Also, the founding text the big book bb of alcoholics anonymous that we use in meetings was. The 1996 canadian census only counted 21,975 agnostics. 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. 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. This web site is dedicated to developing a collective dialogue amongst like minded individuals, those that might call themselves the new agnostics. A robust, energetic agnosticism is a credit to god if there is one. The big book would advise you, however, not to be too perturbed by these references. In doing so, the big book also presents a method by which readers can investigate theological questions for themselves. 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.
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. In the preceding chapters you have learned something of alcoholism. An atheist, like a christian, holds that we can know whether or not there is a god. Humorous quotations and jokes for atheists agnostics and secular humanists. And it means, of course, that we are going to talk about god. Introduction study and practice steps by the big book. Fun fact, the word god appears 4 times within the first 164 pages of the big book of alcoholics anonymous. Its main object is to enable you to find a power greater than yourself, which will solve your problem. Agnosticism is really the second largest religious belief system in the u. 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. We have a new site come and check us out thursday night big book study. In our personal stories you will find a wide variation.
Many times we talk to a new man and watch his hope rise as we discuss his alcoholicproblems and. 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. Over 365 quotations for atheists agnostics and secular humanists 2. We confessed or shared our shortcomings with another person in confidence. Big book workbook is for those who are willing to grow along spiritual lines 60.
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. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading the big book of quotations for atheists, agnostics, and secular humanists. Agnosticism is of the essence of science, whether ancient or modern. Find the top 100 most popular items in amazon books best sellers. Our goal is to study the steps as a friendly, focused group, and work them as the authors of the big book described. Apr 09, 2020 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. We wish to make the 12 steps of alcoholics anonymous part of our. These ideas are true for us and we feel it in our guts. It would be helpful to you as you read along to substitute the word food for alcohol and compulsive eater for alcoholic. We agnostics is the fourth chapter of alcoholics anonymous, or the fifth if you include the doctors opinion. They are not aa approved, but are aa permitted to use and adapt the aa 12 step program. Many aa agnostics have found these books to be useful and enlightening.
Can agnosticism deepen appreciation for godwhat it would take to believe in god and what it would mean if indeed there were a god. Ive been an atheist for years and years, but somehow i felt it was intellectually unrespectable to say one was an atheist, because it assumed knowledge that one didnt have. The christian holds that we can know there is a god. Aug 24, 2009 we have a new site come and check us out thursday night big book study. Anonymous, the big book, with permission from alcoholics anonymous.
Chapter 4, we agnostics, is truly a remarkable piece of writing. In its chapter, we agnostics, the big book outlines its attitude toward spiritual and religious matters. It simply means that a man shall not say he knows or believes that which he has no scientific grounds for professing to know or believe. Besides a seeming inability to accept much on faith, we often found. They summarized what they learned from the oxford group in six simple principles. Its not a magical book that requires arcane knowledge to decipher and understand. Aa beyond belief provides a space for agnostics, atheists and freethinkers. Many times we talk to a new man and watch his hope rise as we discuss his alcoholic problems and explain our fellowship. Among prominent agnostics have been auguste comte, herbert spencer, and t. It is unclear but it is something we can determine right now. Second biennial we agnostics, atheists and freethinkers aa conference of arizona. Nov 21, 2014 that means we have written a book which we believe to be spiritual as well as moral.
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. That being said, when most people think of addiction recovery, they will typically envision a group of people sitting in a circle, working together to refrain from using drugs and alcohol by practicing the principles of the 12steps which were first laid out in the big book of alcoholics anonymous aa. One of the many myths that i was taught about the big book is that its the collective workwords of the original 100 members of aa. We re hoping to use this blog to connect with other nonreligious people who are adopting or have adopted internationally, especially from ethiopia. We agnostics i n the precedingchapters you have learned something of alcoholism. M download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets.
I also dont approve of the big book saying i dont know who god is. Immanuel kant was an agnostic who argued that belief in divinity can rest only on faith. A perspective on we agnostics chapter 4 of the big book. The big book of quotations for atheists, agnostics, and.
