No stupid comments please! If you don’t have any usefull argument or opinion, go bother somethere else! I really really don’t need shit!
I have accepted the fact that I have a big problem with addiction. I’m in a program and part of it includes 2days/week of attending A.A. meetings and the rest is a combination of ‘counseling’ and A.A. bullshit… No offense, but as an atheist, as soon as I hear or see the word “god” (and people actually taking religions seriously), I feel totally offended. Imagine or substitute such an infantile idea as God with something like “Mickey Mouse”, “Santa” or worse yet, “Osama bin Laden”. It is impossible to focus because one person’s phantasy distracts the others.
As if that is not enough, one of the other things really annoying me is the holding hands, praying… like sheep in a herd… it’s completly offending me. This indoctrination. Why is it that they sneak so much “spirutal” B.S. into the initially good ideas? And what’s up with this holding hands? It’s disgusting holding hands with people who I don’t even know. I’m not saying that I’m better than others, not at all… I just don’t see how and why some of these aspects are supposed to be of any benefit in addiction treatment?
They do completly irritate me, almost up to the point, that I want to get back into drinking because I feel so stressed by some of the doctrines, imbecille rituals, mindless god-obsessions…. I want to stop my addiction, I don’t want to hurt my family or anyone else anymore.
I’m an atheist and there is absolutly nothing that could ever convince me to pray or believe in human phantasies of gods… I’m perplexed by the irritation that this handholding, imposed intimacy needs, and substituting one dependancy with another (substance addiction versus idea/god addiction) causes in me… I know I have personal defects, and I don’t see the solution in religions… what can I do?
Almost one week sober and on the brink of drinking because of A.A…..
Hi,
I want to start by saying congratulations on admitting your addiction and on your (almost) week of sobriety. I am going on 7 years sober and TRUST ME when I say that I feel your pain! I also want to start by saying that I’ve been sober this long with the same feelings as you. I’ve stayed sober despite my refusal to believe in the “God” concept the same way as others in the program. I rarely hold hands at the end of meetings. And I go along with certain rituals because it’s the polite thing to do when you’re in a meeting, just the same as it’s polite to wipe off exercise equipment at the gym or pick up your dog’s **** when you’re on a walk.
So… First off, most alcoholics and addicts should have an issue with what you’re describing. If they don’t, they’re probably freaks. I don’t know too many people who fully accepted the God concept, the spirituality aspect of AA and the subtle Judeo-Christian undertones throughout the Big Book. The fact of the matter is: Bill and Bob (founders of AA) fell back on fundamental Christian principles when developing AA. And it’s okay. No one’s asking you (or me) to be a Christian or to fear God. And while the steps and book repeat “God” over and over, it really is up to you to define what that means to you.
The first step says that we admitted we were powerless over alcohol, but more importantly “our lives were unmanageable.” The fact that you are ready to drink because of these issues with AA should show you the unmanageability in your life. As alcoholics, we are too quick to react, to take things personally, and to make excuses for our behavior. You are in your program to better your life, not to build more resentments toward institutions, doctrines, and authority.
There are a lot of things in AA I want to change. But the fact of the matter is–empirical evidence shows–that AA is BY FAR the most successful foundation for people to stay sober.
Soooo… I’d say to just do what they tell you. Get a sponsor, go to meetings, work your steps. You’ll hopefully find that sooner or later, it won’t make you angry to hear “God” or to say prayers or hold hands. I don’t know where you live, but here in L.A. no one really says the Lord’s Prayer anymore. Too many people were offended. Now it’s just the Serenity Prayer which is really a nice saying if you think about it. Just remove the “God.” …. Grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference.” I hope you can find a sponsor who feels similarly to you (my sponsor is sober 15 years, a professor of philosophy at a top ten college, a DEVOUT aetheist, and a really nice person!) and maybe they can work your steps with you in a way that won’t bother you so much. It’s more important that we realize WE are not in control. It doesn’t mean that “God” is, just that YOU are not. I just think of things as “I’m not in control of the world, my family, my husband, etc. I’m not the center of the universe.” And that’s it.
Sorry this was so long. I could ramble on about this forever. I really really empathize with you and I hope you can find it in you to see AA (the program, not the people) for what it is–it’s just there to help.
My non-Christian prayers go out to you (prayer to me means kind, tolerant, non-judgemental thoughts). I wish you the best.
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