Please be sure to read appendix ii about the spiritual experience. How could there possibly be a god when there are so many starving people and wars where everybody says god is on their side. 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. Agnostic aa meetings maintain a tradition of free expression where everyone is free to express. By 1980, there had been about eight studies offered. And it means, of course, that we are going to talk about god. We also use thirdparty cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this. Oct 12, 2017 one of many good places to begin is in alcoholics anonymous aka the big book, specifically chapter 4, we agnostics.
This book has more lists and some of them have been expanded to include as many as 100 items. If we are to accept our disease and learn to overcome it, we must accept that we. Alcoholism12 step support a perspective on we agnostics chapter 4 of the big book im not going for this god stuff. And one should read page 191 of the big book for bill wilsons own statement. 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.
We study the first 103 pages of the big book and when we come to the step instructions we take them together. Bill does not, could not, give a clear example of a purely secular. With this mindset, i went to several different people to ask how they worked this step. We agnostics in the preceding chapters you have learned something of alcoholism.
Big book workbook is for those who are willing to grow along spiritual lines 60. 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. The big book would advise you, however, not to be too perturbed by these references. By the very act of critiquing chapter 4, we agnostics, i admittedly commit aa heresy. In the preceding chapters you have learned something of alcoholism. The twelve provocations as ive been taught, the big book stands. Big book workshop we agnostics big book step study. In doing so, the big book also presents a method by which readers can investigate theological questions for themselves. The goal is to have very concise lists with about 10 key items concerning science, religion, faith, evolution, and nonbelief. What if the fourth chapter of the big book,we agnostics had actually been written by atheists and agnostics.
Chris raymer, aa big book, ca speaker, talks about carrying the message to the addict that still. Chapter 4 we agnostics page 41 notice the asterisk at the bottom of the page. Mar 09, 2012 there is a chapter in the aa big book titled we agnostics. Four short years before writing this chapter, the principal author, bill w. We wish to make the 12 steps of alcoholics anonymous part of our lives by collaborating with a power greater than ourselves an inner knowing, our own. A vision for you should be a separate printed document that can be given to a visitor or new member who agrees to read it at the designated point in the meeting. Hyannis format name of meeting big book step study meeting format.
According to the big book, when we speak of god, what do we mean. Pages 44 through 57 chapter 4, we agnostics, is truly a remarkable piece of writing. This is the audio version of the fourth edition of the big book, the basic text for alcoholics anonymous. 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. I thought it had to be done precisely as laid out in the big book, and. Feb 04, 2015 we agnostics meeting format welcome to we agnostics, an agnostics and freethinkers meeting of alcoholics anonymous. Doing the steps is what the rest of this step study is all about. Heres an example of two resentments, one in which i am not to.
When writing or speaking publicly about alcoholism, we urge each of our fellowship to omit his personal name, designating himself instead as a member of alcoholics anonymous. Reading guide for we agnostics amethyst recovery center. We would like it understood that our alcoholic work is an avocation. Book study were part of the format of the original online step study on which this book is based. Chapter 4 we agnostics this chapter explains the atheist and the believer and how some us came to believe in a power greater than. Taken from the book alcoholics anonymous frequently called the big book. We hope we have made clear the distinction between the alcoholic and the nonalcoholic. In that setting, consider that, over in the corner, sits an old timer who has been around aa for over half a century. Bedevilments in big book alcoholics anonymous, 12 steps and. Eda big book ch 4 we agnostics, atheists, and believers eating. 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. Oct 05, 2014 i thought it had to be done precisely as laid out in the big book, and although bill w. Many times we talk to a new man and watch his hope rise as we discuss his alcoholicproblems and explain our fellowship. Joe and charlie tapes download mp3 format toledo aa meetings.
Many times we talk to a new man and watch his hope rise as we discuss his alcoho lic problems and explain our fellowship. The final point is that belief in god, acceptance of christ, and study. 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. Apr 11, 2019 an aa taper made a four tape set of their presentation and called it the big book study. Words contained within the first 164 pages of the big book. Big book study walking through the big book of alcoholics anonymous with chris s. If, when you honestly want to, you find you cannot quit entirely, or if when drinking, you have little control over the amount you take, you are probably alcoholic. Beth and dan conduct a one hour workshop on the chapter we agnostics at. 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. Our format florida big book step study all addictions. This is the third time we have been referred to appendix ii spiritual experience. No religion no prayerjust warm friendly folks like you gathering together for support and sobriety. Very earnestly we ask the press also, to observe this request, for otherwise we shall be greatly handi.
Listen to joe and charlie talk about the original 12 step format. 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. That means we have written a book which we believe to be spiritual as well as moral. This big book provides you with over 150 lists for atheists, agnostics, and secular humanists. Aa cofounder bill wilson wrote we agnostics in an attempt to address the issue. We wish to make the 12 steps of alcoholics anonymous part of our. The big book study and action group and its website is not affiliated. I have experienced this process with almost 300 alcoholics and addicts over the past 4 years. Secular aa offers over 520 face to face group meetings worldwide. Chapter 4 of the big book, we agnostics, in which bill w argues that.
Experience the big book aa meetings available online. The big book study movement is outside of the structure of alcoholics anonymous in. I guess i was a bit of a fundamentalist at the time and feared that it wouldnt work if i didnt follow directions exactly. Mikes coverage of the alcoholics anonymous book and other aarelated materials was a godsend in my life. A perspective on we agnostics chapter 4 of the big book. May 21, 2008 in its chapter, we agnostics, the big book outlines its attitude toward spiritual and religious matters. To one who feels he is an atheist or agnostic such an experience. The individual sections of this study guide material reflect ideas, emotions and attitudes you might hear from the. Many times we talk to a new man and watch his hope rise as we discuss his alcoholic problems and explain our fellowship. They are not intended, however, to be substitutes for actually doing the steps. One of many good places to begin is in alcoholics anonymous aka the big book, specifically chapter 4, we agnostics.
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