12 Steps and God

Some religions have their own versions, but the actual AA meeting is not tied to a religion, but the higher power, like others stated.

You can still be an atheist and believe in the higher power they speak about... assign it to anything you feel is important, the universe, compassion for humanity, family love....

I am a questioning Christian/Agnostic/Universalist, lol! I don't think anyone is screwed, I think we all just need to try our best and help each other :)

I've known 12-steppers who were atheists, agnostics, and participants in a few different religions. The ones who stuck with it got tremendous benefit, regardless of their religion or lack thereof.

As other posters say, any individual's higher power doesn't have to be a god, and what we find in ourselves that's authentic, honest and humble is, for many, the most effective source of strength and guidance.

It is not a Christian program and it is not religious. It IS spiritual. There is a difference.

Many people assign their higher power to be God, but a higher power only has to be something beyond the self that one is able to put trust in. The 12 steps are a way of living. Oh, I could go on and on!

12 steps in AlAnon changed my life! So much happier-no one can take that from me, ever.

It's Christian based, but your higher power doesn't have to be a deity or any other supernatural being.
I don't believe that God (or gods) literally exist. I see them as representations of aspects of human nature.
This is going to sound weird, and maybe I wasn't doing it right, but I realized that I did best when I acted as my own higher power.

The 12 steps are not organized around religion. If you go to a meeting and it seems the be pushing a particular religion you have either 1) found a meeting that is not sticking to the steps and traditions of the program or 2) reading your own concerns into what is being said or 3) are listening to someone who is just sharing their views.

As they say "take what you like and leave the rest".

The steps are all basically the same, but every meeting has a different character.

It is not based around "religion" so to speak, but they do encourage you to find your higher power; an entity that you can turn things over to - things that you cannot control. That's part of recovery - learning how to let go and not try to control things that are beyond your control. Now, that can be God, if you believe, or it can be anytyhing else. For me, that's God. But I know agnostics who follow the program. I don't know what their higher power is - none of my business. It's very personal. But you do not have to believe in God and meetings are not centered round religion.

Try reading this (this is one of my favorite atheist bloggers): http://www.patheos.com/blogs/friendlyatheist/2007/05/30/a...