Big book alcoholics anonymous chapter 4 we agnostics pages 44 57. Oct 05, 2014 when i first approached this step, i was concerned with doing it exactly right. And perhaps thats why we see this in the big book at the end of the third step material. Each quote is followed by alexs thoughts on the topic and a question for the reader to contemplate. Descriptions of speaker meetings, big book study vs. The individual sections of this study guide material reflect ideas, emotions and attitudes you might hear from the. Chapter 4 of the big book, we agnostics, in which bill w argues that recovery requires belief in god, is an insulting mishmash. This is a study guide to the book alcoholics anonymous. Our goal is to study the steps as a friendly, focused group, and work them as the authors of the big book described. For many of us that seems to be an impossible task. The we agnostics chapter of the big book just got back from a meeting closed discussion where we read this entire chapter and shared on it holy crap what an arrogant, insulting, and condescending way of looking at atheists and agnostics. Apologize to people youve harmed alcoholics anonymous. Like the big book study, but using the book twelve steps. Welcome to we agnostics a weekly dose of recovery for the nonreligious.
We may not beleive in the supernatural but we believe in you. And it means, of course, that we are going to talk about god. These are posted as an aid to the blind, those who have difficulty reading or who are remote from meetings either in prison or in hard to reach places. Many times we talk to a new man and watch his hope rise as we discuss his alcoholicproblems and explain our fellowship.
One of the many myths that i was taught about the big book is that its the collective workwords of the original 100 members of aa. Aug 24, 2009 we have a new site come and check us out thursday night big book study. Mar 09, 2012 there is a chapter in the aa big book titled we agnostics. We have a new site come and check us out thursday night big book study. The author is a christian trying to save and convert agnostics. During any such meeting to study the aa big book, you would expect to encounter a wide variety of viewpoints on the portions under consideration. Reading guide for we agnostics amethyst recovery center. It would be helpful to you as you read along to substitute the word food for alcohol and compulsive eater for alcoholic. Chapter 4, we agnostics, is truly a remarkable piece of writing. The big book of quotations for atheists, agnostics, and secular humanists kindle edition by probulos, i. In the last analysis it is only there that he may be found. Throughout the big book atheists and agnostics are portrayed as people who need to be convinced to open their minds to the idea of having a personal relationship with god. Many times we talk to a new man and watch his hope rise as we discuss his alcoholic problems and explain our fellowship. Aa welcomes people of all faiths, even atheists and agnostics, even though the program takes a spiritual.
They are not aa approved, but are aa permitted to use and adapt the aa 12 step program. There were lots of suggestions good orderly direction, guidance on demand, group of drunks the last being the most popular with agnostics and atheists. As i got more familiar with the big book, and the 12. This is a long chapter, but like the rest of the big book, the ideas are simple and straightforward. According to the big book, when we speak of god, what do we mean. Audio big book ideal for those who find difficulty reading, an audio version of the big book in mp3 format. Pray to whatever god you think there is, even as an experiment step eleven. You may rely absolutely on anything they say about themselves. Stojakovic, andrea, magdalena walczak, przemyslaw e. Created especially for high school and college students, this anthology collects letters, essays, diary entries, book excerpts, blogs, and other brief readings by atheists and agnostics from ancient times to the present, from wellknown philosophers to ordinary people.
Especially, as that word gets used by individuals who embrace traditional religious concepts of what it means to them. Many aa agnostics have found these books to be useful and enlightening. Alcoholics anonymous learn about the 12 steps of aa. Page 44 through 57 of the big book of alcoholics anonymous chapter 4 we agnostics. Joe and charlie aa speakers there is a solution from the joe and charlie. What if the fourth chapter of the big book,we agnostics had actually been written by atheists and agnostics.
I had certainly read it before, but its importance hadnt struck me. M download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. Mar 29, 2018 i know it wont be an overnight thing, or if it will even ever happen, but we have to consider that if aa helps 510%, and there are 15% agnostics in the us population, maybe 2025 among alcoholics, i think we tend to be more of an ungodly bunch, this leaves, give or take, around 70% who are not helped by aa and who are not necessarily not. This is the part of the big book where their blatant proselytizing for god happens. Agnostics article about agnostics by the free dictionary.
