been awhile

destinydreamer · Senior Member

been awhile

Laura · Senior Member

Hi Jamie

Congratulations on 31 days sober! I thought you articulated your thoughts well--I like how you realized that you weren't uncomfortable at the AA meeting you went to; the issue was that you couldn't relate. That's awesome that you learned something from the experience--that you need to find a group that has members who represent a variety of religious/spiritual beliefs.

I too didn't experience a spiritual awakening when I realized (awhile ago) that I had a problem with drinking. I also didn't experience that awakening when I finally decided I needed to something about it. I have loving family and friends who I did not/do not want to hurt; I have goals and dreams that drinking was hampering . . . heck, drinking was beginning to hamper everyday affairs; and I just got sick and tired of the way I felt physically and psychologically. (Oh, and the weight gain didn't help)

If you read my post in that religious freedom thread (one of the threads I think you were alluding to) and if you read my posting(s), then you'll know that I'm not an atheist; I do believe in something akin to a Higher Power. Despite this, it's important to me as well that I find a community in which I relate to another's experience . . . that's part of what makes it a community right?

We're lucky to have this forum, aren't we? I enjoy reading people's posts that express beliefs and perceptions similar to my own but also those that are different.

Anyway, hang in there and good luck finding your "in person" group.

-Laura

Phil · MIP Old Timer

Morning ladies...

This religion thing...or what I thought was religion...drove this kid, back out the door of AA many times...

Until I realized that religion has nothing to do with AA...It is a spiritual program..

If a person is into the Bible..or any religious sector beliefs....it is their individual thing...and not a part of AA as a whole...and will not be discussed at at AA meeting...or "Shouldnt be"

I just very simply went with....

And its been mentioned before...

Good Orderly Direction..and used AA as a whole..as a Higher Power...

And used that aspect..for many many days...in sobriety..

I think it was a member on the board here..that pointed out some time ago..that...there is a line in the Big Book..that states...'We do not have to believe in anything.." and its true...

And you take what you need for you..and leave the rest...

It also says something about taking the program in piecemeal bits..

I used to analyze the hell out of this God bit...till I made myself nutty...

Till a Sponsor once told me.....to Let It Go..Keep It Simple

That it was... very simply...a belief of some kind...in a power greater than ourselves

Everything in AA is written as suggestions....Nothing is written in stone...

The only step we can ever get perfect is step one..

This program has to do with three things...

Clean house.......Learn to live sober in today..and become a better person....and help others..

How each individual....does that...is entirely up to them...

Have a good day...

And way to go...one day at a time..:)

-- Edited by Phil at 11:35, 2007-03-11

Dave Harm · Senior Member

When I first started going to meetings I had no use for organized religion (still don't) but I did want to learn everything I could about all the different beliefs. I read up on the Western beliefs, as well as the Eastern philosophies. There were somethings I really enjoyed and learned a lot about mankind.

But it wasn't until I started looking at the ancient mythologies that my understanding of a Higher Power came to light. The Greeks, Romans, Egyptians, all had some beautiful stories to tell. After that it was on to the Native American rituals - and through all of this I felt comfortable that all these myths and religions shared one common theme - HOPE.

As I began to develop a relationship with my Higher Power - whom I choose to call God - my sponsor at a meeting talked about religion and AA. His statement has stayed with me for well over a decade and I've talked about it in numerous publications - that being "That religion is for people scared of going to hell, while spirituality is for people who've been in hell."

That was it! I didn't care about the next life - that will take care of itself. I am more concerned about this life and trying to never hurt anyone - ever again.

FOR ME, I could not find a Higher Power in an organized church. I had to look outside the box to find my Higher Power. And I believe that God is OK with that.

I needed a Higher Power that I could be comfotable with for the rest of my life - and I'm thankful that he gave me the strength to look at all the possibilities of who He (or She) is.

Congrats on your sobriety,
Best wishes,
Dave

amanda2u2 · MIP Old Timer

Dave said, "I had to look outside the box to find my Higher Power. And I believe that God is OK with that." Me too. When we are kids brought to a church, synagogue, mosque, sweat lodge, santeria altar, or whatever, we have little undersstanding of what is going on, and are learning from people who may have a little more understanding than we do, but still have their own slants and limited understanding of an Entity that is beyond all of our understanding. Step 2 says, 'came to believe... ' but that doesn't mean complete understanding and perfect belief, nor does it mean that that exact understanding is going to be the same forever more. I understand how being in such an environment as a parochila school of any formal religion can actually be more confusing than helpful.

In late adolescence, it is normal, to challenge, question, test, reformulate, and to look outside the box. This is how we go from just doing what our parents and other authorites tell us to forming our own beliefs as adults. That is what you appear to want to do now. I think most of us haave some kind of inner 'conscience' or something that guides us intuitively as we search for Truth, and I use mine on my explorations and forays into various realms of philosophies. What happens usually is that I find nuggets of truth in each one, while not agreeing totally with any one, as practiced by humans. This includes using the 'group' itself as a Higher Power. The AA group and people, and each person, all have very helpful things to offer, but I have to go beyond them as also limited and slightly confused people with a mixed bag of truth and confusion,, toward a distant star that is Truth.

All Step 2 requires is an openness, a willingness, to be receptive to possibile inspiration from a HIgher Power. If we are closed then we block ourselves from such inspiration. That is why, as Dave said, it is the Hope Step. Hope that there is a Higher Power that can and will restore us to sanity. The 'spiritual awakening' happens in the 12th Step, kind of gradually over the course of learning and practicing the principles and Steps. For now, we just make a beginning. Then, after we reach the 12th Step for the first time,, we cycle again through the Steps, and find that , in the next working of the Steps we have grown a bit, and our understanding has grown a bit. I've probably cycled through the 12 Steps about 1,000 times now, and worked parts relevant to immediate circumstances about a million times. There is a saying, "more will be revealed",,, and,, 'recovery is a lifetime process',,, and 'progress and not perfection'.

So, we can go ahead to Step 3, turning our lives and wills over, even just a tiny and tentative bit, the first time around. That's what I did.. and was positively surprised at teh results,, enough to believe a little more,, and turn a little more over the next time,,, and get into Step 11 more deeply too.

a little at a time, a day at a time,

love in recovery,

amanda