Extract from old aacultwatch forum:
“You can
do whatever spiritual practices you want my friend. Stand on
your head and say the serenity prayer in Latin if it works for
you. I'm serious! I follow my own daily routine based upon my
understanding of a Higher Power, the steps, and what is written
in our Big Book.
But what I
don't have a right to do is to make stuff up and then make Fellowship
and carrying the message of AA depend upon that.
For
example - I personally don't write a gratitude list, BUT I do
spend a few mins each day, at a certain fixed time,
reflecting and meditating upon the Gifts of Life - the gifts of
sobriety if you like. I find it very beneficial, a good spiritual
exercise and a solid discipline. However I would not insist that
newcomers, or others in AA, should do this exactly the way I do
it. Nor make friendship, Fellowship or helping others depend on
people doing things exactly my way. This is what is wrong with these
Cults in AA, fellowship is made dependent and conditional on so
many many "peripheral" things as you call it. Worse,
some of these peripheral things and "rules" clearly
break the Traditions and contradict the conference approved
literature.
As I
understand the program we each have a HP of our own understanding,
and our own understanding of spiritual expressions
(see AA page 47). That really does open the Gates wide to
recovery for all, and customise the Program to each individual,
according to their needs, experiences, circumstances and
conscience. We also have our conference approved
literature for further clarity if we need it. Personally I rely
mainly on the Big Book. I have never found it lacking in clarity.
It is not
for me to tell others to kneel before their God. I
certainly don't, it would go against my conscience, my family
upbringing, and my religious belief. Nor would it be right
for me to set up a group within AA where everyone must become a
reflection of one particular interpretation of the Program.
Wanting to micro-manage or control others, or trying to make them
dependent upon, or "carbon copies" of oneself, are
manifestations of the disease as I understand it and have experienced
it.
Although I
am a person of a particular and strong Faith, I have no problem with
other faiths, or with atheists or agnostics in AA. They are
following their path and trying to find Truth as they see it. If you
read the Book "Varieties of Religious Experience" by
William James, these possibilities are well discussed. Incidently
the William James book is the only book mentioned in the Big
Book for reference. And yet so many of our fellowship have not read
it!!
The
wonderful thing about AA is that we are individuals. We share our
experience strength and hope WITH each other (not AT each other) so
that we may learn FROM each other. This does not happen with the Cult
groups - especially for the puffed-up Old Timer entrenched there. He
ends up just listening to reflections of himself, and, gradually, and
sadly, becomes more and more narcissistic, dictatorial, intolerant
and cut-off from the mainstream of AA. This is not only bad for
him spiritually and mentally, it is also a tragic
distortion of AA for the newcomer who, by mischance, should
happen to venture there. I have been in AA for over 26 years now and
have watched this happen. It nearly happened to me. But I have
one helluva badass Higher Power and, I had a spiritual awakening
!!”
Cheers
The Fellas (Friends of Alcoholics
Anonymous)
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