May 21, 2008 in its chapter, we agnostics, the big book outlines its attitude toward spiritual and religious matters. Taken from the book alcoholics anonymous frequently called the big book. We have a way out on which we can absolutely agree, and upon which we can join in brotherly and harmonious action. Chapter 4 of the big book is titled we agnostics and explores the meaning of a higher power.
Our meetings are more secular than most, providing a supportive environment for anyone with a desire to stop drinking regardless of their religious or spiritual beliefs, or lack of belief. Four short years before writing this chapter, the principal author, bill w. Take all 12 steps in just 4 hours download this aa big book step guide and work book. You can also hear our thursday big book study recordings at 641 7153900, pin 2989. Chapter 4 we agnostics step 2 concluded published by joe b on may 17, 2018 chapter 4 we agnostics step 2 concluded. Big book alcoholics anonymous chapter 4 we agnostics pages 44 57. Ive discovered that a lot of people ignore it, especially people that adhere to a particular religious tradition, and feel that theyve got the idea of faith in a higher power under control. 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. Overview preface preface chapter 1 bills story chapter 2 there is a solution chapter 3 more about alcoholism chapter 4 we agnostics chapter 5 how it works chapter 6 into action chapter 7 working with others chapter 8 to wives chapter 9 the family afterward chapter 10 to employers chapter 11 a.
We agnostics is the fourth chapter of alcoholics anonymous, or the fifth if you. If you are truly alcoholic, what is the only thing that will conquer it for you. 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. The we agnostics chapter of the big book just got back from a meeting closed discussion where we read this entire chapter and shared on it holy crap what an arrogant, insulting, and condescending way of looking at atheists and agnostics. By the very act of critiquing chapter 4, we agnostics, i admittedly commit aa heresy. We agnostics, atheists, and believers 105 from believers and people of faith in eda. Hence we have the lords prayer and the senerity prayer read in meetings. I dont have an issue with the prayers although some do. We will examine this chapter in detail to see what if anything we atheists. A little ditty on the big book, alcoholics anonymous.
Aa big book story 7the man who mastered fear 4th edition duration. Step 4 made a searching and fearless moral inventory of ourselves. We agnostics seven deceptive delusions by samuel ross 1 it is possible that the writer of this chapter doesnt understand the tremendous difference between agnostics and atheists but it is more likely that he is simply disregarding the difference in order to manipulate its readers. The word broken down from greek is, a meaning without, and gnosis meaning knowledge. Chapter 4 chapter 4 we agnostics in the preceding chapters you have learned something of alcoholism. I dont have to cringe when others in the rooms refer to the power that is greater than themselves as god. The point is that aa, the twelve steps, and the big book itself, are there to help you to find a power greater than yourself, which will help you solve your problem.
Mar 27, 2017 a little ditty on the big book of alcoholics anonymous we agnostics. If, when you honestly want to, you find you cannot quit entirely, or if, when drinking, you have little. That said, i wanted to share some thoughts on some passages from the chapter to the agnostic from the bb. Eda big book ch 4 we agnostics, atheists, and believers eating. And it means, of course, that we are going to talk about god. Reading guide for we agnostics amethyst recovery center. We are sure god wants us to be happy, joyous and free. 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. There is a chapter in the aa big book titled we agnostics. Alcoholism12 step support a perspective on we agnostics chapter 4 of the big book colornavyim not going for this god stuff. We cannot subscribe to the belief that this life is a. As my head cleared, i started reading the big book, and since the.
A little ditty on the big book of alcoholics anonymous we. Chapter 4, we agnostics, is truly a remarkable piece of writing. If, when you honestly want to, you find you cannot quit entirely, or if when drinking, you have little control. Provided to youtube by cdbaby we agnostics alcoholics anonymous alcoholics anonymous. Step 1 the doctors opinion bills story there is a solution more about alcoholism step 2 we agnostics steps 312 how it works into action working with others. A little ditty on the big book of alcoholics anonymous we agnostics. How could there possibly be a god when there are so many starving people and wars where everybody says god is on their side. May 17, 2018 chapter 4 we agnostics step 2 concluded the wednesday night study group come and join us in person wednesday nights 7. This diagram is a handy reference for where the steps are located in the big book. Play all mix big book chapter 4youtube aa speakers joe and charlie we agnostics the big book comes alive duration. 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 was trying to wrap my. Alcoholics anonymous chapter 4 we agnostics in the preceding chapters you have learned something of alcoholism. Sep 18, 2017 when we agnostics fails us as i read the first chapter of the book, what is your suffering. Nov 05, 2015 provided to youtube by cdbaby we agnostics alcoholics anonymous alcoholics anonymous.
