How often do we sit in A.A. meetings and hear the speaker declare, “But I haven’t yet got the spiritual angle.” Prior to this statement, he has described a miracle of transformation which has occurred in him — not only his release from alcohol, but a complete change in his whole attitude toward life and the living of it.
It is apparent to everyone else present that he has received a great gift, and that this gift is all out of proportion to anything that may be expected from simple A.A. participation. So we in the audience smile and say to ourselves, “Well, that guy is just reeking with the spiritual angle — except that he doesn’t seem to know it yet!”
- Bill Wilson, GRAPEVINE, July 1962
There is really only one thing I truly dislike about Alcoholics Anonymous, and that is the glaring and indisputable fact that the entire program is steeped in Christian themes. More »
Tagged: addiction, deity, finding God, HP, recovery
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- July 8, 2011 – 10:17 am
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- By The Agnostic Alcoholic
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I am no different than most people: I have spent my entire life trying to “be someone.” I sought approval at every turn. I bragged — with bravado so steeped in arrogance that I cringe to think about it now. More »
Tagged: addiction, alcoholism, Legacy, making your mark, posterity, recovery
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- July 7, 2011 – 8:48 am
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- By The Agnostic Alcoholic
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When I returned to Alcoholics Anonymous — after years of living under the yoke of the alcoholic obsession — one of the first things I surrendered to was my abject fear of so many things in my life. Once I finally faced this inescapable part of my disease, I began to see how much of my addiction and abuse derived directly from my terror of life. More »
Tagged: chemical dependency, hiding from reality, letting fear control you
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- July 6, 2011 – 8:38 am
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- By The Agnostic Alcoholic
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In my earliest sobriety, I attended meetings of Alcoholics Anonymous with all the enthusiasm a starving person might welcome food — at least two times a day, but often more. I quickly found a sponsor I could work with, followed the twelve steps with meticulous precision, and shared at meetings. And lo and behold, I was shocked to find serenity descending upon me! Even more stupefying was that this peace seemed sustainable. To my great relief and delight, it hasn’t left yet. But one thing did remain: fear. More »
Tagged: AA, dependencies, higher power, letting go
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- May 12, 2011 – 9:08 am
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- By The Agnostic Alcoholic
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I have found making amends to be one of the most powerful mechanisms in the Alcoholics Anonymous Twelve-Step program. Nothing has been more instrumental to my sobriety than the act of addressing a past grievance or malfeasance, taking ownership, and presenting my regret, embarrassment, and shame to the person or people against whom I have transgressed. But how far should we take this process? More »
Tagged: chemical dependence, cleaning the slate, doing right, owning up, sorry
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- April 18, 2011 – 8:02 am
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- By The Agnostic Alcoholic
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This week, I saw several friends slip back under the wicked control of alcohol, and it shook me to the core. How could this happen? We have been practicing the AA program principles with so much enthusiasm and commitment. We were there for each other. We were strong, together. So why did it happen. Why did they go back out? What weakened their resolve? And most importantly, am I condemned to follow them back into the hell I escaped from when I surrendered to the Alcoholics Anonymous promises? More »
Tagged: acceptance, addiction, falling off the wagon, imposing morality, letting go, twelve-steps
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- March 15, 2011 – 11:17 pm
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- By The Agnostic Alcoholic
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There is a conspicuous common element shared between almost all alcoholics and addicts: we overwhelmingly tend to seek control. We like to manipulate people and situations. We believe we can mold the universe to our vision. This is the core of our obsessions, but it will not work. More »
Tagged: accusation, criticism, God, imposing beliefs on others, morality, peace
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- March 10, 2011 – 9:24 am
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- By The Agnostic Alcoholic
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What is your objective in life? Do you want to live? Do you want to be happy? Do you want good things for humanity? Do you want to contribute to that? More »
Tagged: dependence, goals, letting go, rights of man, slavery
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- March 8, 2011 – 9:33 am
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- By The Agnostic Alcoholic
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We are alcoholics. We demand instant gratification. We believe we are entitled to anything we want, right now — and that includes recovery. More »
Tagged: AA, change, getting back on top, higher power, sobriety, twelve-steps
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- March 7, 2011 – 11:43 am
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- By The Agnostic Alcoholic
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All children are selfish. They need to be fed, clothed, kept warm. They cry to express need when infants, and then they learn to whine and throw tantrums. Eventually, they either grow out of that selfishness, or they do not. More »
Tagged: addiction, alcoholism, growing up, immaturity, lying, truth
- Published:
- March 4, 2011 – 7:55 am
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- By The Agnostic Alcoholic
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