AA for atheists, can it work?
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God and AA
Although AA is explicitly and intentionally non denominational, and accepts that every one needs to have their own interpretation of "a higher power" the fact remains the AA is very close to a Christian organization. AA is in fact so religious in nature that the Supreme Court recently ruled that courts could no longer mandate that people participate in meetings as this constitutes a violation of the separation between church and state.
So can an atheist get any benefit out of AA?
It depends…and many can, and many cannot. AA was begun about 80 years ago by a couple of very religious guys, and it's remarkable that they had the forethought and tolerance to try to help people of all religious backgrounds. But it still is a religious organization, and a belief and a reliance on a higher power is essential for a proper working of the 12 steps.
So how can an atheist get any benefit out of AA?
People without a traditional belief in God can sometimes come to a personally acceptable alternative arrangement, and find a higher power that they feel comfortable working with, and that does help them to achieve sobriety.
One example of a higher power that some atheists have used is a form of "mother nature" or science; something unexplained and bigger than themselves.
Another way that some people can work through the steps is by using the guidance of a now dead ancestor as a higher power, and through their spirit and memory accepting guidance and praying for help.
But it has to be authentic, and you have to really believe it for it to work, and some people just can’t make the metaphysical leap to do so; and for them, unfortunately AA offers little recovery assistance.
The lesson though is that AA and other 12 steps support groups meeting are not necessarily out of the question simply because you do not share a traditional belief in God.
Give it a try
AA works very well for some people, and a lot of people either find it ineffective, or are turned off by its "cultish" feel. I've never found it cultish, but I respect the opinions and perceptions of those that do, and recovery is not something that you can force. If it doesn’t feel right…try something else until you find something that does.
But I think that because AA and other 12 steps organizations have helped so many, they are worthy of consideration, and worthy of a least a couple of investigatory meetings. You lose little by trying it, and even if you have no traditional conception of God, you may be able to find a personal and authentic alternative.
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Comments
Even if you don't believe in a higher power, give AA a try so they can work on you. If you're having serious problems because of your drinking, you're probably vulnerable. You probably want to believe in something. You'll hear from lots of caring people that an alcoholic without AA has only three options: jail, insane asylum or death. And you will learn that you can start with any higher power you want, but you can't work the steps until you accept God as your personal savior (step 3). You can't very well turn your life and will over to Mother Nature or a dead relative, etc. As the Big Book says, "many of us THOUGHT we were agnostics or atheists." Let the group work on you, you'll see the light.
eight state and federal courts have ruled on the issue as of 2001 and all have agreed that a parolee has a right to be assigned to a secular treatment program.
the Federal 7th Circuit Court in Wisconsin, 1984. the Federal District Court for Southern New York, 1994. the New York Court of Appeals, 1996. the New York State Supreme Court, 1996. the U.S. Supreme Court, 1997. the Tennessee State Supreme Court.
the Federal 2nd Circuit Court of Appeals in New York, 1996. the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit. the U.S. Court of Appeals, Seventh District, 1996. the Federal Appeals Court in Chicago, 1996. The Federal Appeals Court in Hawaii, September 7, 2007, in the Inouye v. Kemna caseGriffin v. Coughlin
Theres enough to tide anyone over. State mandated aa or NA meetings are a violation of the first amendment.. with a few exceptions.
I have attended 12 step meetings for 7 years and I am an agnostic. BUT...i feel that if someone feels like their freedom from religion is being infringed upon they have the RIGHT to have secular alternativea
I don't believe in God and I have been sober for 21 years in AA.
I have been castigated and confronted by narrow-minded members who are more concerned with their own fears than helping keep others sober.
If you are new and an atheist (or for that matter, anything other than Judeo-Christian), find someone like me as a sponsor and you will find tremendous help in AA, from emotional support to the most vital trip through the steps.
I need God and God needs me.
Alcoholics can get sober without god, since there is none. Bill was wrong about self-will; but we must direct our will toward what keeps us sober. A higher power must necessarily be something that exists, or it is no power at all. This is a support group for atheists in Alcoholics Anonymous. atheist-aa@googlegroups.com
The url will get you to an atheist AA google group.
I think that all the negative and derogatory statements about Atheists in the AA Literature that is still used today can not be healthy for a Atheist. If AA is the only Recovery option available for a person, I would tell them to use it and avoid the meetings that uses the worse of the reading material. If possible find and goto a Secular meeting like Lifering
I am an atheist and I go to AA meetings, they've helped me. I've been sober for 14 years, without god. In Chicago there is a regular Atheist/Agnostic AA group, it has been meeting continuously for 35 years. AA concepts have helped me, and being able to go to meetings is part of what keeps me sober. My life went from absolute suffering to normal productive reality. I couldn't be more pleased with my sobriety and AA played a big part in that. What I know about recovery I learned from the wonderful people I met in AA.
AA is known as a christian group.. however, phrases like "let go and let God" can actually be thought of by atheiests as something such as, "Let go and let things happen themselves"
After 18 months in AA an old-timer told me that if I didn't get the God part I'd never stay sober. Until that point I had been fearful that AA would not work for me, and had been earnestly seeking some kind of higher power, with no luck. The old-timer's admonition set me free; I quit worrying about finding a higher power, and set about using AA to simply stay sober. No sponsor, only doing those of the twelve steps I felt comfortable with, talking about my atheism in meetings, and after 15+ years I'm still sober and going to meetings. This approach is decidedly not popular among traditional practitioners of AA, but those with more open minds seem to appreciate what I say. One or two even insist that I work a more perfect spiritual program than anyone they know. I haven't figured that out, but it doesn't worry me, either. I'm also convinced that I've helped a few other (closet) atheists stay sober. Take what you can use, and leave the rest.
One can be an atheist or agnostic in AA. I've been in AA and sober for 10+ years and don't believe in God. I don't think that there is something out there that has a will for me. Yet, I love AA and it has been a big help to me. If you don't want to believe in God, then don't. You can still be a part of AA. "The only requirement for membership is a desire to stop drinking." At first it was difficult for me to be in AA with my beliefs, but not anymore, and the program has helped me to accept people with different points of view. When I talk about my lack of belief in God some newcomers thank me. Some of these newcomers stay around and some don't. Most who stay around "come to believe" but some don't. Hopefully my comments have helped someone.
One more thing. My dad was about as bad a drunk as anyone can be. Then at about the age of 65 he quit. Yet, he was an atheist and didn't go to meetings. He did not end up being a "dry drunk." He was a great guy and more power to him. I prefer AA.
This article is as bad as the chapter to the agnostic. And as bad as people in AA that think I'm just not getting it. I have been sober for 22 years. It's the believers that just don't get it. Can't we just agree to disagree and move on. Recovering Addict seems to think that I won't retain sobriety without a "higher power"..........geez 22 years. maybe someday I'll come to my senses.
mike says:
2 years ago
there has been no such supreme court ruling