Big ol disagreement in a meeting I was in last night over someones opinion of God or his lack of belief and a few guys just couldn't hold there emotions, came out of there seats hollering/yelling at the person sharing it was quite something to witness LOL but in the end after a half hour of cooling down everyone made there amends and generally said what was disturbing them, the process was good to see and yes there were new comers in the rooms they were loving it LOL. Anyhow God can be a touchy subject for some, me , i'm open to whatever works for the individual I wont let anyone tell me what I should believe but they can certainly believe whatever they like and if it dont work they can have what I have, an loving all caring all forgiving god thats the god of my heart who touchs me in ways I cant even express but it's always good, i always get exactly what I need and most of the time its not what I think I need but its even better.
We're supposed to TRY and practice the principles of spirituality in ALL OUR AFFAIRS but damn pride, ego, fear sure have a way of getting in the way.
One of the best things I heard was when an oldtimer had mentioned dont worry about "the God thing " if you got a problem with that.The actual word God appears in 25% of our steps but is not mentioned until step 3.Hopefully by then,working with a sponsor the 'word" will no longer be a problem for you.We agnostics(p47 BB)(no implied endorsement here) explains it very well.do you now believe ,or evenwilling to believe,that a power greater than yourself,who is only caring ,loving and greater than you exists.if or when you do,then you wil be well on your way to a wonderful effective spiritual structure. Many people can't get by 2nd step because they get hung up on the what "this power is" rather than what it can do for you. We came to believe "THAT" not "IN a power.I am glad everyone settled down in the end,no doubt some meetings can certainly be more expressive than others....Hey Vin ,you got some exceleration of the blood pressure stuff going on huh!!:)
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Our purpose is to remain clean,just for today,and to carry the message of recovery.
I get frustrtated when I hear someone telling new people that if they don't believe a certain way they're just wasting their time. We have just a few people at our group that have quite a bit of clean time and have found a belief system that works for them. Trouble is their belief system tells them that NA traditions hinder their freedom. I try to just share where I'm at that day with my spirituality.
I have to let them do what they do and try not to do any sniper sharing about it. I'm not always successful.
Thank Goodness - for those who know this is a journey and not an event -Once that is established - more people become aware of others shortcomings and we get to work on this stuff..Sounds like GOD was in that room - just working it out for the good.
All 12 step fellowships are christian based.the word god is mentioned in 8 out of 12 steps,2,3,4,5,6,7,11 and 12, the atheists will have a harder time coming to an understanding of what ever there is to understand.the agnostic on the other hand is in a better spot.at least they say that yes there may be something out there.and the true believer is in even a better spot.i feel bad for the atheists in our fellowships. i am an agnostic and am not sure if there is something out there.it was suggested that i fake it till i make it.i went to a fellowship years ago just to check it out.RR,rational recovery.there i met alcoholics and addicts that got sober and clean before i was born.imagine that,alcoholics and addicts sober and clean for 30 plus years never admitting to a higher power,sharing and caring in their own way. it is good to be an na member staying sober and clean the na way,alcoholics and addicts sharing and caring the na way.
I'm not religious but I am spiritual. I learned my spirituality in NA. I love the simplicity of the message. All I need to believe in is a power greater than myself who is loving and caring. Nice. I started by believing that the fellowship was that higher power. It's easy when you look around and see people who have lost the obsession to use. but it evolved into a belief in a loving, caring God. I draw on His strength routinely throughout the day. Do I think it's possible to get clean without a higher power? Sure, for someone else, why not. I have no idea what might work for you, and if it works then stick with it. but for me, after 40 years of trying everything I could think of there is no other way. Since I have let God guide me through life my life has gotten easier, fuller, more peaceful, and I have only benefited. There is no down side.
i am some of both religious and spiritual as well my own yin and yang if you will whatever works that keeps me from using can't be a bad thing but i do so love going into a room with a bunch of other addicts and listening to the bi-polers rant with the anal-retentive it makes this jurney worth the taking
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some of us win some of us lose with god and this program i will be a winner
I am so gald that all I had to know was that my higher power needed to not be me. You guys let me figure the rest out with a sponser and the steps.
I went through bumps figuring my concept out but they were all worth it once I stopped fighting with myself about it. I know today that the power is way bigger than me and wants nothing but good for me. My mantra for awhile now has been....HP has a plan.
Rocky said "but i do so love going into a room with a bunch of other addicts and listening to the bi-polers rant with the anal-retentive" That made me laugh. I have been to those meetings and it can be like watching a comedy routine.
Yes Missy.on my work board I have written a quote I read says"God wants us to be everything He intended for us to be,BUT hE WILL LEAVE THE DETAILS UP TO US.".When we "turn it over' dont mean we just sit back and let everything happen,got to take action(SPIRITUAL PRINCIPLES OF THE STEPS AND OUR PROGRAM WORK),God will take care of results!!
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Our purpose is to remain clean,just for today,and to carry the message of recovery.
I made a meeting today, there were a couple of guys from AA who introduced themselves as alcoholics and shared their gratitude to AA.
And this was just the beginning, there were a lot of things that happened which were not of the usual-meeting kind...
At the end of it all, when I found myself sitting through the entire meeting and coming out when it got over thinking about all the different good things that I heard being shared at the meeting, and remembering it as a great meeting, I knew I was doing better today.
Usually, when all these things that happen in NA meetings that are not to my liking annoy me or disturb me, I know that I'm not ok, that I'm not feeling too good about myself. Not that there's something wrong with that, as that's okay too... just felt like sharing
-- Edited by Tahir on Tuesday 15th of June 2010 02:16:00 PM
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"If we do an honest examination of exactly what we are giving, we are better able to evaluate the results we are getting."Chapter 10 - Emotional Pain - NA Way of Life.
Yes I have also been at both fellowships and addicts sharing as clean and sober and alcoholics sharing as addict and alcoholic.It was kind of equal reaction at both fellowships,seeing some cringe in NA and some cringe in AA..neither meetings stopped to 'address language use as being out of order....I know I saw more resistance at AA sharing about the "disease of addiction" where it was said no such thing ,thats the symptom and off to the races........at least it wasnt the "CLARITY STATEMENT!!! :)
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Our purpose is to remain clean,just for today,and to carry the message of recovery.
in 1993 the na book it works how and why was published.in this book the traditions are explained in more detail.giving na members more choices and less constraints when they share their own story.this book taught us that there is no incorrect language in our fellowship.what a beautiful thing,a fellowship where we can be ourselves.alcoholic s and addicts sharing and caring the na way,,,,,,
