AA Problems
Posted: April 13th, 2016, 1:43 pm
I have been trying to stop drinking on my own and failing at it. I want help and I want support but I do not want to be in AA. When I go to meetings I feel weak and pathetic--I don't want to be one of those people: repeating clichés, letting AA take over their lives. (Don't worry, I may scorn these fine folks but I don't like myself much either.)
I do not believe in God, coincidence, or miracles. This ends up being quite an impediment in committing to a 12-step program. The nature of one's Higher Power is somewhat customizable but if you stray too far from a traditional definition of God, some of the steps don't make any sense. For example, the 2nd Step:
The idea that you must be desperate and willing to "go to any lengths" for help is perverse. It is as if you must be prostrate and without any power whatsoever to be eligible for the program. The only requirement for membership is a desire to stop drinking, but you are told over and over again that if you don't find God and submit, the program won't work.
Surely there must be a way for me to benefit from AA without having to be desperate and at rock bottom, going so far as to change a central part of my understanding of the universe in exchange for a shot at sobriety?!
Has anyone here been able to successfully grapple with these problems?
I do not believe in God, coincidence, or miracles. This ends up being quite an impediment in committing to a 12-step program. The nature of one's Higher Power is somewhat customizable but if you stray too far from a traditional definition of God, some of the steps don't make any sense. For example, the 2nd Step:
If you are unable to believe in a Higher Power that is conscious and active in the universe, you cannot believe in one which is able to remove desires and defects, to grant serenity, etc.Came to believe a Power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity.
The idea that you must be desperate and willing to "go to any lengths" for help is perverse. It is as if you must be prostrate and without any power whatsoever to be eligible for the program. The only requirement for membership is a desire to stop drinking, but you are told over and over again that if you don't find God and submit, the program won't work.
Surely there must be a way for me to benefit from AA without having to be desperate and at rock bottom, going so far as to change a central part of my understanding of the universe in exchange for a shot at sobriety?!
Has anyone here been able to successfully grapple with these problems?