Yes, we do?
I am confused because well, the same reason...........never mind, I am sorry for the interruption in your thread.
I guess I don't understand the steps like I thought I did. Do we, or do we not claim in the 12 steps program that we are powerless against our "issues" or addictions and ONLY through a higher power can we find peace and sobriety?
Just a tad confused here.
If someone can clear some things up.......I am guessing...........no, I must just be a little mixed up. I could have swore beliefs of any kind are not to be tested on this site.......nah, must be my imagination.
Hey thanks for your reply. Again, i just wonder if people who follow the 12 steps faithfully are really following the will of their HP or the road map to recovery outlined by Bill W. I think the latter infers that Bill W himself is 'God/HP/whatever. I also find the inference that Bill W was in direct communication with a HP and was privy to salvation when so many other serious events have been spurned by this understanding of a god( a god who shows special favour to alcoholics/addicts only) a little offensive and heretical.
I have researched the origins of the steps( Oxford Group/ Moral Re Armament)and feel they have their place for people like yourself who are able to glean worthwhile rewards. Me, i struggled with the whole 12 step philosophy and no matter how hard i tried i always had these niggling doubts which prevented me from accessing the serenity ,doled out sparingly ,within the 12 step community. I like to consider these doubts as the internal workings of my own higher power who has afforded me a successful and meaningful independant recovery thus far, along with a modicum of transient serenity.
Again, no dispespect is intended in my post and i doubt we shall ever see eye to eye on this matter but i welcome any opportunity to expose my beliefs to the challenge of an opposing ideology. Its always worthwhile to see if they can weather the ensuing storm.
All the best, Jeremy
I read your post in the other thread. Thanks for replying and for clearing things up a bit. I've been thinking about what you said and the question you pose. I personally don't know how the steps came about. Here's a little more of story to go along with an idea that struck me:
During the time I had asked for help and went to my first mtg I was moved to admit that something was wrong. At the time I couldn't understand what. I came to believe in a Power Greater than myself and became willing to get the help I needed. I manged to get to my parents house. When they found me sleeping on their couch they asked what was going on. I explained everything to them. What I had been doing, how I'd been feeling etc. This in my eyes was a form of the fourth and fifth steps. This is about as far as I got in regards to being "moved" to do certain things.
My idea is this:
Perhaps Bill had been "moved" to do these 12 things which he was then able to put into words. So when his will was turned over at step three, and he "organically" or "naturally" followed with an inventory, amends, awakening as a result of turning his will over , he just wrote down what he went through in an effort to help others.
I don't know what would have happened to me if I never saw the 12 steps. I may not have understood there were more steps to be taken and end up drunk again. Perhaps the HP that I believe in would have continued to "move" me in much the same fashion he had earlier. My experience shows me that He got me to see the Steps via the help of another alcoholic.
Thanks!
Those are good questions. I needed a dictionary to understand them but good none the less. LOL. I don't see the redundancy issue. I know when I surrendered I knew I was beat. That is about it. I didn't realize the full impact of my selfishness and self centeredness until I moved on with the rest of the steps.
In regard to "the will of Bill and others"...they are just sharing what worked for them and many others. I agree there is more than one way to get and stay sober and that a person should do whatever works for them. I personally don't judge others based on how they stay sober or what they believe. So far I haven't seen anything in AA literature that condems those that don't work the steps as they are written. I'm not saying others won't have an opinion or something to say about it. The rooms are filled with sick people. That's why we are there. LOL.
When I was hurting real bad from drinking I said a prayer and asked God for help. Within the next few days I was put in touch with a family friend in AA who took me to a mtg. It was there I was told that if I follow suggestions and work the 12 steps I wouldn't have to drink again. I've been doing that and it works. I believe God provided me with a way to stop drinking and have a good life. I personally can't afford to take all the credit. That doesn't work for me. If you can be sober and take all the credit then go for it.
I've seen people with a similar attitude as you and do fine. I've also seen others have a similar attitude in an effort to avoid the remaining steps. Most have gotten drunk again.
What I try to keep in mind:
Am I willing to do something different when the way I am doing it stops working?
Take care and thanks for the questions.
Hi. It doesn't matter to me if people want to attribute their hard earned sobriety to the grace of some benevolent Higher Power/God/Religious Dogma/Door Knob/whatever. Me, i am not so humble and prefer to take full credit for the sobriety 'I' have managed to achieve thus far. After all, 'I"must bear full responsibility for any lapses/relapses so why is the reverse not true?
Anyway, this is not the proper platform for me to air my personal grievances with regards to the 12 step treatment paradigm.Thanks for your comments.
Regards jeremy
hehe, I knew someone was an atheist........will the real dawkins please stand up?
No no, I get your point. There is incredible importance in understanding the value of self. I have to give you credit though, not only do you make your points, but you are doing it in a polite and non insulting way.
I won't attempt to answer your questions, what I will do is let you know I have little knowledge of the 12 steps and other such religious N/A or A/A programs.
I do have a question for you sir, if something helps people stay clean and sober, does it matter if what they believe in and what they believe in doing is "real" or not?
Now please, please, for the love of science, don't take what I posted as negative towards you, I am being just as genuine and polite as you are ;-)
Hi ya. i was hoping someone familiar with the steps could answer some quick questions i have with regards to this specifc step.
If i understand this step correctly, i am supposed to surrender my will and my life over to the care of God/HP as i understand Him/Her/It. Suppose i manage to successfully achieve the required state of surrender ~ are'nt the following steps superfluous and redundant? . Are'nt they then the will of Bill W and Co/sponsors/etc and his mates rather than the benevolent wishes of my own personal HP?
Let me explain. If i already surrender my will and my life over to the care of God, does it not stand to reason that the remaining steps( Inventory, amends,spiritual awakening etc) would happen organically, if deemed an appropriate measure ,as decided by my own personal HP. That is, i would do these things regardless ,if that is truely what my HP/God had intended.
If someone was compelled to eschew the remaing steps in the belief that their higher power considers steps 4-12 redundant, are they still deemed faithfull followers of the dogma espoused in the steps? Does their recovery have as much merit as those who adhere to all 12 steps? Are these people blasphemers/ cheats or dry drunks?
Any help with these questions would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.
Regards Jeremy.
If u can't remember u will have to thank me each time. LOL!! and yes u did.
I'm glad I read this again today. Lately I have had a strong focus on my will and I have been irritable and discontented. I think I'm gonna go find a quiet place and ask God to help me "turn it over".
Did i tell u thanks for bringint he steps up again? Thank u!
I like this one.