We study the first 103 pages of the big book and when we come to the step instructions we take them together. The individual sections of this study guide material reflect ideas, emotions and attitudes you might hear from the. They summarized what they learned from the oxford group in six. A history of agnostic groups in aa william white papers. Words contained within the first 164 pages of the big book. In its chapter, we agnostics, the big book outlines its attitude toward. Our goal is to study the steps as a friendly, focused group, and work them as the authors of the big book described. This is a long chapter, but like the rest of the big book, the ideas are simple and straightforward. Chapter 4 we agnostics step 2 concluded published by joe b on may 17, 2018. We care speaker meeting 20717 south street get map to group tehachapi ca 93561. This is because we agnostics includes terms such as creative intelligence, which would appear not to gel with the notion that we are allowed to accept the greater scientific universe as the higher power of our choosing.
During any such meeting to study the aa big book, you would expect to encounter a wide variety of viewpoints on the portions under consideration. Secular aa offers over 520 face to face group meetings worldwide. We agnostics beth and dan conduct a workshop on the chapter we agnostics at an unknown event in aug of 2018. I created a category that i titled the atheist big book study, and i went through the big book, beginning with the forwards to the various editions and then through the first 164 pages. Big book alcoholics anonymous chapter 4 we agnostics pages 44 57.
Meeting schedule and group information for the we agnostics of greenville of alcoholics anonymous, meeting in greenville, sc. The final point is that belief in god, acceptance of christ, and study of the. South carolina alcoholics anonymous south carolina area 62 area login. Aa separated itself from the oxford group prior to the publication of the big book. Eda big book ch 4 we agnostics, atheists, and believers eating. Joe had wondered if charlie might be the countrywestern singer charlie pride. The portion of chapter five of our big book that was read aloud, how it. Has the book made clear the distinction between the alcoholic and the nonalcoholic. Many times we talk to a new man and watch his hope rise as we discuss his alcoholic problems and explain our fellowship. Our format florida big book step study all addictions. Of course the name we agnostics is also a chapter in the big book. Get map to group lancaster ca 93534 growing valley baptist church.
Much has been made of the religious language that is sprinkled throughout alcoholics anonymous, commonly called the big book. If you are truly alcoholic, what is the only thing that will conquer it for you. Two agnostic groups we agnostics and beyond belief were kicked off the official list of aa. Big book workbook is for those who are willing to grow along spiritual lines 60. Skype open big book study meetings as of august 2015. Stream tracks and playlists from the big book study on your desktop or mobile device. This is a series of big book studies and workshops that are intended to give newcomers an adequate presentation of the program of alcoholics anonymous.
The big book of lists for atheists, agnostics, and secular humanists kindle edition by probulos, i. This page is dedicated to the recordings that took place beginning with the 80th anniversary of the big books publishing. How could there possibly be a god when there are so many starving people and wars where everybody says god is on their side. No religion no prayerjust warm friendly folks like you gathering together for support and sobriety. Aa beyond belief provides a space for agnostics, atheists and freethinkers in alcoholics anonymous to freely share their experience, strength and hope with each other and aa as a whole.
A compilation of recordings from a 28 week big book workshop. If you have done these steps as they are laid out in the big book with the help of a big book step study sponsor, please share your experience with us. And it means, of course, that we are going to talk about god. I have had many spiritual experiences as a result of this approach as have many of the newcomers i. We wish to make the 12 steps of alcoholics anonymous part of our. The big book contains some religious language, but only mentions jesus once, and then only in passing. To this end, my critique of we agnostics chapter 4 of the big book and lifejs logical fallacies of the big book have been published and others are in progress.
Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading the big book of lists for atheists, agnostics. According to the big book, when we speak of god, what do we mean. A fevered patriotism spread through the united states during the early days of the world war i, and to show their gratitude the welltodo invited young doughboys into their homes. Beth and dan conduct a workshop on the chapter we agnostics at an unknown event in aug of 2018.
Still others are threatened by the religious language of the big book and disregard. I have experienced this process with almost 300 alcoholics and addicts over the past 4 years. That means we have written a book which we believe to be spiritual as well as moral. I never completed the project because i started spending more time with the group, which was growing by leaps and bounds.
