I am approaching on one month and since day 1 have been going to the same AA group twice a week. My understanding is AA believes in a higher power but is not tied to any specific religion and the only requirement to be in the group is that you are seeking sobriety. Last night’s topic got really preachy and I shared (which I’ve done 1 other time so I’m not a big talker) and told them I believe in being kind and helpful and so forth, I personally just don’t believe in God. Most people understood and that was that. I didn’t question them and they didn’t question me. The group leader, at the end of the meeting, said to everyone that he just wanted to remind us that the big book says you either 100% percent believe in God or you 100% don’t. He then just left it at that. I don’t know if I’m just being sensitive in feeling that my belief system is being attacked or if he was just trying to stress that everyone believes in different things. What are your experiences and input?
I have used AA sparingly. Depending on my mood, the religious aspect has been offputting, yet not uncomfortable to me at times. It’s unclear if his statement was aimed at you, but I’d like to think it wasn’t. Either way that statement he made is a farce. For example, my spiritual beliefs are non traditional so what he said certainly doesn’t apply to me. Or what if someone has just discovered religion? If they have any doubts about there being a “one and only all mighty God”, then their beliefs are totally discounted or illegitimate? Hogwash.
Most will also agree with me in that don’t let what one group leader said dissuade you from going back to AA if it’s working for you in your recovery. There are often different group leaders and you can always check out different groups. I’ve been surprised at how I got a different feel from each time I tried a different meeting location.
I’ve done AA before you really gotta find your niche group. My experience is that I probably should’ve tried a few groups before I committed to that particular one but I am the same way, I’ve avoided AA this time around because of the religious aspect of things. I also feel like the people are showing up to groups to try and show off and they will approach you to be a sponsor or something and really try and hammer some things down off the get go when I don’t even know the person or vice versa. I can’t deal with unwanted weird pressure like that. I got an addiction counselor this time around and luckily have some good people I can run to if need be. Feels a lot better I can just talk about my week or whatever without feelin trapped within the confines of the AA structure. That’s just me tho I understand everyone has their own preference I just feel you on the whole religion thing, not my style.
@Nate_Harbison, you make a good point about those “certain types of recovering addicts” that are pushy in their approach with new people. My last meeting was last Friday. I feared relapse and went in a hurry to help avoid it. The meeting helped, but at the end this guy comes up to me and asks how often I attend meetings. He goes on to ask me if I’d heard of 90 in 90 and if maybe I thought I should “step up my game” and attend more frequently. I couldn’t help but be telling him in my head to mind his own freaking business… smh.
I think it’s great you can utilize AA to your benefit. It’s helped thousands of people recover. Yea those members are the ones im talking about and it was everytime I had this one guy talk to me solo before I left each meeting and he would preach about God and how I needed to focus and commit and start sharing bla bla I just didn’t like it but I think back now I could’ve went an tried another meeting. Best wishes man, keep up the good work!
In my experience, AA is actually designed to fit your needs in your own sobriety. I don’t have to agree with everything said in a meeting because people are imperfect just like I am. I take what I need and leave the rest. AA is not religious. In fact, there’s a section in the big book called We Agnostics. The point of a higher power is believe in something greater and outside ourselves. What that means to me is stop letting my ego run the show and not rely on alcohol or other outside influences. Some people do get preachy because that’s what they believe but I don’t have to agree. I respectfully listen because I might hear something I might use that works for me. Right now, I use the sky (the whatever it is that created the stars created me as well) That’s a powerful thing. I prefer to put more foundation in the big book than other people that have faults. Ever time I read, I get something new from it that pertains to my life at that moment. I also use other recovery books as well as to gain knowledge and not be a sheep. AA meetings work for me because they’re relateable. It also gives me a routine and fellowship. But no, it’s not the only way. That’s what makes sobriety unique. To question things is healthy.
Hi there, I have been attending AA meetings for a few months, I go to quite a few different ones and they are all full of different people who have different interpretations of the program but they all have one common belief and that is THE PROGRAM! my understanding (and what I have been told) is that it is a spiritual program not a religious one and whilst there are quite a lot of people who are religious and do believe in ‘God’ there are those who don’t too. I personally believe that there is something out there, a creator and someone who watches over me but not really sure yet who or what that is! Watch Father Michael on You Tube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XovojIZG6cE I loved his explanation of it 
As someone else has already said, the people in meetings do not know everything so what you hear is only their opinion and their interpretation, feel free to formulate your own opinions
PS most people are just trying to help you so don’t be put off
Well I dont know if thats true what he said, see I 100% believe in God and then my husband is agnostic which means he believes the possibility of there being a god but isnt sure since theres so much we dont know about the world or universe.
None of us really know and its okay to believe what you believe, just let others do the same.As long as they dont get too pushy with you letting others discuss it shouldnt be a problem.
I would try not to take it personally. For some people talking about “god this and god that,” helps them. I am not one of those people. When someone gets a little too preachy and I have flashbacks of Sunday school, I calmly remind myself that someone else might need to hear this. Or maybe that person really needs to share and discussing their personal faith is helpful to them in recovery. Whatever the case, I try to keep an open mind. While I believe, I get icky feelings when it starts getting way too preachy. It happens, lol.
Or someone will usually say, “bla bla bla, my higher power, which is Jesus I don’t care if people know,” and then I’m back in Sunday school. It can be bothersome, but again I try to remember I’m not the only one listening.
Upon going AA, I was an agnostic. What I learned was to redefine the word God for myself.
Definition of my God: Positive energy of the universe, omens, kindness of others, nature, gravity and astronomy, karma, etc.
I do not have a traditional God, but when I’m in a meeting or reading the big book, I can understand the context of God as I understand God. And when I share in a meeting, I use the word God so others can relate. To know God is to know your perception of God (which is whatever you believe).
This was hard for me to grasp in the beginning. But once you define the word God for yourself, the meetings and book become fantastic tools.
Good explination @Melrm