Comments on: Alternatives to Alcoholics Anonymous

By: Sydney(mtf)

Sydney(mtf) — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 10:14:46 +0000

It’s not about not liking AA cuz they think a higher power will help them. (I still attend AA by the way)
It’s the fact that if I choose to not believe in a higherpower (I am a satanist) Then I cannot even BEGIN the steps.
Is this fare to me? Weather it’s fare or not isn’t the why I’m here. I need some some real fucking support.
~Sydney

By: Dog

Dog — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 05:13:06 +0000

Thanks for the encouragement. I’m actually doing pretty well and its not that difficult for me day to day. When crisis arises is when I need to call in the troops, regardless of faith issues its good to know I have people to call if I’m even thinkin about a drink. There’s value in that, too bad the container is a superstitious one. But its a luxury to pick bones about beliefs, in the face of the alcoholic crisis or otherwise there are alturistic motives at play and I’m grateful for that.

By: Richard Wade

Richard Wade — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 03:21:34 +0000

Marcella and Dog, I've visited both of your sites and they are interesting. Keep doing everything that seems to work and don't give up. You're both very early in your sobriety, and it will be difficult, as you already know. Visit each other's sites and support each other. Since you know the "god stuff" is empty nonsense, then what is working for the successfully sober members of AA must be what you can see all around them: Each other! They are surrounding themselves with real people who can see if they are sober or not, see if they're emotionally distressed or not, and they're offering immediate encouragement and real life help. Both your blog and your forum are good ideas, and you should keep them up. At the same time, don't let them be a substitute for physically being with other recovering people in the same room. They can look right at you and see if you're bullshitting them or yourself, and in early recovery you need lots of that. Any completely blotto drunk can write whatever he wants others to think. Write what your truth is, and then be certain you go out to find other recovering people. AA or not, Rational Recovery or not, just physically be with others as much as you can. Whatever the hell you can find. Ignore the nonsense and pay attention to the practical advice. The point is to not be physically alone, and to be with sober people. In time it will get easier, just never soon enough. Stay sober, get sober again, don't ever, ever give up. To paraphrase that ritual at the end of the AA meetings, Keep coming back to your best self. You work, when you work your best self.

By: Dog

Dog — Sun, 06 Sep 2009 23:43:39 +0000

Hello, I just wanted to let everyone know that I started a forum for those who are in or out of AA and are atheist or agnostic and don’t want or need a higher power. All are welcome.
atheistalcoholics.com

By: Marcella Winter

Marcella Winter — Sat, 22 Aug 2009 23:32:47 +0000

I have started a blog on which I will chronicle my experiences in AA for other atheists. Tune in see if it works!
ennuiarebored.blogspot.com

By: John B

John B — Mon, 09 Mar 2009 00:07:27 +0000

I am 60 years of age an atheist, alcoholic and an AA member for about 5 months. It seems as though people need to point fingers and be righter than the next. Maybe it helps those who do this feel better about themselves by demeaning others. Race, Politics, Religion seem chock full of this with plenty of people who will stand up and die for it.
As an alcoholic I know that without some kind of help, I will end up dead more sooner than later. The people I have met at various AA groups which I have visited in the past 5 months have all been kind and sincere believers. Most of whom have been with AA for many years and admit freely that they are sober only a day or a week.
I don’t buy the God thing and have been more frequently annoyed with it’s constant insertion at meetings.
I recently attended an AA meeting in Shenzhen China. It was held at a coffee shop and the most liberating meeting I’ve been to yet.
Many beliefs and no Lord’s Prayer reared it’s head.
I could do this and make it work.
A pity I have not found something like this on LI NY

Yours in Sobriety

By: AskAnAtheist.org

AskAnAtheist.org — Wed, 28 Jan 2009 13:49:45 +0000

jimmac: My first thought is that you might consider starting your own group. This is not a trite retort to your complaint – I think you have a valid complaint and I see a need and some opportunity here.

Reading your post, you seem to me like a level-headed guy who knows how to organize and how to motivate. I would recommend first setting up something online, like a blog or forum, to see if you can get enough people interested to make something like this a go (if you’re not “techno-savvy”, contact me and I’ll show you how you can do it for free). You might consider including non-atheists as well – perhaps members of other faiths who would prefer a secular organization because they have the same problem with Christian-based organizations.

By: jimmac

jimmac — Wed, 28 Jan 2009 04:16:29 +0000

as a buzzed up atheist, i can fairly say that i would like a forum to talk with others and better myself, but as a career tradesman i just wont lower myself to being that annoying guy with the POS rusted car cause he spends way too much time at meetings, and shiny bumper stickers on the back who annoys most around him blessing every f-ing grinder he eats despite who is at the table with him and seeing jesus in every pebble and tree stump.I would rather drink myself to death than compromise my core beliefs and gain a “new addiction”. I also wont sit there while a bunch o shiny happy people reference jesus for 10 minutes out of my hour. Time is too valuable.
Any advice for a guy like me? (besides being “open minded” to believing in things that dont exist to me). I think everyone is entitled to treatmend without compromising their spiritual beliefs

By: Bob M

Bob M — Mon, 25 Aug 2008 22:07:53 +0000

I am an active member of AA with 26 years of continuous sobriety. I am also an atheist. I have many friends in AA who are convinced that a belief in a higher power keeps them sober. Of course, their beliefs are supported by the official AA literature, including the ‘Big Book’. Many members of AA are convinced that one cannot maintain long term sobriety without a close personal relationship with God. That is their perogative. I am living proof that God is not necessary for long term sobriety.
I very much enjoy the social aspects of AA. Our group has frequent golf outings, live music events, and group meals. I can tolerate the God talk. I rarely talk in meetings, however. If the topic is something other than God, I can contribute. Since the ‘official’ word of AA is God, I don’t feel comfortable presenting arguments against God – no matter how rational those arguments may be. Since most of my friends are AA believers, I doubt I would attend one the alternatives – even if I could find one.

By: Richard Wade

Richard Wade — Sat, 05 Jul 2008 21:48:59 +0000

apryl m.,
If you live in or near a major city you will have more variety to choose from within AA. For instance in the Los Angeles area there are several “we agnostics” AA meetings which are probably more geared to your sensibilities. If you’re in a rural area then your choices are more limited. In the meantime, if your internet secular group is doing the trick, great! Keep working at it and eventually you’ll find some face-to-face support, which is so essential. All the best for your recovery.