"We are not allied with any sect or denomination" - Really?
Greg L. Richardson
Just for the sake of doing it, I've decided to post the 12 steps. It is
taken from my .plan, so it includes some of the modifications that I've
made. Hopefully, this will spark some discussion about Christianity vs.
Higher Power. For instance, I personally have an issue with saying the
Lord's Prayer at the end of meetings. Could you imagine the intolerance
that old timer's would show if I were to suggest that we recite a Jewish,
Muslim, American Indian, Buddhist etc... prayer at the end of a meeting.
I personally find a problem with the fact that AA says that it is not
allied with any sect or denomination and then recites, in unison, a prayer
that was created in a mainstream religion of our time.
I'm not saying I know better, I'm just expressing concern that we, as an
organization that is attempting to show spiritual guidance, have a very serious
contradiction at the core of our existence.
Here is the first part of Chapter Five from the Big Book of AA as I've taken
it to mean:
Rarely have we seen a person fail who has thoroughly followed our path.
Those who do not recover are people who cannot or will not completely give
themselves to this simple program, usually men and women who are
constitutionally incapable of being honest with themselves. There are such
unfortunates. They are not at fault; they seem to have been born that way.
They are naturally incapable of grasping and developing a manner of living
which demands rigorous honesty. Their chances are less than average. There
are those, too, who suffer from grave emotional and mental disorders, but
many of them do recover if they have the capacity to be honest.
Our stories disclose in a general way what we used to be like, what happened,
and what we are like now. If you have decided you want what we have and are
willing to go to any length to get it - then you are ready to take certain
steps.
At some of these we balked. We thought we could find an easier, softer way.
But we could not. With all the earnestness at our command, we beg of you to
be fearless and thorough from the very start. Some of us have tried to hold
on to our old ideas and the result was nil until we let go absolutely.
Remember that we deal with cocaine and alcohol - cunning, baffling, powerful!
Without help it is too much for us. But there is One who has all power - that
One is your Higher Power. May you find It now!
Half measures availed us nothing. We stood at the turning point. We asked
Its protection and care with complete abandon.
Here are the steps we took, which are suggested as a program of recovery:
1. We admitted we were powerless over Cocaine and all other mind-
altering substances - that our lives had become unmanageable.
2. Came to believe that a Power greater than ourselves could restore
us to sanity.
3. Made a decision to turn our will and our lives over to the care of
our Higher Power.
4. Made a searching and fearless moral inventory of ourselves.
5. Admitted to our Higher Power, to ourselves, and to another human
being the exact nature of our wrongs.
6. Were entirely ready to have our Higher Power remove all these
defects of character.
7. Humbly asked It to remove our shortcomings.
8. Made a list of all persons we had harmed, and became willing to
make amends to them all.
9. Made direct amends to such people wherever possible, except when to
do so would injure them or others.
10. Continued to take personal inventory and when we were wrong promptly
admitted it.
11. Sought through prayer and meditation to improve our concious contact
with our Higher Power, praying only for knowledge of Its will for us
and the power to carry that out.
12. Having had a spiritual awakening as a result of these steps, we
tried to carry this message to addicts and alcoholics, and to
practice these principles in all our affairs.
Many of us exclaimed, "What an order! I can't go through with it." Do not be
discouraged. No one among us has been able to maintain anything like perfect
adherence to these principles. We are not saints. The point is, that we are
willing to grow along spiritual lines. The principles we have set down are
guides to progress. We claim spiritual progress rather than spiritual
perfection.
Our description of the alcoholic and addict, the chapter to the agnostic, and
our personal adventures before and after make clear three pertinent ideas:
(a) That we were alcoholic addicts and could not manage our own lives.
(b) That probably no human power could have relieved our alcoholism or
addiction.
(c) That our Higher Power could and would if It were sought.
I'd also like to extend a hand of thanks to you, recovering people as a whole.
Without you, I wouldn't have a glimpse of what happiness really is.
BTW, I had 6 months on the 9th!!!
With Thanks and Love,
Greg
David Hawkins
groups use it, some don't. In my area, here in California, it's
possible to find groups that don't use it and just attend those, if
that's my inclination.
In other words, it's not a mandate from AA World Services that causes
come groups to use that prayer -- it's the members of those groups.
They can change their minds if they wish.
later, david
--
David Hawkins dh...@netcom.com
"The chain which can be yanked is not the eternal chain."
-- Gordon Fitch
David Delaney Palmer
we do not recite the Lord's pray. IMO that prayer is outwardly biased
towards Christianity.
Blessed be,
David
--
call david@cscwam,cville,wor,avw
- a quote here
James Jerpseth
that I, and only I, know how the 12 steps should be re-wriiten.
To be the only one qualified to re-write a program for millions
of people in my own image and needs.
Oh, to not have to listen to silent millions that have recovered
and made my recovery possible. To be able to ignore history and
all of the AA literature that says this battle over the word
God was fought long ago and resolved. (The 12 steps, as revised
by that discussion in 1938, are what we have today.)
Oh, to be new again, and beleive the fallacy of treatment
centers and well meaning "professionals" who would tell us that
all compulsive behaviour is identical and that we can all
sit together in one large happy circle identifying not with
each others particular disease, malady or illness but with humanity
as a whole. That it is our obligation to preach the 12 steps
to all of humanity and save everyone from everything. Say
goodbye to the traditions and do things my way, or my therapist's
way.
