We are indeed a group of people who would not normally mix alcoholics anonymous p. In its chapter, we agnostics, the big book outlines its attitude toward spiritual and religious matters. Cieslak, aleksandra trenk, johan skold, joanna zajdel, elahe mirrasekhian et al. Audio big book ideal for those who find difficulty reading, an audio version of the big book in mp3 format. The big book of quotations for atheists, agnostics, and secular humanists kindle edition by probulos, i. And it means, of course, that we are going to talk about god. Alcoholics anonymous and the big book are registered trademarks of a. Ideal for those who find difficulty reading, an audio version of the big book in mp3 format. Bernard basset is a jesuit, and the author of many other books such as we neurotics,born for friendship.
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. Aalborg universitet dialogues on poetry mediatization and. Agnosticism is really the second largest religious belief system in the u. The muser is not, and has never been, a member of alcoholics anonymous, hence his willingness to discuss aa publicly. Although these books are not written specifically for the agnostic, they use nonjudgemental direct language and are higherpower neutral. Many times we talk to a new man and watch his hope rise as we discuss his alcoholic problems and explain our fellowship. 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. List of big book step study bbss groups in the united states hyannis format meeting schedule. We agnostics assignment we have covered the first and second components of the disease of alcoholism. Especially, as that word gets used by individuals who embrace traditional religious concepts of. There is a chapter in the aa big book titled we agnostics.
In the last analysis it is only there that he may be found. Find all uses of this word in the big book alcoholics anonymous and the twelve steps and twelve traditions of a. 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. You may rely absolutely on anything they say about themselves. This is a study guide to the book alcoholics anonymous.
This is because we agnostics includes terms such as creative intelligence, which would appear not to gel with the notion that we are allowed to accept the greater scientific universe as the higher power of our choosing. For many of us that seems to be an impossible task. A compilation of recordings from a 28 week big book workshop. 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 idea of complete deflation and the teachings of the oxford group were offered as a solution to fred the accountant. Episode eight aa spiritualism vs science references. And once again, i was amazed how easy it is for people to read. Big book alcoholics anonymous chapter 4 we agnostics pages 44 57. This page is dedicated to the recordings that took place beginning with the 80th anniversary of the big books publishing. The 2001 census data showed that the percentage of atheists, agnostics, humanists, adherents of no religion, etc rose from 12. By using we in the title, it is insinuated that the authors are agnostic. Our goal is to study the steps as a friendly, focused group, and work them as the authors of the big book described. I met again yesterday with a few friends to read and discuss matthew. Agnosticism is of the essence of science, whether ancient or modern.
What if the fourth chapter of the big book,we agnostics had actually been written by atheists and agnostics. Many times we talk to a new man and watch his hope rise as we discuss his alcoholicproblems and explain our fellowship. The big book of quotations for atheists, agnostics, and. Four short years before writing this chapter, the principal author, bill w. The individual sections of this study guide material reflect ideas, emotions and attitudes you might hear from the. When i first approached this step, i was concerned with doing it exactly right. 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. The author is a christian trying to save and convert agnostics. 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. Aa cofounder bill wilson wrote we agnostics in an attempt to address the issue. Contributions and bequests secularaa will accept contributions only from individuals who acknowledge they are a. Especially, as that word gets used by individuals who embrace traditional religious concepts of what it means to them. It would be helpful to you as you read along to substitute the word food for alcohol and compulsive eater for alcoholic. Schematic outline of the first 103 pages of the big book.
I find it to be very insulting and incompatible with any secular thinking. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading the big book of quotations for atheists, agnostics, and secular humanists. I mean i understood it intellectually, but what i wasnt getting is it god. 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. Mar 09, 2012 there is a chapter in the aa big book titled we agnostics. In doing so, the big book also presents a method by which readers can investigate theological questions for themselves. Pp 4748 we agnostics the great persuader pages 4849. Agnostics article about agnostics by the free dictionary. We agnostics i n the precedingchapters you have learned something of alcoholism. Your rational thinking, but those who are religious can arrive at.
