Is Alcoholics Anonymous based on religion?

A.A. is not a religious organization. There is room in A.A. for people of all shades of belief and non-belief. Many members believe in some sort of god, and we have members who come from and practice all sorts of religions, but many are also atheist or ag- nostic.

Is Alcoholics Anonymous a spiritual program?

Although AA is a spirituality-based program, it works through a number pathways. As such, individuals may benefit from AA participation regardless of their spiritual leanings.

Does AA work if you don’t believe in god?

Yes, although you may have to do some internal mental gymnastics to be cool with it. Here’s the first three steps of AA (Alcoholics Anonymous):

Can you go to AA if you are an atheist?

The biggest support groups out there in recovery are AA and NA. You should know that regardless of your religious affiliations or no affiliations or god belief, you are welcome in AA and NA. The only requirement for membership is the desire to stop drinking or using.

How many times is God mentioned in the Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous?

The big book, Alcoholics Anonymous, sometimes described as the A.A. bible, has three hundred references to the Higher Power. One member spent a Christmas Day counting them. Six of the Twelve Steps refer to God. The official magazine, The Grapevine, unhesitatingly refers to the Higher Power as God.

What are the 36 spiritual principles of AA?

Humility, Love, Forgiveness, Harmony, Truth, Faith, Hope, Compassion, Understanding, Self-forgetting, Willingness, Strength, Wisdom, Serenity, Having had a spiritual awakening as the result of these steps, we tried to carry this message to alcoholics and to practice these principles in all our affairs.

What happens when you have a spiritual awakening?

The spiritual awakening. You begin to clear certain things out of your life (habits, relationships, old belief systems) and invite new, more enriching things in. You may feel like something is missing, but you haven’t quite figured it out yet. During this phase, it’s common to feel lost, confused, and down.

Who are you to say there is no God AA?

“Who are you to say there is no God?” In a few seconds he was overwhelmed by a conviction of the Presence of God. But there is One who has all power — that One is God. First of all, we had to quit playing God.

How many drinks per week is considered an alcoholic?

Consuming seven or more drinks per week is considered excessive or heavy drinking for women, and 15 drinks or more per week is deemed to be excessive or heavy drinking for men. A standard drink, as defined by the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA), is equivalent to: 12 fl oz.

How many promises are in the Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous?

12 Promises
The AA Promises are found on pages 83-84 of Chapter 6, “Into Action” in Alcoholics Anonymous, (also known as the “Big Book”) written by Bill Wilson and Dr. Bob. The 12 Promises of AA are presented as part of working Step 9, which involves making amends.

What do you need to know about Alcoholics Anonymous?

AA is religious. Court cases repeatedly find that Alcoholics Anonymous is religious in nature. II. Legalities III. What to Do? IV. Resources As a result, no agent of government may legally require anyone to attend AA. Founders of AA were members of a fundamentalist Protestant Christian movement, the Oxford Group.

Is it legal for an AA Group to be religious?

Well, obviously one effect is that AA groups that use these doctrines and practices are now legally designated “religious.” At least in the US. In response, an AA group can illogically put its head in the sand, and not look at the facts in front of it. An AA group can cling to its own definition of “religious.”

Is the AA movement based on a religion?

AA is Based on Religion Founders of AA were members of a fundamentalist Protestant Christian movement, the Oxford Group. Its members “practiced absolute surrender, guidance by the Holy Spirit, sharing in fellowship, life changing faith, and prayer.

Is there such thing as a non-religious AA fellowship?

If the fellowship has any hope of being a non-religious fellowship for ALL suffering alcoholics with a desire to stop drinking, and being recognized as such by the Courts and by the public at large, it lies in strengthening its commitment to the 12 Traditions. The Traditions do not require AA groups to embrace religious doctrines and practices.