To one who feels he is an atheist or agnostic such an experience seems. Pages 44 through 57 chapter 4, we agnostics, is truly a remarkable piece of writing. Top 10 agnostic blogs and websites for agnostics in 2020. Alcoholism12 step support a perspective on we agnostics chapter 4 of the big book im not going for this god stuff. Aug 24, 2009 we have a new site come and check us out thursday night big book study. Our goal is to study the steps as a friendly, focused group, and work them as the authors of the big book described. Oct 05, 2014 i thought it had to be done precisely as laid out in the big book, and although bill w. We agnostics is the fourth chapter of alcoholics anonymous, or the fifth if you include the doctors opinion. You may rely absolutely on anything they say about themselves.
We agnostics i n the precedingchapters you have learned something of alcoholism. A perspective on we agnostics chapter 4 of the big book. This page contains the recordings from we agnostics. Schematic outline of the first 103 pages of the big book. Mar 29, 2018 conference question literature for we agnostics. I also dont approve of the big book saying i dont know who god is. A compilation of recordings from a 28 week big book workshop. Agnosticism ontario consultants on religious tolerance. 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 their program of recovery.
The target audience for we agnostics is relatively easy to define. It would be helpful to you as you read along to substitute the word food for alcohol and compulsive eater for alcoholic. What if the fourth chapter of the big book,we agnostics had actually been written by atheists and agnostics. This misconception extends to 12based treatment centers, who are accused of brainwashing their patients rather than treating a disease. Many times we talk to a new man and watch his hope rise as we discuss his alcoho lic problems and explain our fellowship. One of many good places to begin is in alcoholics anonymous aka the big book, specifically chapter 4, we agnostics. Each quote is followed by alexs thoughts on the topic and a. Essential readings for the nonbeliever by christopher hitchens, the god delusion by richard dawkins. It sounds like they are trying to convert me to something.
Atheist in big book alcoholics anonymous, 12 steps and 12. For many of us that seems to be an impossible task. According to the big book, when we speak of god, what do we mean. This is the third time we have been referred to appendix ii spiritual experience. Suspended we agnostics austin aa hill country intergroup. This is the heart of the big book, the chapter that introduces the twelve steps of alcoholics anonymous, and is so revered that it is read to open. We want to be defined by principles and not what we dont believe. Chapter 4 we agnostics this chapter explains the atheist and the believer and how some us came to believe in a power greater than. What about those sanctimonious church goers who judge me for. Dave moore, association of american medical colleges aamc senior director of. The 2001 census data showed that the percentage of atheists, agnostics, humanists, adherents of no religion, etc rose from 12. I guess i was a bit of a fundamentalist at the time and feared that it wouldnt work if i didnt follow directions exactly.
Words contained within the first 164 pages of the big book. 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. This web site is dedicated to developing a collective dialogue amongst like minded individuals, those that might call themselves the new agnostics. This is now accurately known as a result of the aris studies. The authors summarize the second letter xxivxxvthe body of.
In the next three days, well have the opportunity to share, to learn, and to discuss. Oct 12, 2017 one of many good places to begin is in alcoholics anonymous aka the big book, specifically chapter 4, we agnostics. This is how i imagine it could have been in the preceding chapters you have learned something of alcoholism. The final point is that belief in god, acceptance of christ, and study of the bible are still quite available, viable, and dear to many of us in todays are christians. Among prominent agnostics have been auguste comte, herbert spencer, and t. 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. Bernard basset is a jesuit, and the author of many other books such as we neurotics,born for friendship. We had to find a power by which we could live, and it had to be a power greater than ourselves. Reading guide for we agnostics amethyst recovery center. I mean i understood it intellectually, but what i wasnt getting is it god means anything that is outside the self that has the power to healhelpetc. Chapter 4 we agnostics page 41 notice the asterisk at the bottom of the page.
The church of the apathetic agnostic welcomes you to apatheticagnostic. And it means, of course, that we are going to talk about god. Sorting and rendering passages in the proprietary format of the 164 and more concordance does not in any way imply affiliation with or endorsement by either. Agnostics article about agnostics by the free dictionary. Preface to the aa big book fm qual mp3 14mb chapter 1 bills story fm qual mp3 12. This page is dedicated to the recordings that took place beginning with the 80th anniversary of the big books publishing. Here we learn what the alcoholics great problem is.
The delegate for southern california area 05, thomas b, is interested in your thoughts on the subject of conference approved literature for agnostics and atheists in aa. Four short years before writing this chapter, the principal author, bill w. Its main object is to enable you to find a power greater than yourself which will solve your problem. And sadly, it is not only an unfortunate choice, it can be a deadly one. Oct, 2016 it is fair to say that countless addicts and alcoholics have stayed clear of 12step recovery because of the pervasive nature of the word god in the big book. In doing so, the big book also presents a method by which readers can investigate theological questions for themselves. Big book workbook is for those who are willing to grow along spiritual lines 60. Popular agnosticism books meet your next favorite book. Joe had been studying the big book since 1962, but since he was an africanamerican man living in little rock, arkansas during that time, he was only allowed to stand in the back of meetings, and. We have a new site come and check us out thursday night big book study. Proceedings, 115th annual meeting, medical library association. Agnosticism is the view that the existence of god, of the divine or the supernatural is unknown or unknowable.
