival organization called the Oxford Group, which targeted the wealthy (its founder is ridiculed in this TIME cover story from 1936 as a “cultist” who wanted people to believe that “God is a millionaire”).
Is the Bible AA approved literature?
“What Conference-Approved means”
Many local A.A. central offices publish their own meeting lists. A.A. as a whole does not oppose these, any more than A.A. disapproves of the Bible or any other publications from any source that A.A.’s find useful.
Did Ebby stay sober?
Thacher struggled on and off with sobriety over the years, and ultimately died sober in Ballston Spa, New York from emphysema in 1966. He is buried in his family plot at Albany Rural Cemetery in Albany, New York.
Why did AA leave the Oxford Group?
Bill and the New Yorkers broke with the Oxford Group in 1937 or, as his wife Lois put it, “they were kicked out” for focussing too much on alcoholism and not enough on Christ.
Who was Jim on page 35 in the Big Book?
“Jim the Car Salesman,” mentioned on page 35, is attributed to be the story of Ralph Furlong, who got sober through meeting Bill Wilson.
Who wrote we agnostics in the Big Book?
In an appendix on spiritual experience, the Big Book quotes Herbert Spencer to the effect that one can only be excluded from spiritual growth if one fosters an attitude of “contempt prior to investigation.” For “We Agnostics,” the spiritual life begins in ignorance.
How does AA define spiritual?
The term ‘spirituality’, within AA, is generally considered to be non-dogmatic and open, with members encouraged to develop their own understanding and practice. Under these definitions, AA is genuinely “spiritual, rather than religious.”
What does the Bible say about dealing with alcoholics?
“I have set you free.” Alcoholism takes people captive, causing them to be a slave to drinking. Jesus sets us free. “The LORD is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.” (Psalm 34:18) Sin, including alcoholism, drags us down, weighs on our hearts, and crushes our spirit.
Can you do AA without the steps?
No Requirement to Follow the Steps in Alcoholics Anonymous
The only requirement for membership of Alcoholics Anonymous is the desire to stop drinking. This means that it is permissible to just attend the meetings without making any attempt to follow the program.
Is there a secular AA?
Secular A.A. is a movement within Alcoholics Anonymous that seeks to widen our gateway so that all who suffer may pass through and find long-term sobriety in A.A. regardless of their belief or lack of belief in a God.
Is there an AA for atheist?
AA and NA groups are built to be accessible to people of all races, genders, sexual orientations, and economic, social, and professional backgrounds (aa for atheists). All from all walks of life are welcome to attend.
What does surrender mean in addiction?
Surrender is defined as giving oneself over to something. When we think about this term in the context of active addiction, it’s clear that addiction forces us to surrender; when addiction is severe, we surrender our thoughts, our actions, our relationships, our personal fulfillment, our dreams and our successes.
What are some examples of sanity?
Sanity is the state of having a sound mind and good reasoning. An example of sanity is good mental health with a state of calmness and reason. Soundness of judgment or reason.
What does restored to sanity mean?
Being restored to sanity, as Alcoholics Anonymous puts it, is the healing of this flawed mindset. It means no longer allowing substance abuse to control us and being what our world revolves around.
Is the AA Preamble being changed?
The Preamble revision replacing the words “men and women” with the word “people” be presented to the General Service Board for approval as the new revised A.A. Preamble. It was recommended that: 5. The following theme for the 2022 General Service Conference: “A.A. Comes of Age 2.0: Unified in Love and Service.”
What is the 7th tradition in AA?
A.A.’s Seventh Tradition states: “Every A.A. group ought to be fully self-supporting, declining outside contributions.” This means that only A.A. members contribute financially to A.A. – and even A.A. members are limited in the amount they can contribute.
How do you find the power greater than yourself?
By volunteering, being sober support, doing random acts of kindness, or just being a good friend, we can often feel that sense of gratitude and hope that is similar to that feeling of comfort and faith that a Higher Power can bring.
How do I find my higher power?
How Do I Find A Higher Power?
- 1 – Be Open Minded. Listen to everything people have to say.
- 2 – Meditate. Be still.
- 3 – Pray. Personally, when I pray I don’t think anyone is listening.
- 4 -Help People. When you serve others, you are getting outside of yourself.
- 5 – Keep Searching.
What does Bedevilment mean?
Definitions of bedevilment. the act of harassing someone. synonyms: badgering, torment, worrying. type of: harassment, molestation. the act of tormenting by continued persistent attacks and criticism.
What are the 9 Bedevilments of AA?
We were having trouble with personal relationships, we couldn’t control our emotional natures, we were a prey to misery and depression, we couldn’t make a living, we had a feeling of uselessness, we were full of fear, we were unhappy, we couldn’t seem to be of real help to other people — was not a basic solution of …
What does we agnostics mean in AA?
“We Agnostics” goes on to tell us that those who embrace spirituality will eventually encounter a spiritual awakening. The spiritual experience often comes into the conversation when discussing recovery from alcoholism and addiction, as it is seen as the very moment at which a person begins to truly embrace sobriety.
What does step 2 in AA mean?
What is Step 2 of AA? “Came to believe that a Power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity.” In step 2 of AA, participants acknowledge and accept a higher power, God or otherwise, and admit that only this higher power can remove their obsession with alcohol.