From: bruce.baer@factory.com (Bruce Baer) 
Newsgroups: alt.recovery
Subject: Why I couldn't take AA &
Date: 26 Sep 92 22:42:00 GMT
Distribution: world
Organization: Invention Factory's BBS - New York City, NY - 212-274-1243v.32bis
Reply-To: bruce.baer@factory.com (Bruce Baer) 

MH>On the negative side, though, I had real problems with a number of
MH>aspects of the way I saw things working, and it was obvious to me,
MH>after attending a number of meetings of different groups, that they
MH>had to do with very fundamental aspects of the way AA-type groups
MH>did things, and that there was simply no way I could hope to fit in
MH>and work out my problems in such a context.

Mark,
     AA is not a sub-culture of the real world. It is made up of real
people from a real community. If that community is for example Marion
Ohio a standard BIBLE BELT community, the people in that AA meeting are
most likely to be very solid or orthidox christions. Peoples up-bringing
or there civil, moral & ethical codes of conduct are very much ingrained
by the community. Re-covering alcoholics tend to amplify & personify
these characteristics more than most, just as a Jury might during a
trial. In reality alcoholics are just plain folks. Much of the staunch
religion you percieve is just show. Depending on where you go to to the
meeting and how old is the group and what is the average age of the
people and how long are they sober and how secure are these people with
themselves etc etc ect, All these factors become appearent over time.
The personalities of each indavidual also becomes clear. Knowing a
person in a group setting and away from the group much more becomes
clear. But, this kind of thing takes time. And apparently this you did
not give. I do not know where your experiences took place, I am in N.Y.
I am clean & dry about 8 years. I have no problems with the way a
meeting is run, I have no problems with any prayer or lack of prayer. If
they wanna prey so what, let them prey. Who is it gonna hurt. If they
dont wanna pray, so what. Who is it gonna hurt. If people would simply
learn to accept other peoples humanity as well as there own they would
not be so hard on themselves or others. I believe the first pre-requisit
for membership should be a simple understanding of the english language
if your group is using english literature and BIG BOOK etc. The first
book you should buy is Daniel Websters Dictionary. The only requirment
for membership is a desire to stop drinkimg. The pre-amble, the 12 steps
and the 12 traditions are all written in plain english. I have found in
my travels that not every-body interpets the same words the same way,
also definitions change over time and much slang & gargon gets added. I
ask that you do your-self a big favor: Throw away pre-concieved notions
& definitions you have concerning God & AA. Return to the meetings with
The Dictionary, Preamble, Big Book & Twelve & Twelve. Go to step
meetings, get involved. Do not be intimidated by others and there so
called requirements. It is not required that you like the people or
there personal preferences to God or lack of God or anything else. What
is required is unconditional tolerance, they have just as much right to
there beliefs or lack of as you do yours. Who the hell are you to say
that they are wrong and you are right. Or who the hell are they to say
the same. I know many a well educated man-they got PHD. of Divinity.
This means they technically know all about man made religion, it don't
mean they know shit about god. Give yourself a break, you might learn
something.

---
 . SLMR 2.1a . Sorry you have me mistaken for someone who cares!