One of the many things that makes mla such a great organization is to be part of a. Its not a magical book that requires arcane knowledge to. In the big book we find a radical empiricism, applied to religion, with a set of actions offered as an entrance into direct spiritual experience. Words so important that they have been officially declared unchangeable by act of aas general service conference. The number of american adults with agnostic beliefs.
The big book of quotations for atheists, agnostics, and secular humanists kindle edition by probulos, i. It is the sharing of our collective experience, strength, hope and wisdom inspired by our reading of this big book together that will make a difference in our recovery. Schematic outline of the first 103 pages of the big book i. We wish to make the 12 steps of alcoholics anonymous part of our. Although these books are not written specifically for the agnostic, they use nonjudgemental direct language and are higherpower neutral. Agnostics understand that there are reasons people believe in the creation of the universe by a higher power, and we also understand that theres reason to believe our existence could have been a. How could there possibly be a god when there are so many starving people and wars where everybody says god is on their side. M download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. Then why does the chaptor we agnostics insinuate were all agnostic till we find out who god is in our lives and we have to have a spiritual awakening.
If we are to accept our disease and learn to overcome it, we must accept that. Nov 21, 2014 that means we have written a book which we believe to be spiritual as well as moral. Agnostic in big book alcoholics anonymous, 12 steps and 12. We agnostics assignment we have covered the first and second components of the disease of alcoholism. Big book workshop we agnostics big book step study. Aa cofounder bill wilson wrote we agnostics in an attempt to address the issue. And even though i think the universe was created by the big bang instead of a god with magic dust shooting from his fingertips. I thought it had to be done precisely as laid out in the big book, and although bill w. And once again, i was amazed how easy it is for people to read and discuss scripture, even when they may not know anything about it, or even believe its true. One more time i have come to believe that there is in fact a great reality. Both the republication of the god word pamphlet, originally published by aa in great britain, and a request to create a new pamphlet for atheists and agnostics in aa are on the agenda at this. They are not aa approved, but are aa permitted to use and adapt the aa 12 step program. Created especially for high school and college students, this anthology collects letters, essays, diary entries, book excerpts, blogs, and other brief readings by atheists and agnostics from ancient times to the present, from wellknown philosophers to ordinary people.
In the preceding chapters you have learned something of alcoholism. Another definition provided is the view that human reason is incapable of providing sufficient rational grounds to justify either the belief that. We agnostics chapter of the big book religious forums. The rittenhouse award, sponsored by rittenhouse book distributors. Taken from the book alcoholics anonymous frequently called the big book. Were hoping to use this blog to connect with other nonreligious people who are. What if the fourth chapter of the big book, we agnostics had actually been written by atheists and agnostics. 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. We agnostics in the preceding chapters you have learned something of alcoholism. Agnosticism is really the second largest religious belief system in the u. That means we have written a book which we believe to be spiritual as well as moral. Each quote is followed by alexs thoughts on the topic and a question for the reader to contemplate. The idea of complete deflation and the teachings of the oxford group were offered as a solution to fred the accountant.
The big book offers these actions without predicting the exact spiritual experience that will result for a given individual, nor does it impose any conceptions upon the reader. May 21, 2008 in its chapter, we agnostics, the big book outlines its attitude toward spiritual and religious matters. The final point is that belief in god, acceptance of christ, and study. The most important chapter of the big book for understanding bill wilsons concept of god is we agnostics pp. I am pleased to see the site still attracts visitors, some of whom take the time to reply with their thoughts. 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.
Many times we talk to a new man and watch his hope rise as we discuss his alcoholicproblems and explain our fellowship. In the book, he eventually experiences a selfawakening and returns to the faith. Apr 05, 2016 we agnostics by roger published april 5, 2016 updated april 24, 2020 this was a talk given at the 39th annual aa spring roundup in san diego, march 2427, 2016, easter weekend. Please be sure to read appendix ii about the spiritual experience.
This 1968 book is the story of harry dawes, a modern catholic layman who has lost his faith, and struggles with the questions of existence and belief. Many aa agnostics have found these books to be useful and enlightening. Its not a magical book that requires arcane knowledge to decipher and understand. 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. Immanuel kant was an agnostic who argued that belief in divinity can rest only on faith. The big book of quotations for atheists, agnostics, and. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading the big book of quotations for atheists, agnostics, and secular humanists. We hope we have made clear the distinction between the alcoholic and the nonalcoholic. By the very act of critiquing chapter 4, we agnostics, i admittedly commit aa heresy. The 1996 canadian census only counted 21,975 agnostics. With god to illinois,lets start praying again, etc. And one should read page 191 of the big book for bill wilsons own statement. The 164 and more book, ebook, and web site are all concordances which display passages from the big book alcoholics anonymous, the twelve steps and twelve traditions, and the a.
It is fair to say that countless addicts and alcoholics have stayed clear of 12step recovery because of the pervasive nature of the word god in the big book. We agnostics by roger published april 5, 2016 updated april 24, 2020 this was a talk given at the 39th annual aa spring roundup. List of books and articles about agnosticism online. The individual sections of this study guide material reflect ideas, emotions and attitudes you might hear from the mouth of that old timer over in the corner. We have nothing against religious people, but since the adoption community seems to have a very christian tilt, we want to make it clear from the title who we are.
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