In the book, he eventually experiences a selfawakening and returns to the faith. This playlist is from the seymour big book study on sundays in seymour, ct at the united methodist church of seymour. We confessed or shared our shortcomings with another person in confidence. We suggest you follow along in your own 4th edition big book and take notes as you listen to the audio. 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. This is a series of big book studies and workshops that are intended to give newcomers an adequate presentation of the program of alcoholics anonymous.
May 21, 2008 in its chapter, we agnostics, the big book outlines its attitude toward spiritual and religious matters. One of the first pages of we agnostics includes the following passage. We may not beleive in the supernatural but we believe in you. Chapter 4 we agnostics page 41 notice the asterisk at the bottom of the page. What about those sanctimonious church goers who judge me for.
Or pick from one of many of the favorite parts we have singled out on our website. The playlist on the right bottom on mobile device is from the seymour big book study on sundays in seymour, ct at the united methodist church of seymour. We agnostics and atheists were sticking to the idea that selfsufficiency would solve our. We agnostics and atheists were sticking to the idea that selfsufficiency would solve our problems. As i worked my way through the big book, one of the sections that i had to rewrite was the chapter titled we agnostics. According to the big book, when we speak of god, what do we mean. A space for aa agnostics, atheists and freethinkers in the cleveland ohio area and beyond. Our chief responsibility to the newcomer is an adequate presentation of the program home.
I was wondering first if people agree with this statement or not, and then whether this effects your ability to work. Each quote is followed by alexs thoughts on the topic and a question for the reader to contemplate. The foreword to the second edition contains a lot of historical information so we will will spend several programs looking at it. We hope we have made clear the distinction between the alcoholic and the nonalcoholic. 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. The wright brothers almost childish faith that they could build a machine which would fly was the main spring of their accomplishment. Oct 12, 2017 one of many good places to begin is in alcoholics anonymous aka the big book, specifically chapter 4, we agnostics. Preface to the aa big book fm qual mp3 14mb chapter 1 bills story fm qual mp3 12. M download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. The first 164 pages of the big book with lined blank pages opposite each page of text for note taking. 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.
It might therefore be worth it to try the approach to the steps used in this step study, based on the big book. And it means, of course, that we are going to talk about god. 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. We admitted we were licked, that we were powerless over alcohol. 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. They summarized what they learned from the oxford group in six simple principles. Recordings of bbss, big book step study meeting speakers. Mike presents a big book study podcast and thoughts on recovery. Perhaps the only sentence in that entire chapter that i found at all useful is the suggestion to readers that they ask for themselves what spiritual terms mean to them as individuals. For many of us that seems to be an impossible task. Mar 09, 2012 there is a chapter in the aa big book titled we agnostics. 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. A list of recordings from speakers around various bbss meetings. The big book oa stands for the proposition that the twelve steps give us freedom from the bondage of food.
The story of alcoholism and the birth of recovery, by christopher m. A little ditty on the big book of alcoholics anonymous we agnostics. Reading guide for we agnostics amethyst recovery center. The big book of quotations for atheists, agnostics, and secular humanists kindle edition by probulos, i. A perspective on we agnostics chapter 4 of the big book. A complete big book study recorded live during a big book study over 27 weeks during winterspring 201516 by tim b. A little ditty on the big book of alcoholics anonymous. 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. Aa big book ch 4 we agnostics 4th edition duration. Book study 22 we agnostics 22 by the big book study.
That means we have written a book which we believe to be spiritual as well as moral. I also dont approve of the big book saying i dont know who god is. The book alcoholics anonymous, aka the big book, is the basic text for the aa program of sobriety. But we found that such codes and philosophies did not save us, no matter how much we tried. 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. How could there possibly be a god when there are so many starving people and wars where everybody says god is on their side. In its chapter, we agnostics, the big book outlines its attitude toward spiritual and religious matters. Pages 44 through 57 chapter 4, we agnostics, is truly a remarkable piece of writing. Book study 21 we agnostics 21 by the big book study published on 20160829t21. Big book workbook is for those who are willing to grow along spiritual lines 60. One can now listen to the alcoholics anonymous big book from front to back, or by choosing a chapter. Suspended we agnostics austin aa hill country intergroup. It would be helpful to you as you read along to substitute the word food for alcohol and compulsive eater for alcoholic. 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. We wish to make the 12 steps of alcoholics anonymous part of our. 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. Words contained within the first 164 pages of the big book. Popular agnosticism books meet your next favorite book. We agnostics i n the precedingchapters you have learned something of alcoholism. Find the latest 30 episodes below grouped by the day of the week they were recorded. Many times we talk to a new man and watch his hope rise as we discuss his alcoholic problems and explain our fellowship.
In the preceding chapters you have learned something of alcoholism. If the steps arent working for you, then maybe youre not working the steps in a way that works for you. We agnostics assignment we have covered the first and second components of the disease of alcoholism. 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. A big book compromise opens aa to unbelievers by christopher m. To that end, this is specifically a meeting designed to serve agnostics, atheists, freethinkers, nonbelievers, rationalists, humanists.