In doing so, the big book also presents a method by which readers can investigate theological questions for themselves. We hope we have made clear the distinction between the alcoholic and the nonalcoholic. I also dont approve of the big book saying i dont know who god is. We agnostics i n the precedingchapters you have learned something of alcoholism. In essence, the chapter emphasizes that all drunks come into aa as agnostics and godless but, over time, they rid themselves of that ridiculous concept and see the path towards a higher power code speak for the more commonly used word god. Mar 22, 2015 page 44 through 57 of the big book of alcoholics anonymous chapter 4 we agnostics. Four short years before writing this chapter, the principal author, bill w.
We wish to make the 12 steps of alcoholics anonymous part of our. The authors summarize the second letter xxivxxvthe body of the alcoholic is quite as abnormal as his mind. Alcoholics anonymous and the big book are registered trademarks of a. Bbbig book study spspeaker bdbirthday ststep study clcandlelight ttraditions ddiscussion wwomen. Sorting and rendering passages in the proprietary format of the 164 and more concordance does not in any way imply affiliation with or endorsement by either alcoholics. This 1968 book is the story of harry dawes, a modern catholic layman who has lost his faith, and struggles with the questions of existence and belief. They summarized what they learned from the oxford group in six simple principles. May 21, 2008 in its chapter, we agnostics, the big book outlines its attitude toward spiritual and religious matters. I mean i understood it intellectually, but what i wasnt getting is it god means anything that is outside the self that has the power to healhelpetc. I find it to be very insulting and incompatible with any secular thinking.
Episode eight aa spiritualism vs science references. Oct, 2016 that being said, when most people think of addiction recovery, they will typically envision a group of people sitting in a circle, working together to refrain from using drugs and alcohol by practicing the principles of the 12steps which were first laid out in the big book of alcoholics anonymous aa. Bernard basset is a jesuit, and the author of many other books such as we neurotics,born for friendship. We confessed or shared our shortcomings with another person in confidence. Nov 21, 2014 that means we have written a book which we believe to be spiritual as well as moral. We agnostics chapter of the big book religious forums. Atheist in big book alcoholics anonymous, 12 steps and 12. Suspended we agnostics austin aa hill country intergroup. Pp 5354 we agnostics the faith of reason the eaa group.
This is the heart of the big book, the chapter that introduces the twelve steps of alcoholics anonymous, and is so revered that it is read to open. It simply means that a man shall not say he knows or believes that which he has no scientific grounds for professing to know or believe. The 164 and more book, ebook, and web site are all concordances which display passages from the big book alcoholics anonymous, the twelve steps and twelve traditions, and the a. We can help you or your loved one break the cycle of addiction and adopt healthy behaviors to ensure long. We agnostics of acadiana 6 pm pink o d building 1119c johnston st. Yes, we of agnostic temperament have had these thoughts and. I think this chapter gets ignored quite often, especially by members that feel theyve got a good grasp of the faith business, but it helped me a great deal when i was trying to wrap my brain around step 2. When this was brought up in our carc2 meeting, the reply was that they were afraid the next step would be to change the big book. A perspective on we agnostics chapter 4 of the big book how could there possibly be a god when there are so many starving people and wars where everybody says god is on their side.
He genuinely believed that he had a spiritual experience granted by god, and it was his sincere view that this. Chapter 4 we agnostics page 40 for either case, atheist or agnostic, we are going to have to find some way to have this spiritual experience, and to use this power greater than human power. Big book workbook is for those who are willing to grow along spiritual lines 60. Joe had been studying the big book since 1962, but since he was an africanamerican man living in little rock, arkansas during that time, he was only allowed to stand in the back of meetings, and. To one who feels he is an atheist or agnostic such an experience. With god to illinois,lets start praying again, etc. What we know of course is that the big book was bill wilsons baby its a collection of his opinions and beliefs at 34 years sober. The chapter on we agnostics was often suggested by wellmeaning friends, which can, in. The purpose of this study guide is to enable the student to better understand the information the authors of the book, alcoholics anonymous, intended to impart to each of us based on their experience and knowledge of alcoholism and their program of recovery.
