I think the folks here who preach that AA is spiritual and not religious are worse than the evangelicals. At least I can clearly think “I want no part of that” when approached by them. But its the “take what you need and leave the rest” crowd who make people who are at odds with AA’s requirement of a Higher Power feel like there is something intrinsically wrong with having doubts. I know I did.

I can’t tell you how many times I was told I was too smart for my own good for questioning aa. That is why i kept drinking the AA members told me. I’m starting to figure out that maybe I was too alcioholic for my own good. I haven’t been able to stay sober on my own. I go to a lot of meetings and hear my own story fromthe mouths of others. And I’ve actually taken an interest in the struggles and triumphs of others! What a great way to break the denial and islocation of addiction.

Peer support is wonderful and I think secularity is key to the group I go to. It’s too bad AA isn’t more that way. Too often at AA peer support is more or less peer indoctrination.

Loco

As for Bill,and the Bible… [Hey! Alliteration!] I work with my friends as per their religion or spirituality also. I think it’s wonderful to be able to do this instead of trying to convince them “such and such” is the only way and they are wrong.

But when I come into an AA meeting I speak in a general way so as to avoid isolating any denomination, religion or sect. “Our common welfare should come first. Personal recovery depends on AA unity.” Don’t you LOVE that?

:)

My original sponsor, a fabulous woman dedicated her experience and strength to me - taught me to think for myself against what the original homegroup was teaching. As a result, I remain sober and somewhat successful in my spiritual growth and serenity despite my obvious bumps along the way.

Friends I originally met when I came into AA…and pardon this term but were more AA Nazi’s preaching what you *better* do and how *Jesus* will save your soul and if you didn’t find the God as THEY understood God you would be drunk…

Well, there is a high turnover rate with those sorts it seems. Of course, I have spoken at length with many of them seeing about Codependent recovery. [As it seems those sorts of people are never more at counterfeit peace than when they are telling other people what they need to do.] :-)

I love you sis. THANKS for dropping by!!

Drop by some more k?

Yesterday I met with a sponsee and she made the comment about her 4th step we’re on. “When we just have to know that the things we did were wrong…” [Imagine my trying to tiptoe around this one with MY philosophy/religion not believing in wrong or right….right?] So I ended up saying, “I think of it as not doing something as skillfully as I could have had I had different tools.”

She - being a Christian - LOVED it! I was grateful. Then I went on to say “…and this is where we look at our own moral code and see where we fell short.” I told her it didn’t matter if her kids weren’t okay with something she expressed concern over because she was okay with it.

I couldn’t help but recall this as I read your message based on this post. Feeling like I have to make it clear to people I’m not a “burn yourself in shame Christian.” I think, Cathy, that you have given me another epiphany: That I do not have to make it clear. My actions and words will implicitly reveal me to be who I am. Probably only because I am sober. ;)

Remember back in drinking telling people who we were because our actions and words were NOT lining up? LoL I think that today I can let go of that old idea…it’s really, for me, a symptom of my past drinking and spindoctoring your thoughts of me. Today I match up for the most part and I thank God and sobriety and AA for that.

Thanks for passing it on girlfriend!
Love,
Samsara