Its main object is to enable you to find a power greater than yourself which will solve your problem. 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. It is dedicated to those who want recovery from alcoholism, but have difficulty with the word god. If we are to accept our disease and learn to overcome it, we must accept that. Suspended we agnostics austin aa hill country intergroup. Big book workbook is for those who are willing to grow along spiritual lines 60. Suite 103 mesa, arizona 85204 480 8271905 office 480 9644639 fax. Many times we talk to a new man and watch his hope rise as we discuss. Many aa agnostics have found these books to be useful and enlightening.
If you believe that digital publication of certain material infringes any of your. I thought it had to be done precisely as laid out in the big book, and although bill w. 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. Agnostic in big book alcoholics anonymous, 12 steps and 12. We can help you or your loved one break the cycle of addiction and adopt healthy behaviors to ensure long. 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. To one who feels he is an atheist or agnostic such an experience seems. Jan 07, 2011 i engaged in a bible study with some agnostics and atheists and here is a summary of our time together. A history of agnostic groups in aa william white papers. According to the big book, when we speak of god, what do we mean. Alcoholics anonymous, in small groups of 812 persons. Consequently, agnosticism puts aside not only the greater part of popular theology, but also the greater part of antitheology. Seeking spirituality july, 2001 the traditions of alcoholics anonymous, which have no force of rule or law, call for aa members to remain anonymous at public levels.
All in all, our book clearly has a huge diversity in terms of themes and subjects, but. This is the part of the big book where their blatant proselytizing for god happens. How could there possibly be a god when there are so many starving people and wars where everybody says god is on their side. M download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. Welcome to we agnostics a weekly dose of recovery for the nonreligious. We may not beleive in the supernatural but we believe in you. Stojakovic, andrea, magdalena walczak, przemyslaw e. We need a spiritual experience to conquer the illness. Chapter 4 of the big book, we agnostics, in which bill w argues that recovery requires belief in god, is an insulting mishmash. A perspective on we agnostics chapter 4 of the big book. This page contains the recordings from we agnostics. Two agnostic groups we agnostics and beyond belief were kicked off the official list of aa. 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.
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. The 1996 canadian census only counted 21,975 agnostics. I guess i was a bit of a fundamentalist at the time and feared that it. They are not aa approved, but are aa permitted to use and adapt the aa 12 step program. 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. Audio blog of the wednesday night study group secondary navigation. Many times we talk to a new man and watch his hope rise as we discuss his alcoholicproblems and. We wish to make the 12 steps of alcoholics anonymous part of our. This study guide has proven helpful in providing structure and guidance for learning to work the twelvestep program, as it is described in the book. With god to illinois,lets start praying again, etc.
We have a new site come and check us out thursday night big book study. Atheist in big book alcoholics anonymous, 12 steps and 12. Oct 05, 2014 when i first approached this step, i was concerned with doing it exactly right. 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. May 21, 2008 in its chapter, we agnostics, the big book outlines its attitude toward spiritual and religious matters. 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.
Chapter 4, we agnostics, is truly a remarkable piece of writing. Reading guide for we agnostics amethyst recovery center. This is a long chapter, but like the rest of the big book, the ideas are simple and straightforward. Nov 21, 2014 that means we have written a book which we believe to be spiritual as well as moral. I also dont approve of the big book saying i dont know who god is. Uvadare research explorer universiteit van amsterdam. 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. Its the shared experience of disastrous drinking that. Schematic outline of the first 103 pages of the big book i. Of course the name we agnostics is also a chapter in the big book. 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. We hope we have made clear the distinction between the alcoholic and the nonalcoholic. Aug 24, 2009 we have a new site come and check us out thursday night big book study.
That means we have written a book which we believe to be spiritual as well as moral. I engaged in a bible study with some agnostics and atheists and here is a summary of our time together. 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. This web site is dedicated to developing a collective dialogue amongst like minded individuals, those that might call themselves the new agnostics. 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. This is the actual we agnostics, not a repeat of a doctors opinion. Alcoholism12 step support a perspective on we agnostics chapter 4 of the big book colornavyim not going for this god stuff. Coined by professor huxley at a party in london to found the metaphysical society in 1869, huxley combined the a prefix for without and gnostic meaning knowledge.
The third study developed lowcarbon heating and cooling strategies for five. We want to be defined by principles and not what we dont believe. 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. 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.
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