Secular Spirituality
By Andy F.
Atheists and Agnostics in AA
Agnosticism and religion are two contentious topics. Rarely does either truly embrace a tangible inner spirituality. It’s a personal journey in discovering who we are and what works for us. Freedom to choose one’s spiritual beliefs should be the catalyst of any organization. Sadly, so many AA members leave because of the ‘God’ word. It appears in 5 of the 12-step steps.
I struggled with the idea of a monotheistic God and relapsed many times. On several occasions, I almost lost my life to alcohol. I couldn’t handle what I saw as the religious aspect of AA, so I never attempted the steps at all.
Over the years, I have spoken to many atheists and agnostics who came to AA and, on seeing the twelve steps, walked out again. Some of them came back when their drinking got bad enough. What about those that didn’t make it back!?
A clinical study published in September 2002 concluded:
“God belief appears to be relatively unimportant in deriving AA-related benefit, but atheist and agnostic clients are less likely to initiate and sustain AA attendance relative to spiritual and religious clients. This apparent reticence to affiliate with AA ought to be clinically recognized when encouraging AA participation.”
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/12380849
“For the times, they are a-changin” – Bob Dylan
I want to reassure non-believers that AA has changed. The fellowship has had to adapt and change with the times. Church attendance is declining, as is belief in the traditional idea of a monotheistic God. More and more people are moving away from religion and finding meaning in modern non-theistic spirituality.
New Age, Eastern, and metaphysical spirituality have become increasingly popular with truth seekers worldwide. A belief in universal consciousness as a higher power is fast surpassing the dogmas of traditional Religion. Consciousness is seen as a creative and benevolent power that helps us transcend the limitations of the ego self.
These days, AA has had no alternative but to move away from the religiosity of a monotheistic God. It has begun to embrace something called secular spirituality. What is that?
Secular spirituality
“Secular spirituality is the adherence to a spiritual philosophy without adherence to a religion. It emphasizes the individual’s inner peace rather than a relationship with the divine. Secular spirituality is made up of the search for meaning outside of a religious institution. It considers one’s relationship with the self, others, nature, and whatever else one considers the ultimate. Often, the goal of secular spirituality is living happily and/or helping others.”
Wikipedia
More and more AA members now believe that members who don’t believe in God can interpret the twelve steps through secular spirituality. I and many others have found a way to work the twelve steps as non-believers.
The principles of AA remain the same for atheists and agnostics. We all share a commitment to spiritual growth and helping others. For instance, we’ve found that a ‘higher power’ can be interpreted as the strength and support of our AA community, a belief that unites us all.
Others say that members can get sober without believing in an unseen, God-like higher power. Moreover, some aspects of the steps, like admitting powerlessness and making amends, are also practically effective for non-believers.
A landmark event
The religious fundamentalists in AA have always believed that the AA Big Book is infallible. The idea that only God can help alcoholics recover from alcoholism was considered sacrosanct.
Several years ago, a landmark event occurred in Alcoholics Anonymous’s history. In May 2017, the AA Conference approved a new pamphlet for publication. It isn’t easy to get new literature approved by the Conference.
This new piece of AA literature, now approved by the Conference, is the result of the dedicated efforts of the Thursday Islington Agnostic, Atheist, and Freethinkers group in London, UK.
Here is the first paragraph of the pamphlet:
“A.A. is not a religious organization. Alcoholics Anonymous has only one requirement for membership, and that is the desire to stop drinking. There is room in A.A. for people of all shades of belief and non-belief.”
The pamphlet is called The “God” Word and freely available by clicking the link.
Where is AA heading spiritually?
How does the dictionary define secularism? It means “neutrality towards all religions.” (Wiktionary) That being the case, it could be argued that AA has always been secular. With the publication of The “God” word pamphlet, this seems more evident than ever before. If “AA is not a religious organization,” then by definition, it is secular.
Does this mean that AA is to exclude members that believe in the traditional God of religion; certainly not! AA warmly welcomes every alcoholic who has a “desire to stop drinking.” (Regardless of “Belief and non-belief” – The “God” word pamphlet.)
“The only requirement for AA membership is a desire to stop drinking.”
(Tradition Three)
Excerpts from Bill’s writings
One of the greatest legacies left to AA by Bill W (AA’s co-founder) was the belief that as a spiritually based organization, AA should always be “all-inclusive.”
