It is the basic text of the fellowship of alcoholics anonymous, and has helped large numbers of alcoholic men and women, young and old, recover. According to the big book, when we speak of god, what do we mean. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading the big book of quotations for atheists, agnostics, and secular humanists. This is the fourth edition of the big book, the basic text for alcoholics anonymous. Oct 05, 2014 i thought it had to be done precisely as laid out in the big book, and although bill w. Aug 24, 2009 we have a new site come and check us out thursday night big book study. It sounds like they are trying to convert me to something. Where we have been alerted by the group, those meetings are marked as. Joe and charlie cover the chapter we agnostics from the big book of alcoholics anonymous in such masterly detail.
Aa meetings in indianapolis by zip 46236 alcoholics. We agnostics appears in the book, alcoholics anonymous aka the big book on. The 12 promises of aa begin on page 83 of the fourth edition of the big book. In a nutshell, step 11 says to discover the plan god, as you understand him, has for your life and find the power to carry it out.
Many times we talk to a new man and watch his hope rise as we discuss his alcoholicproblems and. Alcoholics anonymous aa 12step program as described in the the big book, aas guide for people recovering from alcoholism, has many references to god and religious themes, and step 11 is no different. It would be helpful to you as you read along to substitute the word food for alcohol and compulsive eater for alcoholic. There are now secular aa groups in virtually every major city in the. Jan 29, 2017 in this part of the alcoholics anonymous big book study, joe and charlie discuss the chapter we agnostics this series of talks came about from a friendship that started in alcoholics anonymous. The big book serves as the foundation for the alcoholics anonymous 12step program. The eaa group rarely have we seen a person fail who has thoroughly followed our path. 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. We have a new site come and check us out thursday night big book study.
Aug, 2017 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. Apr 05, 2016 we agnostics by roger published april 5, 2016 updated april 24, 2020 this was a talk given at the 39th annual aa spring roundup in san diego, march 2427, 2016, easter weekend. Aa revolves around the 12 step program that provides a framework for selfdiscovery, selfexamination, and recovery from alcoholism. Short but indepth look within the big book, highlighting the major points simply. Taken from the book alcoholics anonymous frequently called the big book. Nov 21, 2014 that means we have written a book which we believe to be spiritual as well as moral. For the record, we have no affililation with gopher state library. No religion no prayerjust warm friendly folks like you gathering together for support and sobriety. Because this book has become the basic text for our society and has helped such large numbers of alcoholic men and women to recovery, there exists strong sentiment against any radical changes made to it. The big book of quotations for atheists, agnostics, and secular humanists kindle edition by probulos, i. Chapter 4 of the big book is titled we agnostics and explores the meaning of a higher power. How could there possibly be a god when there are so many starving people and wars where everybody says god is on their side. 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. Alcoholics anonymous is a fellowship of men and women that share the common desire to stop drinking, and support others alongside them to recover from their alcoholism.
Besides a seeming inability to accept much on faith, we often found. Pages 44 through 57 chapter 4, we agnostics, is truly a remarkable piece of writing. That means we have written a book which we believe to be spiritual as well as moral. The big book loop is a study group which has as its mission to provide an additional area of recovery and support to coes who appreciate the aabb,lovingly known as the big book. One can now listen to the alcoholics anonymous big book from front to back, or by choosing a chapter. The big book of quotations for atheists, agnostics, and.
Words contained within the first 164 pages of the big book. By writing first, then doing the 5 th step we can look at resentment, fear and harm individually, the way it says in the big book. The individual sections of this study guide material reflect ideas, emotions and attitudes you might hear from the. We confessed or shared our shortcomings with another person in confidence. Currently, we have over 20 virtual meetings you can choose, ranging from big book, discussion, newcomer meetings, and more. They summarized what they learned from the oxford group in six simple principles. In its chapter, we agnostics, the big book outlines its attitude toward spiritual and religious matters. Finding sobriety in aa without having to accept anyone elses beliefs or deny your own.
Many times we talk to a new man and watch his hope rise as we discuss his alcoholicproblems and explain our fellowship. 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. We agnostics aa big book chapter 4 aa big book big book of aa alcoholics anonymous doctors opinion how it works aa preamble alcoholism recovery 4th edition 3rd edition 2nd edition alcohol allergy rehabilitation of alcoholics dr. We care 43824 30th street west get map to group lancaster ca 93534. 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. When writing or speaking publicly about alcoholism, we urge each of our fellowship to omit his personal name, designating himself instead as a member of alcoholics anonymous. Reading guide for we agnostics amethyst recovery center. M download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. I have provided a link in a couple of places on this page for your convenience, so you can get to the search page. This misconception extends to 12based treatment centers, who are accused of brainwashing their patients rather than treating a disease. Aa the original way 12 step guide aa the original way group. I thought it had to be done precisely as laid out in the big book, and although bill w. Many times we talk to a new man and watch his hope rise as we discuss his alcoholic problems and explain our fellowship. Aa meetings frederick, md alcoholics anonymous near me.
