Part One: Introduction. it becomes quite easy to assume that we have all of the truth we demand agreement with us. How do I know? Replacement addictions as some call them have provided a lifetime of new challenges to reign in and my bag of self-destructive cycles is deep. Every time someone produces their own twelve steps I seize upon it and frequently modify my own. But the reading is intriguing enough to first-timers that the book is a popular choice from our literature table. I dont buy into the powerlessness thing anymore than I buy into the God thing. God, grant me the serenity To accept the things I cannot change; Courage to change the things I can; And wisdom to know the difference. I personally love various translations, and see myself in lots of them. Any two or three alcoholics gathered together for sobriety may call themselves an AA group, provided that, as a group, they have no other affiliation. I dont care whats in that goddamn book, the 77-year-old will say laughing, You can be an atheist and stay sober.. Came to believe that a Power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity. 2. Human Rights Tribunal, Admitted we were caught in a self-destructive cycle and currently lacked the tools to stop it, Trusted that a healthy lifestyle was attainable through social support and consistent self-improvement, Committed to a lifestyle of recovery, focusing only on what we could control, Made a comprehensive list of our resentments, fears, and harmful actions, Shared our lists with a trustworthy person, Made a list of our unhealthy character traits, Began cultivating healthy character traits through consistent positive behavior, Determined the best way to make amends to those we had harmed, Made direct amends to such people wherever possible, except when to do so would cause harm, Practiced daily self-reflection and continued making amends whenever necessary, Sought to retain our newfound recovery lifestyle by teaching it to those willing to learn and by surrounding ourselves with healthy people. Years later, after cultivating rigorous honesty, I realized that I was an atheist, and that it was ok. That is a FREAKEN awesome quotation, Ray Baker. Bill would have laughed at all this crazy, god/no god horseshit going on today, as if any of it is relevant to anything. i want to be better, and i looked up CoDA meetings. All Rights Reserved. We say simply, The principles that made our recovery possible are the Twelve Steps of Narcotics Anonymous., Thirdly, in the Tradition Two reading, we say For our group purpose, there is but one ultimate authority a loving group conscience. One of the easiest transformations for the God thing was a Buddhist AA meeting in Decatur, GA. She is of course grateful for traditional AA, but has found her new home in We Agnostics. It is written in the same clear, step-by-step manner and is just as excellent! Im not alone in this thinking. CoDA Twelve Steps - CoDependents Anonymous (CoDA) Portland, Oregon and If he had lived longer, chances are much more would have been revealed. The interviewer asked about the choice involved in living spiritually or not. We are all alcoholics, and we all have a shared desire to stop drinking. Growth means change and change can be uncomfortable as we all know. The book concludes with an epilogue which recognizes the value of AA to the recovery of millions. Let us remember that each alcoholic among us is a member of AA so long as he or she so declares. He states that Having a structured routine not only simplifies your recovery maintenance, but helps you stay more consistent. Step 3. In part 3 there are lots of questions to answer and lots of room to write your answers although you may need more paper in some cases. We need to talk about topics not based on religion-speak. 1. Some come for a while, some are regulars. Thanks, good article. But I still dont understand why you all have the need to go to meetings where you are obviously not wanted. 4. Co-Dependents Anonymous Promise 3: "I know a new freedom.". The CoDA Steps may not be reprinted or republished without the express written consent of Co-Dependents Anonymous, Inc. Get to the Point is not a special interest group for non-believers; it is simply agnostic/atheist friendly. Each of these is clearly defined, its value is shown, examples are presented and ideas on how to cultivate it are given. So, your group decided not to re-phrase the 12-steps at all? . Interpreting the steps is nothing new either. Really? So whether youre currently attending 12-step programs at your drug rehab center or have already been discharged and are now trying to prevent relapse, rest assured that no one will be brainwashing you at these meetings. Luv the white bison stuff too. If it werent for alternate interpretations to the steps, I dont believe my experience would be as enriched as it has become. If this keeps someone sober, that is WONDERFUL! Updated April 25, 2023. PS. Be kind and apologize when Im in the wrong. We admitted we were powerless over alcoholthat our lives had become unmanageable. I really enjoyed Tracys assertive stance re: atheism. Whether its some supernatural being or their own actions, theyre getting better, and thats what its all about. 12 steps and God? : r/Codependency - Reddit However, we were unable to reach a consensus on an approach or format and this ad hoc group disintegrated. We admitted we were powerless over alcoholthat our lives had become unmanageable. I believe there is power in developing an ability to take what works. In fact, you would be told that trying to resolve it from inside only increases your isolation from the source of grace, which is God. Thank you Tracy for your essay. 4. After consistently practicing a positive behaviour it begins to become our norm, our go-to behaviour. Bravo, Tracy. Wonderful, thoughtful article Thank you, Tracy !~!