A short excerpt from ‘The dilemma of no faith’ by Bill Wilson:
“Consequently, the full individual liberty to practice any creed or principle or therapy whatever should be a first consideration for us all. Let us not, therefore, pressure anyone with our individual or even our collective views. Let us instead accord each other the respect and love that is due to every human being as he tries to make his way toward the light. Let us always try to be inclusive rather than exclusive; let us remember that each alcoholic among us is a member of AA, so long as he or she so declares.”
Bill W.
Copyright © AA Grapevine, Inc. (July 1965)
Here is another quote from Bill, an excerpt from ‘Responsibility is our theme’:
“Let us instead accord each other the respect and love that is due to every human being as he tries to make his way toward the light. Let us always try to be inclusive rather than exclusive; let us remember that each alcoholic among us is a member of AA, so long as he or she so declares.”
The Language of the Heart, “Responsibility Is Our Theme,”
Copyright © AA Grapevine, Inc. (July 1965)
‘All-inclusive’ – The mark of true spiritual power
As an enquiring agnostic, I have always been very suspicious of any religion or spiritual organization that insists new members accept their particular set of beliefs. This type of blind faith has never worked for me. I have always had to arrive at my own conclusions, ask questions, and seek answers. This approach to spirituality is the only thing that keeps my search honest and authentic.
Whenever I encounter any spiritual or religious doctrine that insists its way is the only way, I immediately become discouraged. My mind becomes closed to any further spiritual investigation. I have always felt that to be accepted into a religion, a new member must embrace its doctrine as the ultimate truth. In my mind, this type of rigid religious dogma made it exclusive and not inclusive.
Acceptance immediately became conditional. If I wanted to enjoy the benefits of their religious community, I would have to comply with their beliefs as being infallible. I was unable to do this as it never felt honest. When that happened, I had no alternative but to walk away.
I am so grateful that Secular AA and AA Agnostica are becoming increasingly visible in the AA landscape. It has given me the space and freedom to pursue my journey towards spiritual truth in a way that works for me.
Andy F. went to his first meeting on May 15th, 1984. Having had negative experiences with religion and religious people in childhood, he found it impossible to embrace the twelve steps. Frequent references to God and a higher power put him off completely. He decided to pursue his recovery through therapy. Unfortunately, it didn’t keep him sober. He became a serial relapser and, several times, came close to losing his life. Eventually, he was lucky to find an experienced oldtimer happy to work with an agnostic. Andy was able to stay sober and recreate his life. It’s now been twenty-seven years since his last relapse. He is committed to sponsorship and has become an avid blogger. Andy’s blogs are about his experiences in recovery as an agnostic alcoholic.
For more information about Andy and the books that he has written and published and are currently available, click here: https://aaforagnostics.com/.
For a PDF of this article, click here: Secular Spirituality.
Very well written piece. I love that there’s no “AA bashing” or sarcasm in it. These last 12 years of my sobriety I have been a non-theist, but still attend traditional meetings. I often speak of my higher consciousness and mindfulness leading my choices, rather than a higher power.
Brilliant! So well written, Andy. In December, I will (whom ever willing 🤪) have six years of continuous sobriety. The Secular AA community has helped tremendously, especially the Santa Rosa, California group, Without a Prayer. My brothers and sisters there have kept me sober, and kept me thinking and challenged. I love them and you all with all my heart!!
If Andy F. isn’t a lawyer, he’d have made o good one. I loved how he built his case by drawing on multiple resources. (I have a vague recollection, Roger C., of an AA history book that does something similar)
We have no way of knowing how many came and went quickly because they were repelled by AA’s rather overt religiosity. We have no exit surveys. It’s too bad we don’t. I expect the number is HUGE!! I live in an area where most meetings are closed with the Lawd’s Pray-uh. The new person gets hit with that and 3 minutes later hears “we’re spiritual, NOT religious.” Could have fooled me!
Here’s some bad news. In 2025, the 5th Edition will appear with no change to the text. The last 2 editions survived 25 years and 24 years so we’ll be taken to the middle of the century with TO AGNOSTICS and TO WIVES in all their divinely-inspired glory. Can I get an “amen?” As survivors look around at the wreckage — the shrunken hulk of a society that, love it or hate it, served a lot of people, someone is going to realize: “Maybe we should have made some changes.”
Lovely and succinct. Thank you Andy (& Roger). Before the God Word pamphlet was “revised” and published for US readers, I tried to get a friend in the UK to send some to me for Freethinkers A.A. group in Monterey. Too difficult. I did print copies to pass around, so excited that after many years, “we” were getting closer to what was asked for in a pamphlet re: non-believers, freethinkers, agnostics, atheists, etc.
