BB Kate's blog

I found this on a forum, a response to a question: Do you the Big Book was divinely inspired by a huger power?

I'm going to be the reactionary here and say yes, BUT, the reason for that is that the 12 steps evolved directly from the six steps of the Oxford group, which are taken directly from the New Testament, which I believe IS divinely inspired. That's one of the reasons I think the 12 steps have so much power. They are in many ways merely a re-phrasing of ancient truths that have everything to do with the way we are wired as people.

Thought some of you might appreciate my response to this AA-lover:

http://paulgarrigan.com/why-all-the-hatred-for-alcoholics-anonymous/comm...

I'm sure she woudl appreciate more responses from you fine folk too ;)

For those who know Star Trek, it was once pointed out to me in a meeting just how much AA resembles the race "The Borg". Pennywise has referenced this similarity too :)

Here are some Wikipedia excerpts: see if you can spot the similarities (not the differences) ;)

WARNING: The slogans at the bottom are a little too familiar... creepy!

Many AA members, including Clara, have cited an early period of sobriety prior to coming to AA. It may have been weeks, or months.

How do AA members explain the ability of alcholics to stay sober, not only in these early stages, but prior to doing the Steps, when they are supposedly powerless and without mental defence or will power?

I never once herad this questioned in 6 years!

I have always found the statement "It Works" in relation to AA, or most other treatment programs, to be distasteful. It seems to imply a level fo efficacy that is misleading. For example, if i were to say "Morpheine works to provide pain relief", that would be a medical fact. It is proven to provide pain relief, and does so (i assume) in all cases where adminstration is biologically tolerated.

I knew a guy in AA who shared the following story at every meeting he went to (paraphrased):

"I had previously been an atheist, but in AA I had come to find my own conception of God as i understood him. I developed a conscious contact with God, and he would speak to me, advising me of his will for me, such as needing to get some milk. But then one day, i was looking out the window, and God told me to jump. I considered it for a moment, then realised that God would not want me to kill myself. It was then that i realised the voice was not God after all."

AA-ers really do have their own unique idea of hilarity.

In a previous post, msafrany referred to the phrase: "AA will screw up your drinking"

Other "comedic gold" which i have observed to elicit a roar of laughter include:

Treckies or Trekkers .... Steppies or Steppers

A discussion of the different types of AA members...

Such an inetresting article. Wonder what AA member would make of it?

http://healthland.time.com/2012/05/14/dsm-5-could-mean-40-of-college-stu...

Step 11: Sought through prayer and meditation to improve our conscious contact with God as we understood him, praying only for knowledge of his will for us and the power to carry that out

I think AA members completely miss the point of this step. It doesn't say "praying only for the best car parking spot, a new job, a sexy oldtimer to be my boyfriend, a chance to chair the meeting, someone to ask me to be thier sponsor, the last teaspoon of coffee, a plate of scones at the lunch-time meeting, a pirate-chest full of long-lost booty/pieces of eight" etc etc.

"The important thing is not how you define a Higher Power. The important thing is that you don't consider yourself to be your own Higher Power, because your own best thinking found your bottom for you."

I have three things to say about this oft-spouted AA mantra.

I found this funny post on Stinkin' Thinkin':

“In the 12 steps that I have read, it talks about giving things out of our control over to God as we understand him. That could be God, Bhudda, Vishnu, Mohammed, Mother Nature or your favourite rock star!”
— Lily, AA zealot

Have you ever noticed how AA members sometimes say 'You can find Sobriety without God, but not Recovery'?

For example, someone on e-AA posted this:
"If all you want to do is not drink, it can be done without the steps."

Isn't this contrary to the oft-stated position that 'the alcoholic is powerless over alcohol and cannot stop drinking without God'?

I recall AA fellows saying 'If you want what we have, do what we do'.

I got to the point in AA when i found myself looking around and not wanting much of what they had at all. I knew that if i went after what they had, i would become a mindless zombie, someone i couldn't respect.

Toronto at it again:

http://aatorontoagnostics.org/2012/05/06/another-agnostic-group-ousted/#...

On many occasions i heard members say "It's a God job".

It heard it said in situations as varied as:
* Getting a car park when running late to a meeting
* Running into a member on the street when having a bad day
*Getting the last teaspoon of instant coffee at a meeting

and my favourite...
*meeting a newcomer in AA with the same name as a cousin with a drinking problem.

Do AA members really think that these things are an intervention of a God, who cares about the minutia of their lives?

A Group Of Drunks, the Fellowship of Alcoholics Anonymous, or a ‘Home Group’ Meeting are commonly used by members of Alcoholics Anonymous as representations of a Higher Power.

But, for the purposes of the 12 Step Program, this conception of God is insufficient.

Whilst 12 Step Programs require a belief in God, Alcoholics Anonymous claims to be non-discriminatory on matters of belief for the purposes of membership.

Third Tradition: The only requirement for membership is a desire to stop drinking.

I found this inetresting, on the Australian AA website:

Notice to AA Australian Women members: Visit to India 2013:
December 2011 AA Australia is aiming for 100 Women from AA Australia to visit cities in India in January 2013 to carry the message to women in India. Details are listed in the attached flyer !

http://www.aa.org.au/members/documents/INDIAFLYER-BACKPAGE.pdf

What will they do when they get there???

I spoke with someone i knew from AA last week. He still goes to an atheist meeting but not much else, and we have spoken extensively about out time in AA, and the perils we and others encountered.

He said something strange last week though. He thought that Orange, BlameDenial and myself were perhaps being a little too full-on with regards our opinions of AA, and that maybe it is more benign than that.