Angela B.: Navigating AA's 12 Steps as an Atheist
And so you know, I wanted to do the same thing with the big book. So I have people do that, because a lot of the people that I sponsor, you know, are like me and they come in and they're often really pissed off at a you know, at religion, at whatever. And- and so that's that's what you know- I worked on for a while and nowadays, if I'm, you know, circling on something and and you know people suggest the third step, prayer for that, I just kind of let a different part of my mind work on it, because I really have a great respect for the human brain, for the human organism for that matter, and there's a lot of stuff I don't know about. And, and I found that helped me get through them and get things down.
Picture this: You're in a room full of people, all sharing their struggles and triumphs in addiction recovery. Now, imagine you're an atheist, and the program you're following is steeped in religious language. How do you make it work? Angela B. takes us through her journey of doing just that in this episode of 'Beyond Belief Sobriety'.
Speaking at the Saturday Night Live Speaker Meeting in Boise, Idaho, Angela shares how she embraced the 12 steps of Alcoholics Anonymous while staying true to her atheistic beliefs. She talks about the hurdles she faced with traditional AA language and practices, and how she creatively adapted the program to fit her worldview.
From using meditation and mindfulness to build a sense of spirituality grounded in her own experience, to finding ways to work through the steps without relying on a higher power, Angela's story is both inspiring and practical. She also highlights the importance of building a supportive and inclusive recovery community that respects diversity and personal beliefs. Angela's journey is a testament to the power of perseverance, creativity, and community in overcoming addiction.
Whether you're an atheist, agnostic, or believer, her story offers valuable insights and tools for navigating recovery with authenticity and resilience. Tune in to hear Angela's story and find your own path to healing.