One of many good places to begin is in alcoholics anonymous aka the big book, specifically chapter 4, we agnostics. We only know that if you are talking about the problem, you cannot possibly be talking about the solution. The next day at noon, we attended the sobriety live group and again, the vast majority of those attending came with their big book. I guess i was a bit of a fundamentalist at the time and feared that it. Aa cofounder bill wilson wrote we agnostics in an attempt to address the. For many of us that seems to be an impossible task. Four short years before writing this chapter, the principal author, bill w. The big book loop is a study group which has as its mission to provide an additional area of recovery and support to coes. Contributions and bequests secularaa will accept contributions only from individuals who acknowledge they are a. Most of the regulars in my meetings and home group know of my atheism and have accepted it to varying degrees, as do the arealevel people with whom i interact. The big book of lists for atheists, agnostics, and secular.
We hope we have made clear the distinction between the alcoholic and the nonalcoholic. To one who feels he is an atheist or agnostic such an experience. Agnostics pages 44 through 57 chapter 4, we agnostics, is truly a remarkable piece of writing. The purpose of this study guide is to enable the student to better understand the information the authors of the book, alcoholics anonymous, intended to impart to each of us based on their experience and knowledge of alcoholism and.
List of big book step study bbss groups in the united states hyannis format meeting schedule. In that setting, consider that, over in the corner, sits an old timer who has been around aa for over half a century. Chapter 4 of the big book, we agnostics, in which bill w argues that recovery requires belief in god, is an insulting mishmash. Chapter 4 we agnostics page 40 for either case, atheist or agnostic, we are going to have to find some way to have this spiritual experience, and to use this power greater than human power. Alcoholism12 step support a perspective on we agnostics chapter 4 of the big book colornavyim not going for this god stuff. Some conservatives cite this language as evidence that the twelve step program is really a christian program that cannot be fully effective without an active faith in christ. We who study the aa big book do not hold this to be true.
Well, reading and discussing this chapter plus a reading we discussed in the abstinence book in my meeting saturday helped me to find the spiritual aspect of abstinence. Joe and charlie tapes download mp3 format toledo aa. This page contains the recordings from we agnostics. Chapter 4 of the big book, we agnostics, in which bill w argues that. We agnostics day 2 by the big book study published. If, when you honestly want to, you find you cannot quit entirely, or if when drinking, you have little control over the amount you take, you are probably alcoholic. With the streets of tulsa covered with ice, there were about 150 folks show up with big book in hand and for one and onehalf hours, there was an indepth study of the big book. While meetings are important to our sobriety, we recover by the steps we take not the meetings we make. We wish to make the 12 steps of alcoholics anonymous part of our lives by collaborating with a power greater than ourselves an inner knowing, our own. I know that the secular aa groups have been formed to meet a real. In the preceding chapters you have learned something of alcoholism.
Our meetings dont include a prayer and for many of us, that makes all the difference. When i first approached this step, i was concerned with doing it exactly right. The we agnostics of greenville south carolina alcoholics. Each day in our big book study group a leader will take you through a section of the alcoholics anonymous big book. We agnostics aa is a secular alcoholics anonymous meeting in kansas city. I thought it had to be done precisely as laid out in the big book, and although bill w. Many times we talk to a new man and watch his hope rise as we discuss his alcoholicproblems and. We are located behind the southern comfort watercrest village shopping center. Many times we talk to a new man and watch his hope rise as we discuss his alcoholicproblems and explain our fellowship. Reading guide for we agnostics amethyst recovery center. Audio blog of the wednesday night study group secondary navigation. Sep 5, 2014 posted by john s atheist big book study bill w.
I think this chapter gets ignored quite often, especially by members that feel theyve got a good grasp of the faith business, but it helped me a great deal when i. A perspective on we agnostics chapter 4 of the big book. John s from we agnostics kansas city aa beyond belief. The book alcoholics anonymous, aka the big book, is the basic text for the aa program of sobriety. When you search for a meeting, please use the phone number listed for that group near the top of the groups page, or if there is no phone. The big book would advise you, however, not to be too perturbed by these references. Big book study grange hall 41843 50th street west get map to group quartz hill ca 93536. Joe and charlie tapes big book study mp3 joe and charlie a brief history. Clearly, we are a diverse group of people with dif fering views, so it is. You will find the big book itself on this page by chapters as well as a link to the latest edition of aabb. M download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. Groups such as aa and na have many detractors, people who believe that they are. By the very act of critiquing chapter 4, we agnostics, i admittedly commit aa heresy. One more time i have come to believe that there is in fact a great reality.
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