A Program for Living
This is a chapter from the pioneering book: The Alternative Twelve Steps: A Secular Guide to Recovery. It was originally written by two women, Martha Cleveland and Arlys G., and published in 1991. As valuable today as...
Tagged: 12 steps
The Alternative 12 Steps: A Secular Guide to Recovery
In 1991, two women were successfully working the 12-Step program… and they were atheists. They knew the program worked, and translated the Steps into secular terms. This ground-breaking book is as valuable today as...
Frank Buchman and the Oxford Group
By bob k The founder of the Oxford movement – a Christian evangelical movement and the birthplace of AA – Frank Nathaniel Daniel Buchman was born in the small town (pop. 1,200) of Pennsburg, Pennsylvania, on June...
The Proactive Twelve Steps
By Serge Prengel Many years ago, I started re-writing the Twelve Steps in order to better understand the process they describe by “translating” the wording of the Steps into language that felt clearer to...
And when we were wrong…
By Frank M. I wanted to do this thing right. I wanted to do it by the Big Book. In fact I was pretty sure I needed to, because I appeared to be dying....
As a result of these Steps
By Gabe S. AA’s twelfth Step says “Having had a spiritual awakening as the result of these Steps, we tried to carry this message to alcoholics.” But what is this message? What on Earth...
To thine own self be true
By Jude Core I’d like to let you all know that we have a fully formed agnostic AA group that meets every week on Sundays in South West London. It has been an interesting...
Personalizing the 12 Steps
By Neil F. On the 13th of April 1986, during a drive from Montreal to Toronto, I broke into a cold sweat and started shaking. I felt like I was losing control of my mind...
Is the AA Program a Procrustean Bed?
Procrustes: a mythical host who stretched or cut his guests to fit his “magical” bed, often killing them in the process. By Frank M. I should probably start by explaining that I have no...
Without a Higher Power
One size does not fit all for this atheist in recovery By Greg H. (San Diego, CA) Copyright © The AA Grapevine. Originally published by the AA Grapevine in January 2010. Reprinted with permission. This atheist...
An Atheists Unofficial Guide to AA
By Vince H. I am an atheist alcoholic who believes that many people who could be saved from drink by AA do not embrace the fellowship because they are put off by a higher...
The Origins of the 12 Steps
By Roger C. One alcoholic talking to another (Step 12) It all began in the waning months of 1934. Bill W, an incorrigible inebriate nearing the end of his rope, was visited at his...
Mindfulness and the 12 Steps
Review by Roger C. There would appear to be much in common between Buddhist thought and the 12 Step recovery program practiced by some in AA. A number of books have made the connection...
An Atheist’s Guide to 12-Step Recovery
by Frank M. You’re a thoughtful and well considered atheist. And you’ve noticed recently that you might be dying from the crap you put in your body. A little. Maybe that’s just the hangover...