Oh, to be new again, what a dream, what a nightmare, a terrible time
of arrogance and mis-directed good intentions. Thank God it over!
James
Terrance Heath
>With regards to the Lord's Prayer: that's up to each group. Some
>groups use it, some don't. In my area, here in California, it's
>possible to find groups that don't use it and just attend those, if
>that's my inclination.
In the meetings I've attended here in Athens GA, some of them
are closed with the Lord's Prayer, some are closed with the Serenity
Prayer, and some are closed with the "We" version of the Serenity
Prayer. And there is always the option of using a silent prayer of
one's own choosing.
--
"Black men loving black men is THE revolutionary act!"
-Joseph Beam_
Terrance Heath
he...@athena.cs.uga.edu
Jim Puckett
> There are groups of recovering Pagans that use the 12 steps, but
>we do not recite the Lord's pray. IMO that prayer is outwardly biased
>towards Christianity.
Recoverying Pagans - does that mean that they are recovering from
Paganism? 8-)
love and service,
jim p.
--
Jim Puckett NTI puc...@lambda.msfc.nasa.gov
Madison,AL (205)461-4922
i need to ask myself.....
*********** Would I rather be right, or happy? ***********
David Delaney Palmer
>po...@wam.umd.edu (David Delaney Palmer) writes:
>
>> There are groups of recovering Pagans that use the 12 steps, but
>>we do not recite the Lord's pray. IMO that prayer is outwardly biased
>>towards Christianity.
>
>Recoverying Pagans - does that mean that they are recovering from
>Paganism? 8-)
>
No, it is a group of people recovering from chemical addictions
that have the saame spiritual beleifs. The main difference is we pray to
many Dieties rather than just one; they include male and female ones.
--
***************************** po...@wam.umd.edu ****************************
Still looking for an interesting quote.
Robert Hartman
>Oh for the nievette of 6 months, to believe deep in my heart
>that I, and only I, know how the 12 steps should be re-wriiten.
>To be the only one qualified to re-write a program for millions
>of people in my own image and needs.
Hmmm. Last I heard, the program was primarily _for_ newcomers, and
that what we oldtimers are there for is to remember why we came in the
first place. When I was a newcomer, one of the things I most
appreciated was a chance to be heard out, and to have my perspective
acknowledged and validated--or at very least, respected. If my views
had been pooh-poohed like this, I'd still be actively addicted. Why?
Because I would have felt that my needs wouldn't get met in the
program--and if my needs in life aren't going to get met anyway, I
might as well do what I like.
Everyone's program is different. Everyone's needs are different. When
I first came into the program, one of the things I had to do to further
my recovery was to fire God. I HAD TO FIRE GOD! Why? Because concept
of God that I acquired through a fundamentalist Christian sect was so
judgemental, so viscious, and so uncaring, that as long as I continued
any relationship with Him my recovery was doomed. So I FIRED HIM!
Needless to say, regardless of all those other millions of people (and
I wonder how many of whom might also have similar trouble with the
Christian influence in the program), personally, I HAD TROUBLE WITH IT,
and for the record, after four years I STILL HAVE TROUBLE WITH IT. And
in every meeting I've been to where the issue has come up, there's been
at least one other person besides myself who agrees with me.
To me, the most important thing to remember about the program is that
it isn't perfect. It works well enough that it doesn't have to be
perfect. If it's perfect for you, fine. But please do me the kindness
of remembering that it isn't perfect for _me._ There are things about
it I don't like, that aren't good for me, but that I put up with for
the sake of the things that _are_ good for me. On the whole it's a
win for me, but if I could change certain things, I would.
And so, as one of those millions who's had to put up with The Lord's
Prayer (just what I need in an HP, ... a "lord" ... no thanks!), please
remember that I am tolerating this sectarian intrusion into my program
for the sake of _your_ recovery. I'd appreciate a little respect for
my position and those who feel as I do.
At a minimum, please do me the kindness of never using that sort of
line on a newcomer again.
Thank you,
Robert Hartman
Darren Littlejohn
Well Robert, I certainly understand and empathize with your position. It's
OK. Don't let the Die Hards dysfunctional thinking stop you from YOUR
recovery. There is an interesting book called Recoverying CAtholics by
Larsen that I recommend. I have appointed myself the messenger of
New Age Metaphysical recovery. I talk about total recovery and various
other nasty topics like therapy and Zen in every meetint I can. I sat with
some old timers the oterh day (Xmas day) and told them they were rigid and
narrowminded. (one word?)We had a long talk to discover that we really dont
disagree TOO much at heart. It's just the language that is used that
is kind of hard to deal with sometimes, and the lack of openmindedness
too alternatives.....borne of fear.
--
"The Harvests are plentiful, the laborers few" Jesus Christ
"what you're lookin' for, you're lookin' with!" Chuck C.
George
I still consider myself a Christian, but I get to let go of my old
fears, guilts, and pain.
George
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Sue Sanders
give it away to keep it but I have to continue to work on myself and AA
helps me to do that. I am constantly changing, constantly my god is
revealing more to me.
Oh, and by the way, when I was five years sober I had to play on a newcommer
volleyball team. Where I come from I'm still not an oldtimer and I have
9 years. Quite frankly, I prefer to be kept humble that way.
Sue