The target audience for “We Agnostics” is relatively easy to define. (aga7ta/Shutterstock) Groups such as AA and NA have many detractors, people who believe that they are religious organizations or even cults. This misconception extends to 12-based treatment centers, who are accused of brainwashing their patients rather than treating a disease. Those who make such…
The Twelve Promises offer us something that the Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions do not. By reading the Twelve Steps, we learn that there is a solution to alcoholism and addiction. When we read the Twelve Traditions, we learn how to function as part of an AA or NA group. But when we look at…
We now reach the final article in our series on the Twelve Steps. This is the point at which we should experience our spiritual awakening, assuming that we haven’t already. By the time we reach Step Twelve, our spiritual principles will rise to new levels. In most cases, we found ourselves to be happier and…
When people first join Alcoholics Anonymous, they may raise their eyebrows at some of the common AA slogans. These slogans often sound cheesy, especially when they get constantly repeated by people who say them without context. The newcomer simply hears someone spouting clichés without bothering to explain them. It gets old fast. But the most…
Quitting is easy. The actual process of deciding not to abuse drugs and alcohol requires very little effort. In fact, it’s so easy that some addicts and alcoholics have become experts at it. At some point toward the end of our active addiction, we might quit upwards of two or three times a week. We…
It’s the first day of June, so it seems like the perfect time to continue our monthly tradition of covering each of the Twelve Steps. This month is naturally Step Six, a seemingly simple step that many people tend to misinterpret when not provided with the guidance of a decent sponsor. Step Six is a…
Every so often, you will see us make mention of a spiritual experience, or spiritual awakening. This is a phrase that you hear a lot in recovery. It shows up multiple times in AA literature, as well as in several of our articles. But while we have discussed its meaning on occasion (such as when…
We have previously covered two chapters from Alcoholics Anonymous. After learning from “The Doctor’s Opinion” about the dual sensation of physical cravings and mental obsession that comprise the deadly disease of addiction, we focused upon “Bill’s Story” and the lessons that we may derive from the tale of AA’s well-known co-founder Bill Wilson. Now, we…