Alcoholics Anonymous

Re: Alcoholiocs Anonymous

Natasha said:
For those of you not familiar, one of the first few steps in a 12-step program is to recognize a higher power...so THAT is where this stems from. My dad has never been a very religious man and he's still not. AA, however, is the ONLY thing that has worked for him. I never thought I would live to see the day that I could say "my dad has been sober for 6 1/2 years" but I have.
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I'm very glad it's worked for him but what if you dont believe in a higher power? Should you be thrown on the scrapheap for not believing in something that cant be proved?
 
Re: Alcoholiocs Anonymous

Peter Parka said:
I'm very glad it's worked for him but what if you dont believe in a higher power? Should you be thrown on the scrapheap for not believing in something that cant be proved?
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No, I don't think you should. But if you're desperate enough to change your life, maybe you'll try anything??? And you are correct when you mention alcoholics trading 1 addiction for another. My dad's is coffee...but he was always a big coffee drinker, too.
 
Re: Alcoholiocs Anonymous

You don't have to be religious to gain a good experience from AA, you just have to be human and to believe in something. That serenity prayer they say isn't about you surrendering your life to God, it's about clearing your mind and seeing things in a reevaluated manner.

Anyone can see the intent of goodness when they look for it no matter what the AAs call themselves.
 
Re: Alcoholiocs Anonymous

Peter Parka said:
I would find it kind of arrogant to believe that I am a higher power, in some way. It seems to me like this is a subtle way to try and brainwash you into believing in a god without any factual evidence.
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What I'm saying is a higher belief in yourself that you can beat the addiction. There is absolutely nothing arrogant about that.
 
Re: Alcoholiocs Anonymous

I see it as one method for some people to get sober. There are some involved in it that believe that it is THE ONLY WAY to get sober or clean. They've adopted THE BIG BOOK as a kind of Bible and see it as a type of substitute Religion for them. The track record of AA just isn't good enough to justify such a claim. It does work for a few, but certainly not all. Most people apparently have used other methods to get sober, some of which they've come up with themselves. AA seems to have a monopoly in the U.S., but not the rest of the world. I didn't research this, it's just an opinion that I have. :D
 
Re: Alcoholiocs Anonymous

dkwrtw said:
It will only work if a person really wants to be there IMO, people who go to 'court ordered' AA meetings are wasting everyone's time.
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This is what I have a problem with, if someone is religious and wants to join their cult, fine. People with no belief should be given a similar thing without all the god stuff. :thumbup
 
Re: Alcoholiocs Anonymous

dkwrtw said:
It will only work if a person really wants to be there IMO, people who go to 'court ordered' AA meetings are wasting everyone's time.
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Well, I don't think it's a Complete waste of time, but it's better than nothing, I suppose. Most people will not Catch a desire to get sober or clean simply by going to a meeting. They have to be ready to change and want it themselves. No one can do that for you. :)
 
Re: Alcoholiocs Anonymous

Alexis said:
Well, I don't think it's a Complete waste of time, but it's better than nothing, I suppose. Most people will not Catch a desire to get sober or clean simply by going to a meeting. They have to be ready to change and want it themselves. No one can do that for you. :)
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When I went you were pressurised into saying you believe in a higher power, everyone would just stay quiet and stare at you until you said the magic words. If it was just about a desire to get sober and clean, it would probably be quite good.
 
Re: Alcoholiocs Anonymous

Peter Parka said:
When I went you were pressurised into saying you believe in a higher power, everyone would just stay quiet and stare at you until you said the magic words. If it was just about a desire to get sober and clean, it would probably be quite good.
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I don't believe in the "One Size fits all" model or mentality of AA. Maybe in some areas, they have alternatives. I hope so. Making one feel that they are "IN DENIAL" about their problem is not helpful and may hurt someone who is not comfortable with AA, but wants to get clean. :D
 
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