Here's yet another possibility -- or not.
There are millions of addicted people, of various persuasions, in recovery programs (such as Alcoholics Anonymous, Narcotics Anonymous, Emotions Anonymous, Over-eaters Anonymous, Gamblers Anonymous, etc.). The 12 Steps of each program are 99% the same, with the identity of the addiction being the only real difference.
For example, in AA the 1st Step says "Admitted we were powerless over alcohol and that our lives had become unmanageable", while NA replaces the word "alcohol" in its First Step with "addiction". Another minor difference is in the 12th Step which mentions alcoholics in AA, and addicts in NA.
Looking closely at the wording of the general 12 Steps, we can see that there is a progressive growing of trust in a "Higher Power" as the basis of recovery from addictions over which the person seems to have no personal control. And millions of people claim to find freedom from their addiction(s) and a new way to live, which can be "spiritual" but not necessarily "religious".
So, what if the most generic approach to "God" (as the individual understands God), in the 12 Steps, reveal a better "God-concept" than organized religions, at least in practical terms of recovery. I will elaborate if anyone is interested in this idea. Or perhaps there has been a previous topic which covers the area well, that you could refer me to?
Thanks.
There are millions of addicted people, of various persuasions, in recovery programs (such as Alcoholics Anonymous, Narcotics Anonymous, Emotions Anonymous, Over-eaters Anonymous, Gamblers Anonymous, etc.). The 12 Steps of each program are 99% the same, with the identity of the addiction being the only real difference.
For example, in AA the 1st Step says "Admitted we were powerless over alcohol and that our lives had become unmanageable", while NA replaces the word "alcohol" in its First Step with "addiction". Another minor difference is in the 12th Step which mentions alcoholics in AA, and addicts in NA.
Looking closely at the wording of the general 12 Steps, we can see that there is a progressive growing of trust in a "Higher Power" as the basis of recovery from addictions over which the person seems to have no personal control. And millions of people claim to find freedom from their addiction(s) and a new way to live, which can be "spiritual" but not necessarily "religious".
So, what if the most generic approach to "God" (as the individual understands God), in the 12 Steps, reveal a better "God-concept" than organized religions, at least in practical terms of recovery. I will elaborate if anyone is interested in this idea. Or perhaps there has been a previous topic which covers the area well, that you could refer me to?
Thanks.