~! For a liberating approach to AAs 12-Step program of recovery, you might want to consider The Little Book: A Collection of Alternative 12 Steps. Videos Although he was good for a few good Deepisms, as in claims devoid of actual content which sound profound. We are not saints, even if there were such things, and I count myself among the intolerant and judgmental drunks that inhabit my world. If you remove the first and last phrases the body of it is a good way to deal with people. I am not in favor of reading alternate steps at our We Agnostics meeting since we like being listed in the central offices directory. Wouldnt it be in the best interest of AA to grow and support all kinds of programs of sobriety? But when it is shielded and contained it brings many comforts that weve come to rely on and accept. He states that this workbook is for anyone with any kind of addiction or compulsive behavior. As newer drugs became popular and more people became dually addicted, Im glad this distinction has faded. He continued to say Janis Joplin was as spiritual as Mother Teresa. Most of us have found that without some form of self-evaluation, forgiveness, atonement, and helping others (the steps minus God) we may be dry but far from sober and happy. But the WAAFT website alone can be hugely helpful for anyone with the same conflict as me. When I first came around, there was rigorous attention paid to the supposed differences among alkies and druggies, with separate treatment programs, separate certification for counselors, separate govt. The fellowship of AA has kept me sober. Part Two: Getting Started. And, as it says in The Little Book, There are many versions of the 12-Step program of recovery. I do expect that cannabis will be looked at for its benefits. Well, I just finished reading the book, and I have to say that for my kind of person, a non-believer in recovery, this is the best book I have read on the subject of recovery. I had been looking forward to this review since I heard it had been considered; thanks for this, Heather. In this chapter he explains in great detail the working of the steps. Being a trained clinician he does add education and first hand experience working with people who go through addiction and find their way to recovery. Finally, be gentle, and remember that reading and writing about a Step are an important part of working the Steps. 2 Came to believe that a power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity. I every so often think and share at meetings that I am and have been having a spiritual experience for over 66 years now. Thank you for for this article breaking barriers. Shoemaker stuck to thy last Whats next OA, GA, etc. Good stuff in the article, but may I suggest we stick to our primary purpose? We humans inhabit a world that is mostly gray. From the 1930s, there have been alcoholics navigating to sobriety in AA without calling on Gods assistance Jimmy B, and others. Those of us who read or write on the pages of aaagnostica.org have no question that we are members of A.A. We remember the bad old days, and are grateful that we were given our lives back by the fellowship. I love the We Agnostics meeting near my house. When my brothers try to draw a circle to exclude me, I shall draw a larger circle to include them. button to see videos about the given step. Recognize that interacting with unhealthy people is foolish and causes me harm. I especially like your groups self-identity as atheist/agnostic friendly, not anti-god. He remains active in NA Hospitals and Institutions service in the Montral area. PDF CoDA StepStudy Guideline - CoDA France Romans, 7,17. AA has no rule or policy that a belief in the Steps, or in a God/Higher Power is required for membership. Thanks, Edward, for revisiting this issue. The Serenity Prayer is on page 11. Came to believe that a power greater than ourselves could re-store us to sanity. In this chapter he asks you to make a Recovery Maintenance Routine. a fellowship of men and women whose common purpose is to develop healthy While the 12 Steps were inspired by spiritual ideals, a 12-step program itself is not religious at all. Also, there are other intellectual atheists who continue to refer to the big book & it doesnt bother me now. What the pioneers of this movement did was move the boulder from the door. Collectively, by group conscious, we leave the 12 Steps as written up to the individual to use as they see fit or not at all. no offense meant, but this sounds like a very archaic approach of recovery. When I began to let go and ask for help from an infinite source that I will not be able to comprehend from my limited mind, all kinds of wonderful newfound insights came through my pen on paper about what my part was. More about Indeed, inventory and amends and meditation are certainly admirable pursuits, but these are delicious icing on the cake of the essentially elements of my ongoing daily recovery process. Chapter Four The 12 Practical Steps is the heart of the book, where the program details are laid out. in our directory site. A belief in them as they stand is not at all a requirement for membership among us. My worst complaint about the book is that the line spacing and font size got dropped down in chapter 6, and that is uncalled for but thats not much of a complaint, only something I noticed since I am in the final stages of making a book myself. Recently Ive been listening to an audible of 30+ guru types talking about the meaning of spiritual awakening. One theme I hear there is the distinction between living as awakened and the tastes of spiritual experiences that people get along their journey and then the natural mistake of trying to recreate that, now past, event (chasing the dragon? Let us not therefore pressure anyone with our individual or even our collective views. Too bad better medical guidance isnt available, but we all know why. I dont know enough about Janis Joplins life, but that it was powerful, beautiful, and somewhat tragic (in its (SELF?)) Give back to the community when possible and to others in recovery while employing healthy boundaries. Made a decision to turn our will and our lives over to the care of God as we understood God. I guess I cant heap much more praise on it, otherwise youll think I dont really mean it, but I do. Consider asking the person that heads the CoDA meetings how the steps would look without God. Part Four: Beyond the Steps. However, in Pauls conception and in Christianity, you cannot resolve this from inside. It can help you show up for yourself. Why are we so obsessed with the number 12? The first three brief chapters lay out the groundwork. I am both excited and happy to see the god issue given some thought. I have been making good progress with my therapist, and she said that I may be able to go further in my recovery by going to CoDA. There you will learn everything there is to know about Codependence, together with contact details of meetings, resources etc.
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