What's god got to do with it ... got to do with it?
AA is schizophrenic. They will swear on a stack of bibles that your "higher power" and "god as you understand him" can be anything you want. But the whole program is about god. And to make matters worse, it's the god of Christianity. What's that all about? Everything is about god. Surrender to god's will. Pray to god. Ask god. For Bill Wilson, getting sober is about finding god.
Every single AA meeting I have ever been to has ended with a group prayer reciting the Lord's Prayer from the Christian Bible. There are no Hebrew prayers or Muslim prayers. Just Christian prayers.
Unfortunately, other groups of non-believers like Hinduism, Buddhism, Shintoism and other belief systems not based upon the Christian god, are left out. Unless they are willing to trash their own belief system and accept the Christian interpretation, there's no place for them in AA. Why should a recovery program be based upon such obvious cultural biases and arrogance? Hindus don't believe in god. So a Hindu alcoholic would have to accept a Christian god to become sober? Rubbish.
Let's face it, Bill Wilson and Dr. Bob were not scholarly thinkers. They did the best they could to come up with an explanation of a spiritual awakening. They were living in a Christian society in the 1930's and so they naturally and easily included it into their own AA dogma. It seemed to work for the small group of mostly white Christian men they got together.
The "god of your understanding" might not be the god that AA talks about. That "god of your understanding" is nothing but a bone thrown to a non-believer to get them through the door. They will tell you that your higher power can be anything that is greater than yourself. You are relieved because you don't want god crammed down your throat. But eventually, you must accept the Christian god or you will not feel like a complete member of the group. For AA, "higher power" = god.
Step Two of the AA Twelve Step program is the only step to slightly conceal its meaning but it's obvious to all that "a Power greater than ourselves" = god. Specific references to "god" are made five times in the Twelve Steps. Only two of those references qualifies it with the phrase "as we understood Him."
This is a tradgety for AA. The one truth that they happened to stumble upon got perverted. Spirituality is the key. Not god. Yes, you can be spiritual and have spirituality without god. Spirituality is a much broader and inclusive concept.
Labels: Bill Wilson, christian, Dr. Bob, god, higher power, prayers, religion, spirituality
posted by David @ 2:43 PM
7 comments
7 Comments:
Why are you so angry? So if AA works for less than 1% of the population...who cares? If it works for them, and they remain sober...they kudos to them! If it didn't or doesn't work for you, and you are remaining sober...kudos to you! Why are you busting balls? So what, you dislike the fundamental structure of AA? Many people find comfort there, and those that don't...they move on. I have attended many AA meetings and do not find them particularly helpful in my struggle, but I can recognize that just because it doesn't work for me...doesn't mean it's not valid for thousands! You are extremely judgmental, why not focus on yourself and what DOES work for you?
Do you realize the first AA book was written by two men who relied totally on Christian scripture to help them and others?
Just found your blog - my comment is - and I mean this kindly - you may be running away from God.
Best to you.
The comments are very much appreciated. My point is still valid. AA doesn't work for 99% of people who try it. The program is a dismal failure. Using the Christian religion for recovery is exclusionary to other religions. If AA were serious about a "higher power" concept, it would stop all references to "god" and stop Christian prayers at it's meetings.
I happen to be in AA and sober now for almost 2 years. I do see your point about criticizing the program. It does smack something of a cult, like a cult has it's leader Bill W., rather what disturbs me about the program is the selfish nature of the people in it. Next AA meeting you go to count the "I's" and My's. I resent, My higher power. ME ME ME. Heard a couple things about Bill Wilson but cannot verify it validity.
1. In the late 1950's Bill Wilson experimented with LSD. (That whole Tim Leary, Ken Kessey mind expansion thing, and he heard that it could cure alcoholism.) Wikipedia
2. On his death bed, Bill Wilson requested a glass of whiskey.
3. He was a womanizer, and had many affairs. Even to the point of having a mistress moving into the same house that his wife lived in.
Luckily there are other options, like SMART Recovery, that offer non-religious alternatives, or options for people of different faith traditions. Unfortunately, AA has the most "brand" recognition. It's great that it works for some people, but others have to keep looking. (I googled "alternatives to AA" and was on my way before a single AA meeting! I knew the god stuff wasn't for me. And no, I'm not running from god.
http://sum-zero.blogspot.com
Agreed. Thank you!
my biggest issue is with steps 2 and 3. I mean step 1, hell yes I have no control. Step 2, how on earth am i supposed to believe that 'god' can fix me? #3 I don't understand at all...what does that mean turn my life over??
Step 4 and step 5 are steps I think could be helpful for almost anyone... fess up to everything you have done wrong and actually admit it all to someone. that is huge, letting go of all of those secrets is powerful.
enough from me...
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