Different Approach to Staying Sober

We had some people there from a group in Brisbane who dont worry about the spiritual side of the program or the steps and that is my first experience with a group like that. They didnt joing in the serenity or the Lords Prayer! The National Office committee were trying to take them off the AA meeting list as they dont believe in the Big Book either! I found it weird.
Talking to others after the meeting, I found out there are groups like this in usa too. I felt sorry for one young newcomer who was with them as he was "white knuckling it" and has had numerous relapses - if only he did the steps hey? But the ones who shared except for that group, shared about the steps and God, so maybe that will help him.
I am not judging them, but I dont know how you do the program without the big book, steps and the spiritual side. They talked about being positive, staying focused and setting goals and i am all for being positive but found it quite strange.
I couldn't even stay sober for the first 7 weeks of attending AA meetings until I finished the 12 steps! so I would have died "out there" if I followed this type of sobriety.
Have you had this type of recovery group experience?

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Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by kismet on May 25, 2009 at 4:46am

That doesnt sound like any AA group I have seen before. It sounds more like some other type of recovery program like SOS or rational recovery. It's weird that they even wanted to be on the AA meeting list. I have been to plenty of meetings where folks didnt work the steps, however! In fact, I believe that a lot do not...

Permalink Reply by Aussie Glenda Truss on May 25, 2009 at 6:41am

apparently they go AA meetings to get "recruits" to their way of getting sober -
it was actually quite unsettling to talk to them!
kismet said:

That doesnt sound like any AA group I have seen before. It sounds more like some other type of recovery program like SOS or rational recovery. It's weird that they even wanted to be on the AA meeting list. I have been to plenty of meetings where folks didnt work the steps, however! In fact, I believe that a lot do not...

Permalink Reply by Friend_of_Bill_W on May 26, 2009 at 11:53am

Spiritual side?

Hmmmmmmm - I didn't know there was anything non-Spiritual about Our Program . . .

Permalink Reply by Aussie Glenda Truss on May 27, 2009 at 5:24am

yeah me either Mark lol !!

Permalink Reply by Frank Mazzola on May 31, 2009 at 4:07pm

patty m. said:

IN MY UNDERSTANDING OF THIS WHEN PEOPLE REFER TO THE SPIRITUAL PART OF THE PROGRAM I GET THE HEEBIJEEBIS . THIS PROGRAM IS BASED SOULY ON GOD . HE EITHER IS OR ISNT. EITHER YOU BELEIVE OR YOU DONT.ETC. IN ORDER TO RECOVER ONE MUST HAVE A SPIRITUAL EXPERIENCE AND THE ONLY WAY TO DO THAT IS TO PUT THE WORDS INTO ACTIONS , THE WAY BILL AND BOB WROTE THEM . HAVING HAD A SPIRITUAL EXPERIENCE ""AS THE RESULT""" OF DOING THESE STEPS WE CARRY THE MESSAGE. DID YOU KNOW THAT YOU CAN BE CURED FROM ALCOHOLISM IN THE COMFORT OF YOUR OWN HOME NOW.THERE AR EBOOKS AND TAPES AVAIL. HOW SAD I DRANK IN THE COMFORT OF MY HOME ALL BY MYSELF TOO. AND I CAN GO TO THE LIBRARY AND LEARN TO BE A RESPONSIBLE DRINKER HEE HEE. BUT I CANT LIVE AS GOD INTENDS ME TO IF I DONT BELEIVE. JUST MY OPINION

Permalink Reply by Frank Mazzola on May 31, 2009 at 4:07pm

Frank Mazzola said:

patty m. said:
IN MY UNDERSTANDING OF THIS WHEN PEOPLE REFER TO THE SPIRITUAL PART OF THE PROGRAM I GET THE HEEBIJEEBIS . THIS PROGRAM IS BASED SOULY ON GOD . HE EITHER IS OR ISNT. EITHER YOU BELEIVE OR YOU DONT.ETC. IN ORDER TO RECOVER ONE MUST HAVE A SPIRITUAL EXPERIENCE AND THE ONLY WAY TO DO THAT IS TO PUT THE WORDS INTO ACTIONS , THE WAY BILL AND BOB WROTE THEM . HAVING HAD A SPIRITUAL EXPERIENCE ""AS THE RESULT""" OF DOING THESE STEPS WE CARRY THE MESSAGE. DID YOU KNOW THAT YOU CAN BE CURED FROM ALCOHOLISM IN THE COMFORT OF YOUR OWN HOME NOW.THERE AR EBOOKS AND TAPES AVAIL. HOW SAD I DRANK IN THE COMFORT OF MY HOME ALL BY MYSELF TOO. AND I CAN GO TO THE LIBRARY AND LEARN TO BE A RESPONSIBLE DRINKER HEE HEE. BUT I CANT LIVE AS GOD INTENDS ME TO IF I DONT BELEIVE. JUST MY OPINION

Permalink Reply by Frank Mazzola on May 31, 2009 at 4:08pm

Frank Mazzola said:

