The material presented
here is not Al-Anon Conference Approved Literature. It is a method
to exchange
information, ideas, feelings, problems and solutions on a personal
level.
So I don't want to bash Al-Anon but one of the reasons I started attending meetings is because I was led to believe you didn't need to be religious. I have attended two different groups in my area and both are very very religiously driven. I have openly talked about this at a meeting and was told to focus on my own personal higher power, but what the heck is that? I go to meetings for the community support of others dealing with alcohol in their lives, frankly I'm a bit put out with so much praying and talk of god. I'm not ant-religious, I have spent many years forming my personal views and am comfortable in my beliefs.
Am I the only one who feels this way at Al-Anon meetings? I go with the flow but don't feel I really fit in.
Some meetings have more prayer and religious over tone then others and although I believe in a traditional God I do understand what you are saying. I was told early on to look for the common things I could relate to and find a way to learn the al-anon tools and whatever didn't sit well with me, well to take what I like and to leave the rest. I know it sounds rough, but if you can keep attending and looking for other meetings you may just find others that have been devastated by the disease of alcoholism and know ways you could learn to resume your serenity. Al-anon is a one size fits all for those open enough to find their own way with people also along on their own journey with their own beliefs. I have met many people who don't believe in my God and we are still family in al-anon and moving forward together. Just keep getting yourself to the meetings and after 6 if there is nothing you have learned that could help you, then I would try different meetings. I was told this same ESH when I came in and it works if you work it and you are worth it. The differences will keep you isolated! Sending you love and support on your journey!
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Sending you love and support on your journey always! BreakingFree
Al-Anon/Alateen Family Group Headquarters, Inc. 800-344-2666
" Pain is inevitable, suffering is optional."
"Serenity is when your body and mind are in the same place."
The community inside and outside of Al-Anon on a global basis is largely Christian/religious centered. Its okay and a choice. You have a choice and you have made it so stick with it because actually that is what the program is about. Often times religion is an ism also like alcoholism. My first addict wife was a religious fanatic wife and it broke my family up terribly and tragically. My relationship with my higher power is a mutual relationship worked by both my Higher Power and myself. I can be in the rooms because that relationship is mutual also. The fellowship allows me my relationship with my higher power and I allow them the same. When another member speaks of or a group of members speak similarly of their higher power that's okay with me and in fact I am supported that they do because they are working the 2nd step which says only "Came to believe that a Power Greater Than Myself could lead me to sanity. If I entertain resistance because of differences I also entertain insanity again.
If the program is working for you work it for you and because it works for you not anyone else. I know the difficulty and so often other members in the program who have different acceptances of a higher power have also supported me knowingly or unknowingly to fortify my own. Mine is both ancient and cultural. Hope this has helped. Keep coming back. ((((Hugs)))) Aloha
Cooper,For many years I used the rooms of al anon , the principles and the philosophy as my Higher Power. I had no problem reciting the serenity prayer as it was a form of meditation and using the slogans were like a prayer to me as well. They centered me and enabled me to not react but to respond.
Take what you like and leave the rest is very important principle of program as we are all entitled to our opinions. We come to meetings as a fellowship of equals and this is a spiritual program and not religious one.
What others share about themselves is their own choice and as long as they are not trying to convert anyone they are free to share from their heart. I was also free to share my thoughts and program as well. No cross talk works well as we are then able to let others have different ideas without arguing. If you are troubled by the meetings I would search out others.
The program works so please keep coming back
-- Edited by hotrod on Sunday 23rd of November 2014 03:33:55 PM
Hey Cooper, I SO relate.....i did a post here on this board, if you want to read "closet agnostic" post and my struggles to believe in an HP, I am native american....my "bible" is the 12 steps and alanon literature, particularly hope for today, courage to change and also from survival to recovery
I believe that my higher power is love and peace and all things that are loving and healing and abundant.....when i first got here, i hated anything to do w/god.....god was used to hurt me by my bio male parent...so i was "ruined" about the god thing..also male gender i can't do....organized religion I detest..wont' have anything to do with it...so what is my higher power????
i went back to native american spirituality where my higher power is the beauty that created earth, animals, flowers, etc., i call it the great spirit......my bible as i said is alanon in its entirety.......i can't stand folks throwing all that religion stuff to me either.....i just had to find my own higher power, working the program
Cooper you are SO not alone in this....i gag when there is all that g-d and religion stuff thrown at me.....step 2 means higher power AS I UNDERSTAND it....it cold be nature, Buddha, Jesus, (I happen to buy into Jesus, but its no way like the church folks see it) anyway, hp can be anything that helps you connect to your higher parent within or your highest self....
not all meetings are gonna be the same, i have been n chat meets where there was waaaay to much of god/ bible and not enough about alanon, steps, traditions, etc., and I just pick up and leave
the beauty of this program is that we can arrive or connect w/whatever higher power works for us.......so my HP is what is within me a part of the great spirit that is within me...so as to keep my ego in check, i just keep in mind...I am 1 cup...HP is the whole ocean, thus way more powerful than i.....even non believers kinda know that something in the universe created all the good we can see, experience......i think great spirit likes to work through people to guide/assist other people......so when i get up and start my day, I just say "ok, what can i do to be in service???" i have to quiet my mind or i am not going to be connected.....
to me, i pray to that part of great spirit/creator that is WITHIN me......hope this post made sense....I am having back spasms and can barely walk........hope this helped you............glad you are here.........and i relate to your post...............IN SUPPORT
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Live and let live and do it with peace and goodwill to all!!!!
One of the things that Al-Anon suggests is to take what you like and leave the rest. Folks may be sharing their understanding of a HP in meetings? If so, it is their understanding and doesn't need to be others' understanding. I get put off only if others want me to buy into their understanding of a HP which isn't mine and yet I also know they need that image of a Higher Power to do the program work themselves. So, I tend more to just leave folks where they are in this spiritual program and operate according to my own understanding of a HP. That helps me live and let live.
