A Conference for Atheist and Agnostic Alcoholics is Taking Place in California This Weekend

[rug]

November 6, 2014 by Hemant Mehta 45 Comments

This weekend, in Santa Monica, California, the We Agnostics & Free Thinkers International AA Convention is taking place for non-religious people who struggle with alcoholism:



It’s fascinating for a few reasons: Alcoholics Anonymous is a theistic group (forcing atheists who use the program to make adjustments to the Twelve Steps). The speakers are (mostly) anonymous, using the typical first name, last initial designation.

The topics are interesting, too. Among them: “Is spirituality compatible with Agnostic AA?,” “The importance of having the WAFT voice in AA literature,” “Reaching WAFTs in the Digital Age,” and “LGBT WAFT.”

While it may not be possible, especially since this is the first conference of its kind — organizers plan to hold a conference every two years — I hope there’s a way to make these speeches and discussions available to the public. I’m sure they could help a lot of people who would shy away from AA’s religious program but who are unable to make it to California this weekend.

http://www.patheos.com/blogs/friendlyatheist/2014/11/06/a-conference-for-atheist-and-agnostic-alcoholics-is-taking-place-in-california-this-weekend/

http://waftiaac.org

[cbayer]

1. Finally.

I think this is great and badly needed. The basic premise of the program is solid, imo, but if it contains a religious component, that may keep some from attending. I am glad to see this organization making a stand.

[rug]

2. It's been getting more coverage recently.

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/02/22/us/alcoholics-anonymous-without-the-religion.html?_r=0

BTW, the group gets its name from a chapter in the Big Book.

http://anonpress.org/bb/Page_44.htm

I think Mehta is overstating the contortions involved in dealing with the concept of a higher power.

[cbayer]

3. I've talked to many non-believing addicts. The degree to which

the higher power concept bothers them covers a very wide spectrum.

Some really don't care. They define the term as the power that their addiction has over them.

But others really struggle with the whole concept and I think it honestly interferes with their recovery.

Even the chapter you link to stresses the absolute need for spirituality. For some, that is just not possible.

[rug]

4. This fills a need.

[cbayer]

5. Agree. I give them a lot of credit for making it happen.

[TygrBright]

6. This is their first "conference" but WAFT has been around for a while.

And I am really, really glad to see them starting to make headway.

While AA did originate from theist --and specifically Protestant Christian-- roots, the program itself is highly effective and does not require any religious belief at all to work well for anyone undertaking the difficult changes required for recovery from addiction and other chronic brain disorders.

Unfortunately, the substantial cadre of proselytic and vocal Christian believers within the 12-Step community have done much to obscure the value of the program for those who are alienated by their insistence on their own interpretation of 12-Step spirituality.

Would you mind cross-posting this in the Addiction & Recovery forum?

gratefully,
Bright

[phil89]

7. You're saying AA is highly effective??

youre kidding right?

[rug]

8. No. Neither am I.

[rug]

9. I think Bill W got a lot of his ideas from the Oxford Movement.

I'll cross-post it.

[TygrBright]

10. Yes, a lot of the basic AA philosophy is lifted from the Oxford movement folks.

Thank you!

appreciatively,
Bright