Prayers in meetings....

Comment

Comment by Alexander George Harrington on December 7, 2011 at 7:14am

I believe the Lord's prayer is there is to give hope.  God wanted us to experience "Heaven on Earth."  Once we recite this it is in remembrance of the work we have accomplished on ourselves.  "Thy Kingdom come.  Thy will be done.  On earth as it is in Heaven."  God wants us to experience Heaven on Earth.  Once we are sober, we are given the opportunity to be happy, joyous and free.  Free from the past.  Happy because of the work we put in to accomplish a state of well being within us.  And Joyous about what the future holds.  Thanks,peace,love...

Comment by Guy Lewis on July 15, 2010 at 9:00pm

By the way, if you will take the time to read my story on the main site, you will see that I was once in the “Anti” God/Prayer group.

Over time, I have come to see how vital God is to the A.A. program. I believe today, that the Steps cannot be work to the fullest until, actively seeking to learn, know and understand what God’s will really is. (See the 11th Step for clarification)

This is just my humble opinion.

Sober hugs,
Guy

Comment by Guy Lewis on July 15, 2010 at 8:54pm

Yes many things have changed in A.A. over the years, like letting treatment centers do our initial 12 Stepping. Perhaps this has a direct bearing on why less new comers stay sober the first time around and feel the need to do more research.

In the beginning of the fellowship, there we less women low bottom drunks publicly known. However, Silva K. who wrote the “The Keys of the Kingdom” was one of these women. In fact, 3 of the 1st Edition stories were written by women. In the 2nd Edition, 9 more women’s stories were added including Silva’s story. The 3rd edition saw 4 more women’s stories added. So to say women were not allowed in the club in the beginning is not really a true statement.

Concerning the use of religious material, more than just Oxford writings and publications were used. Dr. Bob, used (almost exclusively the Bible) when getting people sober or at meetings. Remember, that in his short life sober, Dr. Bob is credited for 12 Stepping more than 5000.

Another concern about removing the Lord’s Prayer from A.A., is would this be the start of removing God from A.A.? If so than the over 400 references to God in the Big Book would have to be removed, therefore, dramatically changing our basic text. This than would be another move away from the program when it worked the best (treatment Centers instead of personal 12 Stepping)

I, personally, think we should go back to the actual getting drunks sober way of presenting A.A. and not leave this vital function up to Treatment Centers and courts.

I think we need to worry less about changing what has worked for over 75 years, what someone might think and be concerned more about helping them get sober; One ex-drunk to a new comer.

This is just my humble opinion.

Sober hugs,
Guy

Comment by Robert H on July 14, 2010 at 8:38pm

Here something to think about…they didn’t let woman into AA in the beginning…also in the early AA in Los Angeles you had to be over 30 to join AA…..and if change isn’t necessary think about this , woman in India still can’t openly go to an AA meeting. The list can go on and on.
What I have learned is the group conscience is a great thing. Many minds work better than mine alone. If your group decides to use the Lord’s Prayer then by all means use, but Guy please don’t call my beliefs garbage.

Comment by Aussie Glenda Truss on July 14, 2010 at 5:45pm

I believe that what was used in the beginning is good enough for me - it has worked for 75 years so why worry about it. Most meetings here don't use the Lords Prayer but my home group where i got sober does and now I have moved, i really miss it actually.

Comment by Rob G. on July 14, 2010 at 2:26pm

There is no denying that the Lord's Prayer has been a part of AA since the very beginning. Then again, back in the day before the Big Book was written, Oxford Group religious literature was used as the basis for recovery. That was a Christian organization. You do not see literature directly related to the Oxford Group in use today, yet the Lord's Prayer is still around.

Guy, your questions regarding ego and the direction of the whole show can be equally applied to those in favor of the use of the Lord's Prayer. Did the early Christian members of AA direct the show to their liking? Have we followed in their footsteps without critically thinking about why we're doing what we're doing?

What purpose does the Lord's Prayer serve to recovery, and is the cost of newcomers who are increasingly distant from Christianity worth the continuing of this tradition?

Who says we are trying to fix something that isn't broke by the discussion of the Lord's Prayer? Many people think AA is broke, as less than 5% of all the problem drinkers who come into AA actually stick around and recover.

Should we not have the goal of reaching more people with a message of recovery? When did we become so set in our ways that we ignore the many voices who are opposed to religion in AA?

How can you put Christian in quotes when referring to this prayer? It's straight out of the Bible, when Jesus was teaching followers how to pray. It is perhaps the most well known and widespread Christian prayer around.

Are we in denial?

Comment by Guy Lewis on July 13, 2010 at 5:29pm

To the issue that the prayer is a “Christian” prayer and might turn non-Christians off to A.A. and recovery, I say garbage.

I have had the privilege to attend meetings all over the world in non-Christian societies, from Europe to Asia, from Canada to Costa Rica, from the Caribbean to Diego Garcia, and the greater majority of meetings attended closed with the Lord’s Prayer.

If non-Christian nations of our fellowship do not have a problem with the prayer than why should we?

Is it our ego’s that still need to be smashed (chapter 5)?

Are we still trying to direct the whole show to our liking (chapter 5)?

Just something’s to ponder and “pray” about.

Sober hugs,
Guy

Comment by Guy Lewis on July 13, 2010 at 5:17pm

The use of the “Lord’s Prayer” is as much a part of A.A. as the Big Book, sponsorship, strong coffee, meetings, etc…

The use of the Lord’s Prayer is included in our basic text and has been a part of A.A. from the very start.

In the story, “He Sold Himself Short” (page 291 3rd Ed and page 262 4th Ed) we read of the exact pattern of the first meetings of A.A. and how they were conducted. The Big Book records the fact that they were closed with the Lord’s Prayer.

I don’t know about any other’s view of the totality of the spiritual miracle found in A.A. that saves us from a liquid death and life of living hell, but I do not want to question or change one tiny part of how it works.

Why fix something that is not broke?

Sober hugs,
Guy

Comment by Robert H on July 12, 2010 at 12:07pm

Great topic….and thank you….many group use the Lord’s Prayer, other use the serenity Prayer, and other use Responsibility Pledge. It’s truly up to the group. As a Non-Christian member I just keep quiet during the closing prayer. I am not offended, as long as people don’t not try to push their beliefs on me, but then too I don’t get offend when someone states that Jesus Christ is their god during a meeting. If the is their belief that is just fine with me.
As far as newcomers, well the chanting has made more think we are some kind of cult than the Lord’s Prayer has chased. And I stay silent then as well.
We are never going to make everyone happy, if someone is looking for a reason to leave the will find it.

Comment by Ken R on July 11, 2010 at 6:15pm

Burn the idle into the consciousness of every man that he can not get well regardless of anyone. the only condition is that he trust in God and clean house. if saying the Lord's Prayer keep's people from coming to AA. then maybe thay are not willing to go to any length IT'S there choice.

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