Re(1): Whatever Works Posted on May 31, 2022 at 05:15:12 AM by Friend of a friend of Bill's
Just curious, friend of Bill. What role has religion played both in your life and your regaining sobriety?
While AA claims no religious intent, I concluded they took that position because too many people who need the help wouldn't buy into the AA book and the meeting traditions which was thick in protestant theology--from the meeting formats to the steps, the book, and its dependence on 'praying to (euphenism:) higher power." (ergo, God.)
I also discovered the Bible thumpers and Big Book thumpers did a lot of preaching during their daily 5 minutes of lecture.
I went on and off for abt ten years and discovered people came and went but the regulars ran the club and they stayed while the rest stayed for awhile, maybe, and then disappeared to other groups or, well just disappeared.
Lotta nice people, tho a bit zealous about 'the program'. Some were terrific but others were just dry drunks still with the personalities of drunks. And then some lived in constant fear of slipping back into old habits.
I was glad the Naltrexone and counseling I got broke my habit finally and I didn't have to go to meetings. My view was that drunk or sober, if ya go to AA, alcoholism still has a hold of you and that's kinda built into the assumptions of "I'm (insert first name) and I'm an alcoholic" and if you don't say it in the beginning of your daily turn to testify, they don't look at you as a true believer."
They kind of remind me of Southerners.... "Friendly, in a judgmental sort of way."