I love this video! I'm just starting out on a 12 step programme and have been having a lot of doubts about the God stuff. I know the programme works for a lot of people and the social support has been amazing, but I've been afraid to jump into the steps because of the Higher Power bit. You're also right that any doubt about God does evoke this sort of condescending pose from people, which seems to be against the whole non-judgemental, acceptance stuff in the programme, but hey, no one is perfect. This video has been really helpful for me to find an atheistic way to look at it, and adapt the steps slowly. Love the idea of reality being a higher power - my reality in active addiction wasn't working, so I have to relate to reality on its' own terms and trust it to guide me. Thank you so much for this!
Thanks for your comment, Meridan. It's been a while since I listened to this, but my take on the "higher power" concept is a little different and has evolved over time. I understand the term "higher power" as some other person's way to describe their recovery. I don't use language like that. I don't admit that I'm powerless and turn my life over to a higher power. Instead, I recognize that I have a problem. I need to make some changes, and I reach out to people and other resources to help me reach my recovery goal. The 12 steps were written by Bill Wilson with input from other early AA members back in 1939. They were mostly men, and most of them got sober in a religious movement. They described their recovery through the 12 steps from the perspective of white men in the 1930s who for the most part were Christian. I don't have to use their language and neither do you. All of us have the freedom to do just what they did back in 1939. We can describe the experience, what happened to us and what we are doing in our own language. Just my two cents. Best wishes to you as you embark on this journey.
Thanks for your reply! I agree in an ideal world I could do this in a secular way as an atheist and ignore the problematic language, but there are so many benefits to 12 step programmes aside from the God stuff and I’m too vulnerable to go it alone. I think I’m going to have to use my own atheist interpretation of the steps at least at the beginning, until I feel strong enough to go it alone. I also struggle with the powerlessness bit. But I’d rather be the odd one out in my 12 step programme and still get that support than be out on my own trying to deal with my addiction. Really grateful to have found this channel over the last couple of days!
In Buddhism and stoicism which original serenity prayer didn't have God in it and was created by stoics but their higher power is all they can't change or control and kept me sober for 2 years but never went onto the 4th step which I'm in dire need of. We got one agnostic meeting in my city and people have decades as atheist sober. Going to give it a shot tomorrow by getting a sponsor
Very well done. Unfortunately, the last sentence is cut off at the end of the video... can anybody fix that? And/or pin a comment which contains the link to other audio readings of agnostic recovery literature? Thanks!
I am an agnostic buddhist but fine with 12 steps. dharma, karma, light. however there is absolutely no "religion" in my groups (non USA), and no lord's prayer...god forbid. god of my own understanding is no god.
Thank you for this.
I've been sober over 20 years now and the "God stuff" is just getting old for me.
This needs way more views for young Secular/Atheist people in recovery. Seriously , the best thing I've found.
Wow, thanks for that compliment!
My God is humanity & compassion. It's helped me recover
This video is phenomenal. Thank you so much for sharing
Great information. Very well written. Perfect points
I love this video! I'm just starting out on a 12 step programme and have been having a lot of doubts about the God stuff. I know the programme works for a lot of people and the social support has been amazing, but I've been afraid to jump into the steps because of the Higher Power bit. You're also right that any doubt about God does evoke this sort of condescending pose from people, which seems to be against the whole non-judgemental, acceptance stuff in the programme, but hey, no one is perfect. This video has been really helpful for me to find an atheistic way to look at it, and adapt the steps slowly. Love the idea of reality being a higher power - my reality in active addiction wasn't working, so I have to relate to reality on its' own terms and trust it to guide me. Thank you so much for this!
Thanks for your comment, Meridan. It's been a while since I listened to this, but my take on the "higher power" concept is a little different and has evolved over time.
I understand the term "higher power" as some other person's way to describe their recovery. I don't use language like that. I don't admit that I'm powerless and turn my life over to a higher power. Instead, I recognize that I have a problem. I need to make some changes, and I reach out to people and other resources to help me reach my recovery goal.
The 12 steps were written by Bill Wilson with input from other early AA members back in 1939. They were mostly men, and most of them got sober in a religious movement. They described their recovery through the 12 steps from the perspective of white men in the 1930s who for the most part were Christian.
I don't have to use their language and neither do you. All of us have the freedom to do just what they did back in 1939. We can describe the experience, what happened to us and what we are doing in our own language.
Just my two cents. Best wishes to you as you embark on this journey.
Thanks for your reply! I agree in an ideal world I could do this in a secular way as an atheist and ignore the problematic language, but there are so many benefits to 12 step programmes aside from the God stuff and I’m too vulnerable to go it alone. I think I’m going to have to use my own atheist interpretation of the steps at least at the beginning, until I feel strong enough to go it alone. I also struggle with the powerlessness bit. But I’d rather be the odd one out in my 12 step programme and still get that support than be out on my own trying to deal with my addiction. Really grateful to have found this channel over the last couple of days!
Love it
In Buddhism and stoicism which original serenity prayer didn't have God in it and was created by stoics but their higher power is all they can't change or control and kept me sober for 2 years but never went onto the 4th step which I'm in dire need of. We got one agnostic meeting in my city and people have decades as atheist sober. Going to give it a shot tomorrow by getting a sponsor
Very well done.
Unfortunately, the last sentence is cut off at the end of the video...
can anybody fix that?
And/or pin a comment which contains the link to other audio readings of agnostic recovery literature? Thanks!
I am an agnostic buddhist but fine with 12 steps. dharma, karma, light. however there is absolutely no "religion" in my groups (non USA), and no lord's prayer...god forbid. god of my own understanding is no god.
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