Guilty of Using Hyperbole
"Rantings of an Alcoholic" is an exaggeration and overstatement of my state of mind. I did this purposely to bring attention to this blog. Allow me to explain further.
These blog postings are meant to be thought provoking and profound. They are not intended to be emotional diatribes. I am presenting the facts and I am drawing what I think are rational conclusions. I am challenging the AA status quo. Not to be defiant. Not to hinder anyone's recovery. Not to demonstrate that there is no hope.
It is my belief that only when we rationally and honestly approach our addiction can we begin to address the problem and find solutions. Recovery should never be about religious conversion. That is analogous to the old Temperance movement of the late 19th century and early 20th century in America. Convert the sinners and they will repent and be saved. Reliance upon alcohol will be supplanted by reliance upon a rigorous religious dogma and ritual. AA is a thinly veiled 19th century approach to addiction.
AA constantly states that the alcoholic should not question the program. "Stink'in think'in" is the motto. It's founders also stated that the AA program is only a guide and not a panecea. So the conclusion is don't question the program as a step by step recovery program on the one hand. On the other hand, the Big Book states that the 12 steps are only a guide and not to be taken as the final word on recovery. The organization suffers from the same contradictions of belief as any organized religion. "Kill your enemy." "Love your enemy." So which one is it? You choose to follow the beliefs that you want and ignore the contradictory ones. Problem solved, right?
Recovery should not have to be about putting on blinders around our beliefs and following the creed of a 19th century philosophy. Why not deal with recovery without a whisper about god or religion? For all the talk about AA not being about god or Christian religion, it is just that. All talk. In practice, the entire program is based upon religious conversion of sorts.
Can't we eliminate all the talk about god and religion and use what is left of the AA program as a start toward sobiety? Or is AA so fundamentally rooted in it's Temperance movement philosophy that removing god and religion would leave nothing left?
Labels: 12 step program, AA, addiction, alcoholics anonymous, Big Book, god, rant, rantings, rantings of an alcoholic, recovery, religion, sobriety, temperance movement
posted by David @ 2:41 PM
13 comments
13 Comments:
David... write more please!
I've been to the meetings... voluntarily - I say that because many are there by court order. I've heard the "stories", listened to everyone else's personal nightmare... read the books... I've gone so far as to even lead the meetings a few times and pass around the coffee collection basket. I didn't think myself an alcoholic... still don't... I simply KNOW that drinking 750ml of alcohol (beer, tequila, scotch, gin or vodka, etc.) a day can't be healthy. I don't think the injection of Christian religion into AA is intended to control a person's belief system as a whole... I think it's intended to be a tool for recovery where there will be something familiar an alcoholic can grasp on to and "hope for". For once I admit... I'm an alcoholic... I'm a Christian and strong in my faith... but faith and religion have nothing to do with recovery... and neither does AA. It's waking up one morning... or realizing you passed out one too many times... or just some screwed up moment that puts into your head - "I have to quit". Such as what just hit me. I have to quit... now I need to understand why I'm not able to... or why... I'm choosing not to. AA can't help with that answer in any way. It seems to always come down to choosing life or death... right now... I'm too drunk to know the difference. :-(
Alki, you comments are welcomed. You describe some active participation in the AA program so you have demonstrated that you want sobriety. Chairing meetings, having a sponsor, meeting with people are all the good concrete things that AA offers. You indicate at the end of your post that all is not well. Just remember that AA cannot get you sober. Only you can. As you insightfully noted, it is choice between life and death. Only YOU can make the choice. And you can get sober in any manner that works for you. AA is one way that is offered. It is not the only way. But if you don't know where to begin, AA is a good place to start.
I found this blog today. I hope Alki is choosing life today. I would certainly appreciate more dialog from David or a link to other recovering alkies who aren't Christian. I seem to be one of the few in my area (Alabama) in which AA has opened a broad highway of spirituality. I know I had to stop the physical act of consuming alcohol and other mind altering substances on my own - it was staying stopped which had never been accomplished before going to AA.
I believe in a Universal Power and have called the power God. It isn't a religious god. I recite the Serenity Prayer, but not The Lord's Prayer. I am feeling very alone though in this spiritual path and would love to connect to others on similiar journeys.
Thanks to the power of www and my isp for connectedness.
Deb, thank you for your post and your request to hear more from me. I like your comment about www and isp - sounds like "a power greater than ourselves." What we all really need is each other. We are not alone, unless we choose to be. Let's hang out some more here and I will write some more musings for us to ponder.
I'd like to hear more from David, too! I've chosen a path other than AA, but I recognize that AA works well for some people.
http://sum-zero.blogspot.com/
I love the post. If you question anything about AA,you'll get a raised eyebrow, "You're moving closer to a drink instead of farther away from it." "Take the cotton out of your ears and put it in your mouth..!!"
One old guy told me, "Yes, these steps are suggested... Pretty much like it's suggested you wear a parachute before you jump out of a plane." Don't get me wrong, AA combined with another miracle or two saved my life and now I have 12years.
Thanks for letting me share,
Hoot Hooten
I can relate to your post. I've been there, done that. Fortunately, I found the answer to many of my problems through REBT, a method of thinking rationally that has tremendously lowered my anxiety and depression. More to the point, I discovered a secular group known as SMART Recovery, which offers meetings involving no dogma whatsoever, only clear and rational thinking. If you've been looking for an alternative route to recovery, I suggest you join the SMART Recovery Facebook fan club at http://www.facebook.com/pages/SMART-Recovery-USA/102376027397?ref=ts#!/pages/SMART-Recovery-USA/102376027397?ref=ts and visit their main website at http://www.smartrecovery.org/
Online support groups are available, along with a growing number of meetings and a great deal of information about the SMART Recovery approach. Whether or not you prefer group involvement, I think you'll find SMART Recovery to be a great alternative available.
Love the blog. Kepp up the good work!!
I too have a question with the prayer and God element. Whilst it may seem incredulous to some that I have the temerity to put conditions on the style of help I seek coming up from rock bottom, it is still one last vestige of control i have over an otherwise out of control situation.
Sober in 100 Days
I recently came across your blog and have been reading along. I thought I would
leave my first comment. I dont know what to say except that I have enjoyed reading.
Nice blog. I will keep visiting this blog very often.
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