Slow….the changes in A.A. and I have been at Assemblies and read reports where some things can happen fast!
May a secular spirituality be accepted by more groups and people. Andy’s outlook quite optimistic. In some areas, where groups and individuals have the religiosity aspect being forefront triggers a negative reaction within me, I continue to do my work. Acceptance and inclusion principles.
The original text will always remain. Thank goodness for updated material through pamphlets and the Grapevine and those who are willing to share in meetings and one person to another. And of course all of the work, efforts and time of secular members, aaagnostica, conventions, Widening the Gate conferences, research, etc.
For me and I think, for many, the universal principles contained in A.A. do work well for continued living sober and becoming “Citizens Again”. (As Bill Sees It, page21)
I am still a part of (not as much as I once was) to encourage others and share resources that offer support. Thanks again for encouraging me to continue.
10 Bonus points for mentioning Bob Freaken Dylan.
AA fundamentalism is rabid but preaching to a shrinking audience. Every decade, our increasingly secular society moves further and further away from what gets pitched in conventional 12-Step meetings. AA’s literature is my grandfather’s Oldsmobile. That the title of TO WIVES has not been changed to TO SPOUSES or TO PARTNERS is astounding!! It’s clear what we’re dealing with.
As AA shrinks and shrivels, the secular option is growing. I think that growth will continue. The flood of secular literature in the Print-on-Demand era has been fabulous. AAAgnostica has been near the center of the freaken storm for a long time. Well done, Roger C.!!
Interesting that, yet again, the idea of what’s spiritual is left to the liberal speculations of a thinly veiled religious agnostic, who, himself waffles and misrepresents. In my area of the world near Vancouver BC (Canada) the stalwart bitterness of believers against atheists and atheist/agnostics is alive and well. I have been interrupted and asked to leave meetings or to be quiet on several occasions in recent years.
Myself being now sober 44 years and a therapist with 40 years experience, have been a committed atheist since before I started to drink. Atheist at 12, drinker at 14, sober at 30.
I too have written books, advocating for atheism and psychology in recovery. Much to the chagrin and annoyance of theists, being spiritual is an issue of a specific psychology. Spiritual principles (there are only five of them) have nothing to do with “God” or a higher power of any description. Because many religious believers INSIST that God is necessary to be spiritual or to recover does not make that untrue. To cling to mild notions of a loving higher power, however benevolent, always leaves a theist or a religious agnostic person in second place as regards serenity and confidence.
The original / traditional Alcoholics Anonymous is a religious organization founded upon evangelical Protestant fundamentalism where drinking was classified as a sin. That’s been the case since 1840. Alcoholics were of bad and immoral character requiring prayer and forgiveness by a Protestant God. That’s Temperance, that’s the Oxford Group, that’s Bill Wilson’s ‘program.’
We know that all twelve-step programs and treatment centres operate at a 93 % failure rate. Period. AA isn’t a miracle, it’s religious indoctrination which is successful 7% of the time. (See: The Sober Truth by Lance Dodes.)
My experience is, over the last 30 years, when any addiction recovery is based on religion it usually fails. When recovery is wisely based on psychology it takes hard work and a rather long time, but works about 80% of the time.
Kind regards to all…
Richard
http://www.richardwclark.ca
I don’t understand this paragraph of your comment: “The original / traditional Alcoholics Anonymous is a religious organization founded upon evangelical Protestant fundamentalism where drinking was classified as a sin. That’s been the case since 1840. Alcoholics were of bad and immoral character requiring prayer and forgiveness by a Protestant God. That’s Temperance, that’s the Oxford Group, that’s Bill Wilson’s ‘program.’”
I’m not sure why you’re describing 1840 as a turning point. Was alcoholic drinking not viewed as “sin” prior to 1840? I think it was. The Washingtonian Society organized in 1840 but that year did not mark the start of the Temperance movement. The American Temperance Society was formed in 1826 and the well-funded Protestant group spread quickly across America. They saw alcoholics as “sinners.” Many saw all drinking as “sinful.”
Thanks Andy,
A spirited defence of the significance of the secular in AA.
And yes, Roger, thanks as always for creating AA Agnostica and keeping it going even if there is a lot work to do in maintaining it. That’s the spirit!
I fully agree with your post. Thank you!!