Each group should be autonomous except in matters affecting other groups or a. We agnostics chapter of the big book religious forums. Appendix 2 spiritual experience posted by john s atheist big book study in order to correct a misunderstanding from the first printing of the big book, the second appendix was written to clarify that one need not have a sudden and dramatic spiritual awakening like bill w. 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. Finan december 23, 2018 aa history, new this week 3487 this article is an excerpt from drunks. Insofar as i may be heard by anything, which may or may not care what i say, i ask, if it matters, that i be forgiven for anything i may have done or failed to do which requires forgiveness. The big book of quotations for atheists, agnostics, and. Many times we talk to a new man and watch his hope rise as we discuss his alcoho lic problems and explain our fellowship. Mar 29, 2018 conference question literature for we agnostics. This is a long chapter, but like the rest of the big book, the ideas are simple and straightforward.
It is named, of course, after a chapter in alcoholics anonymous often called the big book. Although these books are not written specifically for the agnostic, they use nonjudgemental direct language and are higherpower neutral. The pdf links below the playlist are downloadable versions of the handouts that were given out each week at the studies. Aug 24, 2009 we have a new site come and check us out thursday night big book study. Agnostics pages 44 through 57 chapter 4, we agnostics, is truly a remarkable piece of writing. A big book compromise opens aa to unbelievers aa beyond. Step 3 we agnostics question this is related to step three and turning your will and life over to god. The target audience for we agnostics is relatively easy to define. What if the fourth chapter of the big book, we agnostics had actually been written by atheists and agnostics. Speakers big book step study big book revealed big. Alcoholism12 step support a perspective on we agnostics chapter 4 of the big book im not going for this god stuff. I have one of these and it is one of my favorite items, a really excellent and useful for book study meetings or as a gift to a newcomer who is going to be heading to one. In doing so, the big book also presents a method by which readers can investigate theological questions for themselves. Step 2 we agnostics step 2 came to believe that a power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity.
Joe and charlie big book workshop part 18 gemma b, a very funny woman who carries a great message. 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 as of december 2009, 30,664,881 copies of the big book have been sold or otherwise distributed source aa gso ny. I guess i was a bit of a fundamentalist at the time and feared that it wouldnt work if i didnt follow directions exactly. They are not aa approved, but are aa permitted to use and adapt the aa 12 step program. Nov 21, 2014 that means we have written a book which we believe to be spiritual as well as moral. Big book study walking through the big book of alcoholics anonymous with chris s.
Find the ones you want and click listen here to hear them on your computer. The word broken down from greek is, a meaning without, and gnosis meaning knowledge. Naikan and danshukai for the treatment of japanese alcoholic patients. We agnostics seems to promote the idea of god as creator rather than god of your understanding. One of many good places to begin is in alcoholics anonymous aka the big book, specifically chapter 4, we 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. Joe and charlies we agnostics big book step study my. Jul 16, 2015 joe and charlie cover the chapter we agnostics from the big book of alcoholics anonymous in such masterly detail. By the very act of critiquing chapter 4, we agnostics, i admittedly commit aa heresy. This is the third time we have been referred to appendix ii spiritual experience. We agnostics in the preceding chapters you have learned something of alcoholism. Please be sure to read appendix ii about the spiritual experience. Oct 05, 2014 i thought it had to be done precisely as laid out in the big book, and although bill w. Episodes experience the big book aa big book study.
I have one of these and it is one of my favorite items, a really excellent and useful for book study meetings or as a gift to. The youtube playlist on the left top on mobile device is from the sahara big book study on thursdays in ansonia, ct at the sahara club. Taken from the book alcoholics anonymous frequently called the big book. Many times we talk to a new man and watch his hope rise as we discuss his alcoholicproblems and explain our fellowship.
Welcome to we agnostics a weekly dose of recovery for the nonreligious. Our goal is to study the steps as a friendly, focused group, and work them as the authors of the big book described. Aa history part 1 12step origins and the big book of alcoholics anonymous great aa history stuff. Stream tracks and playlists from the big book study. The individual sections of this study guide material reflect ideas, emotions and attitudes you might hear from the. This is the audio version of the fourth edition of the big book, the basic text for 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. Quad a alcoholics anonymous for atheists and agnostics was launched in 1975 in chicago. Agnostic in big book alcoholics anonymous, 12 steps and 12. Many aa agnostics have found these books to be useful and enlightening. Atheist in big book alcoholics anonymous, 12 steps and 12.
This is a study guide to the book alcoholics anonymous. If a mere code of morals or a better philosophy of life were sufficient to overcome alcoholism, many of us would have recovered long ago. Four short years before writing this chapter, the principal author, bill w. Willing to believecornerstone of a spiritual structure. Its not a magical book that requires arcane knowledge to decipher and understand. 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. This misconception extends to 12based treatment centers, who are accused of brainwashing their patients rather than treating a disease. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading the big book of quotations for atheists, agnostics, and secular humanists. 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. John s from we agnostics kansas city aa beyond belief. 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. It sounds like they are trying to convert me to something. 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.
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