Four short years before writing this chapter, the principal author, bill w. Suspended we agnostics austin aa hill country intergroup. Pages in category english agnostics the following 103 pages are in this category, out of 103 total. 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. Is this the christian god, or can we really take this to mean a god of our own understanding. Big book alcoholics anonymous chapter 4 we agnostics pages 44 57. As a lifelong agnostic, and also a mystic, i hold an unusual perspective. Atheist in big book alcoholics anonymous, 12 steps and 12.
For many of us that seems to be an impossible task. The big books chapter we agnostics draws a line in the sand. Unlimited agnosticism, however, claims that god is completely unknowable. The scientist who looks at the universe with an open mind and accepts whatever the universe has to teach us, or somebody who says everything in this book must be considered the literal truth and never mind the fallibility of all the human beings involved. Each quote is followed by alexs thoughts on the topic and a question for the reader to contemplate. May 21, 2008 in its chapter, we agnostics, the big book outlines its attitude toward spiritual and religious matters. Its main object is to enable you to find a power greater than yourself which will solve your problem. 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. This is not an attack on agnostics, although my comments are blunt, but a thorough research into both history and science can only lead one to atheism. Consequently, agnosticism puts aside not only the greater part of popular theology, but also the greater part of antitheology. It says that it is impossible to know anything about god.
We agnostics assignment we have covered the first and second components of the disease of alcoholism. We hope we have made clear the distinction between the alcoholic and the nonalcoholic. It sounds like they are trying to convert me to something. In its chapter, we agnostics, the big book outlines. Agnosticism says that we dont know, that we dont have the knowledge, but we do. A perspective on we agnostics chapter 4 of the big book how could there possibly be a god when there are so many starving people and wars where everybody says god is on their side. Its a meeting where we read something current, written for and by people living in this century. While hume was technically a skeptic, his arguments. 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. 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 alcoholics. We agnostics chapter of the big book religious forums.
I recognize several types of agnosticism, a point which i did not see other answers address. Taken from the book alcoholics anonymous frequently called the big book. Although these books are not written specifically for the agnostic, they use nonjudgemental direct language and are higherpower neutral. Can oa work for atheists or agnostics without being converted. We admitted we were licked, that we were powerless over alcohol. Read and highlight chapter 4 of the big book we agnostics. What we know of course is that the big book was bill wilsons baby its a collection of his opinions and beliefs at 34 years sober. Its an aa meeting that doesnt carry the heavy baggage from the past. I met again yesterday with a few friends to read and discuss matthew. Top 10 agnostic blogs and websites for agnostics in 2020. There is a chapter in the aa big book titled we agnostics.
Atheists and agnostics panel at the northeast regional aa service. I know very little about him besides the fact he made dilbert and wrote this particular book, so, i dont know what you mean when you talk about the other two stories. Foundations of agnosticism the two most influential thinkers to advance the philosophy of agnosticism were david hume 17111976 and immanuel kant 17241804. Aa speaker turn our will and our lives over to the care of god new 20 duration. To one who feels he is an atheist or agnostic such an experience seems. The 2001 census data showed that the percentage of atheists, agnostics, humanists, adherents of no religion, etc rose from 12. Many times we talk to a new man and watch his hope rise as we discuss his alcoholicproblems and explain our fellowship. Agnostic in big book alcoholics anonymous, 12 steps and 12.
The agnostic suspends judgment, saying that there are not sufficient grounds either for affirmation or for denial. Agnostics article about agnostics by the free dictionary. That means we have written a book which we believe to be spiritual as well as moral. 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. Chapter 4 of the big book, we agnostics, in which bill w argues that recovery requires belief in god, is an insulting mishmash. The big book of quotations for atheists, agnostics, and secular humanists kindle edition by probulos, i. Reading guide for we agnostics amethyst recovery center. 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. Were hoping to use this blog to connect with other nonreligious people who are adopting or.