We hope we have made clear the distinction between the. Chapter 4 we agnostics part 3 the wednesday night study group come and join us in person wednesday nights 7. Beginning chapter 4, we agnostics page 4 5 paragraph 3 we know how he feels to top of page 46 ending. An illness of this sort and we have come to believe it an illness involves those about us in a way no other human sickness can. In its chapter, we agnostics, the big book outlines its attitude toward spiritual and religious matters. A perspective on we agnostics chapter 4 of the big book 1. May 10, 2018 chapter 4 we agnostics part 3 the wednesday night study group come and join us in person wednesday nights 7. 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. 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. Our origins are the students of the big book group, which has met in woodland hills, california since december of 1985. In the preceding chapters you have learned something of alcoholism. We agnostics is the fourth chapter of alcoholics anonymous, or the fifth if you include the doctors opinion. How can we find the power that will solve our problem. Most of our members find chapter 4 we agnostics to be particularly condescending and not helpful to their sobriety. Intolerance in big book alcoholics anonymous, 12 steps and.
Oct 12, 2017 one of many good places to begin is in alcoholics anonymous aka the big book, specifically chapter 4, we agnostics. Indeed the entire chapter seems to focus not on acknowledging that you dont need an interventionist god to get sober, but rather to convince you that you do. This is the audio version of the fourth edition of the big book, the basic text for alcoholics anonymous. Drs opinion 4th edition p xxv bills story chapter 1 p 1 16 there is a solution chapter 2 p 16 30 more about alcoholism chapter 3 p 30 43 we agnostics chapter 4 p 44 57 how it works chapter 5 p 58 71 into action continue reading big book of alcoholics anonymous. Alcoholics anonymous big book video chapter four we agnostics. The big book would advise you, however, not to be too perturbed by these. We agnostics kansas city is an alcoholics anonymous group in the kansas city area. Words contained within the first 164 pages of the big book. But by the end of chapter 4, we agnostics, the contradictions are glaring. Aa speakers joe and charlie we agnostics the big book comes alive duration. This is the great news this book carries to those who suffer from alcoholism.
Session 6 step 2 we agnostics step 2 came to believe that a power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity. Early on in our practice of the steps, we members of. We agnostics chapter of the big book religious forums. Mar 09, 2012 there is a chapter in the aa big book titled we agnostics. But because we have the chapter of we agnostics, it insinuates that every who comes through the door of aa or any 12 step program is an agnostic we all are. Chapter 2, there is a solution, chapter 3,more about alcoholism, and chapter 4,we agnostics. Overview preface preface chapter 1 bills story chapter 2 there is a solution chapter 3 more about alcoholism chapter 4 we agnostics chapter 5 how it works chapter 6 into action chapter 7 working with others chapter 8 to wives chapter 9 the family afterward chapter 10 to employers chapter 11 a vision for you. We agnostics seven deceptive delusions stinkin thinkin. Chapter 4 we agnostics in the preceding chapters you have learned something of alcoholism. Aa officially recognizes atheist and agnostic membership in this. We agnostics aa is a secular alcoholics anonymous meeting in kansas city.
We hope we have made clear the distinction between the alcoholic and the nonalcoholic. Thoughts on chapter 4 we agnostics what i mostly got from this one is that god is a requirement of the program. When faced with the proposed writings of the eda big book, we who are more religiously inclined could not accept many of its secular precepts without mentioning some of our thoughts on the matter. In essence, the chapter emphasizes that all drunks come into aa as agnostics and godless but, over time, they rid themselves of that ridiculous concept and see the path towards a higher power code speak for the more commonly used word god.
Apr 21, 2019 aa big book ch 4 we agnostics 4th edition thegaa03. Step 3 made a decision to turn our lives over to the care of god as we understood him. Silkworth aa big book aa anonymity statement anonymity is the spiritual foundation of all our traditions. One more time i have come to believe that there is in fact a great reality. 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 most a.
Willing to believecornerstone of a spiritual structure. One of many good places to begin is in alcoholics anonymous aka the big book, specifically chapter 4, we agnostics. This is a long chapter, but like the rest of the big book, the ideas are simple and straightforward. A perspective on we agnostics chapter 4 of the big book. Some thoughts on the big book and we agnostics i do not consider myself to be a religious person but do have many people in my life i have a huge amount of respect for that are religious. The big book would advise you, however, not to be too perturbed by these references. 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. 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. The big book bunch 12 step workbook we are the big book bunch group of alcoholics anonymous. We agnostics in the preceding chapters you have learned something of alcoholism. Chapter 4 we agnostics essendon baptist community church 4 8 buckley st, essendon vic 3040.
The ideas in this chapter present a very powerful part of the program, and i believe. In doing so, the big book also presents a method by which readers can investigate theological questions for themselves. I dont have to define what a power greater than myself is. 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. In fact there is an entire chapter addressed to the agnostic, chapter 4, we agnostics. The chapter lays out the intent of the book, which is not to change the 12 steps, but to explain them in nontheistic language. Original manuscript chaper 4 we agnostics alcoholics anonymous alcohol allergy rehabilitation of alcoholics dr. Aa big book ch 4 we agnostics 4th edition thegaa03. Chapter 4 we agnostics i n the precedingchapters you have learned something of alcoholism. We cant just leave that part out and try to do the other stuff because it wont work. For many of us that seems to be an impossible task. Has the book made clear the distinction between the alcoholic and the nonalcoholic.
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