By Frank M. “You’ve got a higher power problem,” my old AA sponsor told me. It’s something he’d asserted on a number of occasions when the subject of God and the Steps and my atheism came up. He repeated it when we were working on my Fifth Step. I had … Continue reading
By Laurie A. My wife thought I would get up and walk out from my first meeting of Alcoholics Anonymous. The meeting started with a recitation of the 12 Steps suggested as a programme of recovery and six of them mention God or “Him” or “Power.” I was a surly, … Continue reading
By Edward S., Jupiter, Florida Recently, while doing some fellowshipping with local AAs, a friend expressed her belief that atheists should not be allowed to start their own atheist-oriented groups (and therefore should not be recognized by Intergroup) and should start their own fellowship. This essay was born out of … Continue reading
By Barb C. At the beginning of every meeting of my home group, we read, “AA is not allied with any sect, denomination, politics, organization, or institution; does not wish to engage in any controversy, neither endorses nor opposes any causes.” This statement makes me feel good. As a person … Continue reading
By Roger C. We claim spiritual progress rather than spiritual perfection. Bill W. If you were a member of AA and woke up tomorrow morning inspired to write a book about the spirituality of AA and the 12 Steps you might want to call it The Spirituality of Imperfection. But … Continue reading