My Alcoholism, My Recovery, and My Atheism

An atheist describes his experiences with Rational Recovery versus Alcoholics Anonymous, and why the former actually worked for him, and the latter was of dubious value at best. The script is entirely autobiographical.

Category:

Howto & Style

Tags:

• addiction
• recovery
• alcoholism
• atheism
• RR
• AA
• anonymous
• secular
• organizations
• for
• sobriety
• SOS
• rational

[every2dogs]

AA does not claim to be the only solution. You don't have to believe in god or a higher power to find success in AA. Many people in AA do not believe in ANY form or concept of god. However, I will learn more about rational recovery. It sounds interesting or at least entertaining. Kind of sounds like a cult. Being a long term AA member I would know about this.

[JJR93]

AA as an organization may not make that claim, but among its individual members, it is strongly implied. RR is the furthest thing from a cult that I can imagine, since it's highly individualistic, while AA has many cult-like characteristics. Reading the 12 steps, I can't fathom the cognitive dissonance required to follow them and still not believe in "ANY form or concept of god". RR just cuts to the chase, IMHO. Also check out SOS Int'l.

[JJR93]

If you read Jack Trimpey's _The Small Book_ or his more comprehensive _Rational Recovery_, you'd understand why I have no intention of ever going back to an AA meeting. I might help out with a local SOS (Secular Organizations for Sobriety) aka "Save Our Selves", whose newsletter I subscribe to.

[inwood75]

I love to see speaking out about the alternatives to AA. The time has come. AA literatures is archaic and stupid. WHat person takes a 1936 modality is rediculous.

stop13stepinaa safe recovery on blogtalkradio

[joelarnda]

I can't beleive the atheist/ theist debate has hit AA like this. SOS is something I do not have any problems with as long as it works and it sounds organizationally similar to AA maybe more like a spin off just taking the word God out of it.

I think letting both groups go without controversy would be best not bashing what has helped millions and continues to help millions.

I had never heard of SOS until there was an AA bashing video. Why bash it? Why not live and let live?

[mondotuna]

how weird is this?

[nails3jesus0]

@every2dogs

Thats not what i have heard, ever. Hell they say it on intervention every so often- an addicts mother had quit cocaine like 10 years before and on her own, but the interventionist told her she wasn't really sober because she didn't use the 12 steps so they made her go to those meetings too. doctor drew says that to people who have been sober for a long time.Theres also slogans around AA about how people will either be dead, in jail, or institutions if they don't work the steps.

[sydmarissa]

@every2dogs

AA very often DOES claim that if you are a true alcoholic, that AA IS the only solution.

Also, just because one is an atheist in AA, does not mean anything. I was, and many still are. But They contribute to the group. Their ideas of "humble" and "service" are all about putting the group first. The group the group! it's a cult.

I will add though, that in more liberal areas they tend to be more loose about the HP issue, but it all leads to the same damn place.

[ascernman]

SkullVodka your response to my comment is typical of a Trimpey RR robot. If that's what keeps you off the roads driving drunk have at it. Glad I could be of help.

[SkullVodka]

@ascernman Wow your christian hatred is shining through. Maybe you'd be better off going to a bar and getting plowed. Even if you are an ugly drunk, it wouldnt be much of a difference.

[JstNEarthling]

@every2dogs Did you miss something here youngster? Did you not notice that the key word to the plan is RATIONAL recovery? Where in the program does it even come close to cult like behavior. I'm not talking about this guys focus treatment where you must buy his videos to teach you some form of self help. That is not rational it is profit making...