We hope we have made clear the distinction between the alcoholic and the nonalcoholic. This is the audio version of the fourth edition of the big book, the basic text for alcoholics anonymous. Feb 21, 2017 chapter 4 of the big book is titled we agnostics and explores the meaning of a higher power. I guess i was a bit of a fundamentalist at the time and feared that it wouldnt work if i didnt follow directions exactly. We have laid out the 4 th step inventory here so that it follows the big book. Many times we talk to a new man and watch his hope rise as we discuss.
Speaker meeting at an alcoholics anonymous speaker meeting, a member of alcoholics anonymous will tell their story and share their journey, strength, and hope with fellow members of alcoholics anonymous. Secular aa offers over 520 face to face group meetings worldwide. May 21, 2008 in its chapter, we agnostics, the big book outlines its attitude toward spiritual and religious matters. We agnostics chapter of the big book religious forums. 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. A personal story on page 407 called acceptance was the answer is also wellknown among aa membership. And it means, of course, that we are going to talk about god. Atheist in big book alcoholics anonymous, 12 steps and 12. Oct 12, 2017 one of many good places to begin is in alcoholics anonymous aka the big book, specifically chapter 4, we agnostics.
For oa members who want to thoroughly explore the big book from beginning to end we would be happy to have you join us. God will constantly disclose more to you and to us. 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. I also dont approve of the big book saying i dont know who god is. We agnostics assignment we have covered the first and second components of the disease of alcoholism. Quad a alcoholics anonymous for atheists and agnostics was launched in 1975 in chicago. We admitted we were licked, that we were powerless over alcohol. We have created this guide because we agree with these sentiments. The whytehouse is, i hope, a way to find that special phrase or saying etc. What if the fourth chapter of the big book,we agnostics had actually been written by atheists and agnostics. Joe and charlies we agnostics big book step study my. Alcoholism12 step support a perspective on we agnostics chapter 4 of the big book im not going for this god stuff. We wish to make the 12 steps of alcoholics anonymous part of our.
For the agnostic, atheist and humanist, it can feel like a distraction. Outlining the steps and traditions that make aa famous, as well as numerous stories about recovering addicts who have been through the process, the big book has helped guide millions into a life of sobriety. To one who feels he is an atheist or agnostic such an experience. 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. One of many good places to begin is in alcoholics anonymous aka the big book, specifically chapter 4, we agnostics. Very earnestly we ask the press also, to observe this request, for otherwise we shall be greatly handi. Step 6, for example, had been changed from were entirely ready to. In the preceding chapters you have learned something of alcoholism. Meetings tricounty intergroup of alcoholics anonymous. We agnostics i n the precedingchapters you have learned something of alcoholism. And one should read page 191 of the big book for bill wilsons own statement. By the very act of critiquing chapter 4, we agnostics, i admittedly commit aa heresy. In doing so, the big book also presents a method by which readers can investigate theological questions for themselves.
The target audience for we agnostics is relatively easy to define. The answers will come, if your own house is in order. Our goal is to study the steps as a friendly, focused group, and work them as the authors of the big book described. 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. We agnostics by roger published april 5, 2016 updated april 24, 2020 this was a talk given at the 39th annual aa spring roundup in san diego, march 2427, 2016, easter weekend. It is clear that the aa fellowship knew since its beginnings that nonbelievers could also. Aa speakers joe and charlie we agnostics the big book. Chapter 4 of the big book, we agnostics, in which bill w argues that recovery requires belief in god, is an insulting mishmash. We would like it understood that our alcoholic work is an avocation. Big book meeting at big book meetings, a member will commonly read out of the big book and then encourage its members to discuss the meeting. The final point is that belief in god, acceptance of christ, and study. Chapter 4 we agnostics page 41 notice the asterisk at the bottom of the page.
The big book would advise you, however, not to be too perturbed by these references. Big book workbook is for those who are willing to grow along spiritual lines 60. Working the 12 steps in this is a easytoread and understand workbook, we discover the core issues of the 12 steps and how to work toward making them a daily part of our lives. It is named, of course, after a chapter in alcoholics anonymous often called the big book. It is my hope that you will find this site useful to you and our friends of bill w. Group listing antelope valley intergroup of alcoholics anonymous.
This is a long chapter, but like the rest of the big book, the ideas are simple and straightforward. This is the third time we have been referred to appendix ii spiritual experience. Please be sure to read appendix ii about the spiritual experience. A perspective on we agnostics chapter 4 of the big book. In this part of the alcoholics anonymous big book study, joe and charlie discuss the chapter we agnostics this series of talks came about from a friendship that started in alcoholics anonymous. Aa big book with questions for discussion emotional. Since the first edition appeared, in 1939, it has helped millions of men and women recover from alcoholism. Four short years before writing this chapter, the principal author, bill w.
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