What if the fourth chapter of the big book, we agnostics had actually been written by atheists and agnostics. Speakers joe and charlie we agnostics the big book comes alive download the transcript to the entire book study here aa big book ch5 how it works 4th edition aa big book ch3 more about alcoholism 4th edition jay s. May 21, 2008 in its chapter, we agnostics, the big book outlines its attitude toward spiritual and religious matters. In this text book for permanent sobriety, we find the twelve steps of. Many times we talk to a new man and watch his hope rise as we discuss his alcoholicproblems and explain our fellowship. Eda big book ch 4 we agnostics, atheists, and believers eating. 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. We wish to make the 12 steps of alcoholics anonymous part of our.
We agnostics i n the precedingchapters you have learned something of alcoholism. Big book workbook is for those who are willing to grow along spiritual lines 60. To one who feels he is an atheist or agnostic such an experience seems. 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. Includes free pdf downloads that go along with each weekly lesson. 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. Big book study walking through the big book of alcoholics anonymous with chris s. I have experienced this process with almost 300 alcoholics and addicts over the past 4 years. This is how i imagine it could have been in the preceding chapters you have learned something of alcoholism.
Big book workshop we agnostics big book step study. During any such meeting to study the aa big book, you would expect to. A perspective on we agnostics chapter 4 of the big book. Our goal is to study the steps as a friendly, focused group, and work them as the authors of the big book described. Many times we talk to a new man and watch his hope rise as we discuss his alcoholic problems and explain our fellowship. The big book of alcoholics anonymous the world famous eye. Goals of the big book goal 1 describe the problem goal 2 describe the solution goal 3 define the action necessary for recovery. We study the first 103 pages of the big book and when we come to the step instructions we take them together. Reading guide for we agnostics amethyst recovery center. Aug, 2017 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. Sixteen years have elapsed between our first printing of this book and the presentation of 1955 of our second edition. To help you in this step study, it would be useful for you to download certain. For many of us that seems to be an impossible task. Many times we talk to a new man and watch his hope rise as we discuss his alcoholicproblems and.
We agnostics chapter of the big book religious forums. This is a study guide to the book alcoholics anonymous. 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. In its chapter, we agnostics, the big book outlines its attitude toward spiritual and religious matters. That is what the authors of the big book and millions before you did. And it means, of course, that we are going to talk about god. A comprehensive alcoholics anonymous big book study with aa speaker howard e. This playlist is from the seymour big book study on sundays in seymour, ct at the united methodist church of seymour. Aa cofounder bill wilson wrote we agnostics in an attempt to address the issue. The big book oa stands for the proposition that the twelve steps give us freedom from the bondage of food. This is a long chapter, but like the rest of the big book, the ideas are simple and straightforward.
Of course the name we agnostics is also a chapter in the big book. Nothing more was required of me to make my beginning. 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. Willing to believecornerstone of a spiritual structure. So it was comforting to learn that we could commence at. Especially, as that word gets used by individuals who embrace traditional religious concepts of what it means to them. If the steps arent working for you, then maybe youre not working the steps in a way that works for you. 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. Words contained within the first 164 pages of the big book. Already, continues the early text, twos and threes and fives of us have sprung up in other communities.
Please be sure to read appendix ii about the spiritual experience. Chapter 4 we agnostics page 41 notice the asterisk at the bottom of the page. Agnostics pages 44 through 57 chapter 4, we agnostics, is truly a remarkable piece of writing. Oct 05, 2014 i thought it had to be done precisely as laid out in the big book, and although bill w. 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. A history of agnostic groups in aa william white papers. That means we have written a book which we believe to be spiritual as well as moral. In doing so, the big book also presents a method by which readers can investigate theological questions for themselves.
This big book provides you with over 150 lists for atheists, agnostics, and secular humanists. Four short years before writing this chapter, the principal author, bill w. Episodes experience the big book aa big book study. It is dedicated to those who want recovery from alcoholism, but have difficulty with the word god. The pdf links below the playlist are downloadable versions of the handouts that were given out each week at the studies. Eventually i decided that i should try working the steps, so i found a sponsor who suggested we read the big book and go through the steps together. Alcoholism12 step support a perspective on we agnostics chapter 4 of the big book im not going for this god stuff. 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 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. The big book would advise you, however, not to be too perturbed by these references. I can tell you that she is one of the main reasons my life in sobriety is as happy. 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. The goal is to have very concise lists with about 10 key items concerning science, religion, faith, evolution, and nonbelief. 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 brain around step 2.
In the preceding chapters you have learned something of alcoholism. I guess i was a bit of a fundamentalist at the time and feared that it wouldnt work if i didnt follow directions exactly. We suggest you follow along in your own 4th edition big book and take notes as you listen to the audio. Step 2 we agnostics step 2 came to believe that a power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity. Step one willingness through despair it was only a matter of being willing to believe in a power greater than myself. Taken from the book alcoholics anonymous frequently called the big book. 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.
Many times we talk to a new man and watch his hope rise as we discuss his alcoho lic problems and explain our fellowship. Aa beyond belief provides a space for agnostics, atheists and freethinkers in alcoholics. This book has more lists and some of them have been expanded to include as many as 100 items. The big book serves as the foundation for the alcoholics anonymous 12step program. By the very act of critiquing chapter 4, we agnostics, i admittedly commit aa heresy. When we got to the doctors opinion, i was told to read it every day for thirty days. Find the ones you want and click listen here to hear them on your computer.
If we are to accept our disease and learn to overcome it, we must accept that. How could there possibly be a god when there are so many starving people and wars where everybody says god is on their side. An agnostic is defined as a person who accepts the concept of god but. We hope we have made clear the distinction between the alcoholic and the nonalcoholic. Pages in category english agnostics the following 103 pages are in this category, out of 103 total. To personalize the step for your study and action in the here and now, however, you may wish to rephrase it as. It might therefore be worth it to try the approach to the steps used in this step study, based on the big book. It is the basic text of the fellowship of alcoholics anonymous, and has helped large numbers of alcoholic men and women, young and old, recover. It sounds like they are trying to convert me to something. We agnostics aa big book chapter 4 aa big book big book of aa alcoholics anonymous doctors opinion how it works aa preamble alcoholism recovery 4th edition 3rd edition 2nd edition alcohol allergy rehabilitation of alcoholics dr. The big book of lists for atheists, agnostics, and secular. One of many good places to begin is in alcoholics anonymous aka the big book, specifically chapter 4, we agnostics.
I admit that i am powerless over alcoholthat my life has. An interpretation free as a pdf download at aa beyond belief. Find the latest 30 episodes below grouped by the day of the week they were recorded. Yes, we of agnostic temperament have had these thoughts and. The portion of chapter five of our big book that was read aloud, how it. This is the audio version of the fourth edition of the big book, the basic text for alcoholics anonymous. I also dont approve of the big book saying i dont know who god is. I have had many spiritual experiences as a result of this approach as have many of the newcomers i have worked with. Aug 19, 20 this is a long chapter, but like the rest of the big book, the ideas are simple and straightforward. Outlining the steps and traditions that make aa famous, as well as numerous stories about recovering addicts who have been through the process, the big book has helped guide millions into a life of sobriety. 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 the third time we have been referred to appendix ii spiritual experience. Aa history part 1 12step origins and the big book of alcoholics anonymous great aa history stuff. A complete big book study recorded live during a big book study over 27 weeks during winterspring 201516 by tim b.