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Originally Posted by yagr
May I ask, did you read that chapter as an agnostic or atheist? I'm asking only because I found it (and still do) to be incredibly condescending. Now my take on it is not the only one of course, but most of those who I've found recommending it have been believers. So again, it's just curiosity.
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Originally Posted by yagr
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I read it as an agnostic; I've since reclaimed my faith, but I am not into orthodoxy of any kind. I think the condescending language is an artifact of the era in which it was written.
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In today's post-modernist world, this includes folks like myself who are Buddhist and get to be spiritual without "of course, talking about God", but the chapter itself equates a 'Power greater than yourself' with 'God' period.[/SIZE] |
It was written from a Judeo-Christian perspective.
[/SIZE][/QUOTE]The final words in the chapter say it all, "Even so has God restored us all to our right minds...But He has come to all who have honestly sought Him. When we drew near to Him He disclosed Himself to us."
To too many of us, the box is simply too small and this chapter feels much like the classic bait and switch. I'd recommend to anyone interested an article by Bill W in Grapevine article back in 1961 called, The Dilemma of No Faith.
The Dilemma of No Faith, By Bill W.
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I'll read this when I get the chance, so I can't respond to this article. What I pulled from the chapter was mainly to adopt some sort of higher power to facilitate the recovery process (via the 12 step method), or what is the alternative? Continued suffering and despair, or as they often say, "Jails, institutions or death." In the final analysis, I had no specific animosity towards the word, "God" or even the concept, but I was struggling with the idea that there was some specific entity somewhere that could provide me support and guidance. The concept of oneness and connection, as in experiencing a connection with others on the same journey is what it boiled down to as my higher power. Letting go of the feeling that I was somehow special or unique in some unknowable or intangible way.