If, when you honestly want to, you find you cannot quit entirely, or if, when drinking, you have little control over the amount you take, you are probably alcoholic. Aa speaker turn our will and our lives over to the care of god new 20 duration. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading the big book of quotations for atheists, agnostics, and secular humanists. Agnosticism is of the essence of science, whether ancient or modern. Ebbys neat little formula aa history alcoholics anonymous. Your rational thinking, but those who are religious can arrive at. Cieslak, aleksandra trenk, johan skold, joanna zajdel, elahe mirrasekhian et al. Aac campus house on left next to the pond ville platte solutions 7 pm od 7 pm. Although these books are not written specifically for the agnostic, they use nonjudgemental direct language and are higherpower neutral. By using we in the title, it is insinuated that the authors are agnostic. Consequently, agnosticism puts aside not only the greater part of popular theology, but also the greater part of antitheology.
I mean i understood it intellectually, but what i wasnt getting is it god. Whether agnostic, atheist, or former believer, we stand together on this step. The big book would advise you, however, not to be too perturbed by these references. It sounds like they are trying to convert me to something. It is dedicated to those who want recovery from alcoholism, but have difficulty with the word god. Many times we talk to a new man and watch his hope rise as we discuss his alcoholicproblems and. Though agnostic, bill was completely deflated and willing to try anything that would.
When i first approached this step, i was concerned with doing it exactly right. I guess i was a bit of a fundamentalist at the time and feared that it. A perspective on we agnostics chapter 4 of the big book. We agnostics of acadiana 6 pm o d pink building 1119c johnston st. We admitted we were licked, that we were powerless over alcohol. Many times we talk to a new man and watch his hope rise as we discuss. I thought it had to be done precisely as laid out in the big book, and although bill w. Especially, as that word gets used by individuals who embrace traditional religious concepts of. Agnostic in big book alcoholics anonymous, 12 steps and 12.
What about those sanctimonious church goers who judge me for my sins and then commit their own. Ideal for those who find difficulty reading, an audio version of the big book in mp3 format. Then why does the chaptor we agnostics insinuate were all agnostic till we find out who god is in our lives and we have to have a spiritual awakening. We agnostics assignment we have covered the first and second components of the disease of alcoholism. The individual sections of this study guide material reflect ideas, emotions and attitudes you might hear from the mouth of that old timer over in the corner. Nov 14, 2018 welcome to we agnostics a weekly dose of recovery for the nonreligious. The big book of alcoholics anonymous we agnostics youtube. Schematic outline of the first 103 pages of the big book i.
This is how i imagine it could have been in the preceding chapters you have learned something of alcoholism. The big book of quotations for atheists, agnostics, and. Bill actually put these ideas into action on page of the big book, and, of course. The scientist who looks at the universe with an open mind and accepts whatever the universe has to teach us, or somebody who says everything in this book must be considered the literal truth and never mind the fallibility of all the human beings involved. Aa big book 4th edition alcoholics anonymous edinburgh. It is the sharing of our collective experience, strength, hope and wisdom inspired by our reading of this big book together that will make a difference in our recovery. Schematic outline of the first 103 pages of the big book. The purpose of this study guide is to enable the student to better understand the information the authors of the book, alcoholics anonymous, intended to impart to each of us based on their experience and knowledge of alcoholism and. That means we have written a book which we believe to be spiritual as well as moral. Whether agnostic, atheist, or former believer, we can stand together on this step. What if the fourth chapter of the big book, we agnostics had actually been written by atheists and agnostics. In its chapter, we agnostics, the big book outlines its attitude toward spiritual and religious matters. Within the world of big book studies, there are some groups that differentiate themselves as hardcore, intent on preserving the process of the steps as the original members intended.
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