Frank Mazzola said:
patty m. said:
IN MY UNDERSTANDING OF THIS WHEN PEOPLE REFER TO THE SPIRITUAL PART OF THE PROGRAM I GET THE HEEBIJEEBIS . THIS PROGRAM IS BASED SOULY ON GOD . HE EITHER IS OR ISNT. EITHER YOU BELEIVE OR YOU DONT.ETC. IN ORDER TO RECOVER ONE MUST HAVE A SPIRITUAL EXPERIENCE AND THE ONLY WAY TO DO THAT IS TO PUT THE WORDS INTO ACTIONS , THE WAY BILL AND BOB WROTE THEM . HAVING HAD A SPIRITUAL EXPERIENCE ""AS THE RESULT""" OF DOING THESE STEPS WE CARRY THE MESSAGE. DID YOU KNOW THAT YOU CAN BE CURED FROM ALCOHOLISM IN THE COMFORT OF YOUR OWN HOME NOW.THERE AR EBOOKS AND TAPES AVAIL. HOW SAD I DRANK IN THE COMFORT OF MY HOME ALL BY MYSELF TOO. AND I CAN GO TO THE LIBRARY AND LEARN TO BE A RESPONSIBLE DRINKER HEE HEE. BUT I CANT LIVE AS GOD INTENDS ME TO IF I DONT BELEIVE. JUST MY OPINION

Permalink Reply by Frank Mazzola on May 31, 2009 at 4:13pm

Unfortunately there are people that attend AA meetings that are agnostic-atheists etc... do not believe in GOD---Tells us in BB all about this----at the end of a meeting there are a few that do not want to share in a prayer of choice---sooooooo when I am secretary---I say "for those that care to, pls join us in a prayer" ----This allows the non-believers a chance to leave room or what ever they choose to do-----Frankie M

Permalink Reply by Friend_of_Bill_W on June 9, 2009 at 9:27am

WOW!!!

The Program IS Our Text.

A spiritual side???? - What pAArt isn't?

Permalink Reply by Rik Perkins on July 22, 2009 at 12:22pm

I just wonder how long they have stayed without drinking. I don't think that it constitutes sobriety by not drinking, having been there for years a few times myself. Until I got God into my life, my spiritualty, I didn't get sober. They might have something that works for them, I just wouldn't want any of it if it were me.

Permalink Reply by Frank B on July 29, 2009 at 11:27am

So you are saying "you" did it....without any help? If you put your trust and faith in yourself, why AA? AA is a spiritual program. That is the way it was founded...
I think you "doth protest to much" You are trying to convince "yourself" there is no "Higher Power". You need to look at your AA group and friends. They are your "Higher Power"...they are carrying you.
Do you sponser anyone? Do you do service outside of your group?
You say you have "experience, strength and hope" Do you really beleive that the Strength comes form "you"? Why didn't you have that strength before AA...And what do you base "your hope" on? Yourself?
You also state you have 12 years sober ? Then you should KNOW YOU DIDN"T DO IT ALONE.....You sort of sound like a 12 year old. you are just rebelling. GROW UP and admit YOU didn't do get sober all by "YOURSELF" and without a "Highr Power"....
I truly beleive that if you keep on this road of "self", "pride" and all you will be brought down. "Pride cometh before a fall"
So my suggestion. Is LET IT GO...you don't have to admit to anyone but yourself that there is a "Higher Power"..But quit try to convnice others that you "did it" without one. No one but YOU think You have that kind of Power. The rest of us just hope the best for you and that keep coming back

Non-Believer said:

I have done the steps numerous times, though, I'm sure that some would argue I didn't do them the "right" way because I don't believe in a god. I was willing to believe that the universe is greater than me and that if there is a god, I'm not it. That was all I needed to make my start.
I've found a fair bit of anti-intellectualism in AA, and this is one area that makes this trend highly apparent. Anyway, as my thinking faculties were restored, I found that I could use my brain and think for myself. Yes, AA is a spiritual program, but I think we would all agree that, "faith without works is dead." Thus, for some of us, spirituality is action. I've heard for YEARS that, "works without faith is also dead", but I don't agree. I have become sane, productive, healthy and have amazing relationships that were not possible. And, yes, I did it, not a god. Though this is anathema to many in AA, it is my experience. And, after all, our experience, strength and hope is what we share, and I have no lack of any of them.
As hard as it may be for some "believers" to believe, I apply the principles in all of my affairs, do regular inventory work and feel that I have gained a great deal from AA. I just don't need anyone to do my thinking for me. But hey, I've only been sober 12 years, what the heck would I possibly know?

Permalink Reply by Sara VP on July 29, 2009 at 12:56pm

I understand folks not wanting to use the word "God" when speaking of their spiritual life...I was like that too. I didn't use the word because I didn't want YOU to think I believed in your GOD. Actually, I believe in the power of the universe, not a being, but I don't need to convince you that mine is better.

I think having the concept of a power greater than ourselves is the key. The spiritual principles are what I use as guideposts, and all of the steps stress humility, so it really doesn't matter what words we use, but how well the program works in our daily lives.

Glenda, it's my OPINION that the program of Alcoholics Anonymous is outlined in the book and therefor anything that varies from that is not AA...it's recovery perhaps, but not AA. As Bob O. from Colorado used to say, "This is AA and we're going to be talking about God". Nuff said.