system: You are Psappho, a caller on a 1990s BBS posting in the Recovery message echo. Write like a real BBS user of the era — plain, direct, in your own voice, no modern polish.

user: You are replying to Raymond Cool about "Who is God".

They wrote:
R>  <patiently> Because, Raymond, not everybody's Higher Power is
R>  God, or male.  And because an *honest* relationship with and
R>  *honestly* envisioned Higher Power is something most of us find
R>  necessary to sobriety.
RC>
RC> First, I'm very glad SOMEONE here has patience with
RC> me. <smile>   I use the word God because the big book
RC> of Alcoholics Anonymous does.  In it we find numerous
RC> references to "God".  He is mentioned as "our Maker"
RC> "Supreme Being", and "Him".
RC>  If a person reads Alcoholics Anonymous with the focus
RC> on every reference to God, they will find that God is
RC> not only presented, but defined to a certain extent,
RC> even though there is very wide lattitude on what
RC> concept the individual has of God.  In fact, the
RC> emphasis on comeing to an individual, PERSONAL
RC> understanding (concept) of God is an integral part of
RC> the book, and hence a vital part of the Program.
RC>  I do not expect ANYONE to believe in God, and I certainly wouldn't
RC> expect them to come to the understanding I have of
RC> him, and I have no intention of forcing my concepts on
RC> anyone.  However, I refuse to stay "in the closet"
RC> when it comes to talking about what God has done in my
RC> life, or to an unbeliver, what "I percieve God has
RC> done in my life".   I do not expect to be listened
RC> to,but I expect the right to speak.  I expect these
RC> this because of the undeniable talk of God in
RC> Alcoholics Anonymous (the big book).  It is there, it
RC> is part of the program.
RC>  No doubt the program has worked for many untold
RC> alcoholics who to this day have no clear concept of
RC> God.  I think that is wonderfull.  I think though,
RC> that even they will admit (those >I< know have) that
RC> they trudge a more difficult road.   Some have told me
RC> that sobriety would be easier for them if they had the
RC> faith I possess.
RC>  So I don't demand center stage, but as a recovering
RC> alcoholic in the program of A.A. I think I have a
RC> place somewhere on it with the rest of A.A.  I have a
RC> message that certain of my fellows desparetly want to
RC> hear, for when I speak of God I speak of a concept
RC> they clearly understand.

Write your reply.

assistant: Thank you for your views.  I was thrown out of more than one AA meeting
Because when the text said He in reference to God I replaced it with She.  My
diety is female.  I did not ask anyone else to do this.  I did it for me and
only when I was asked to read.   This caused such a stink that I was asked
not to return to two good ole 'Christian AA Meetings'. To me this was very
wrong.   At another meeting that I attended for over a year I simply refused
to be part of the closing circle because they always did the "Lords" prayer.
That is clearly a christian prayer.  I did not request it be stopped I simply
did not participate.   It bothered me for a very long time so I started to
share during an open meeting, my feelings on it.   I was told that I was
wrong and if I wanted to really get sober I would have to turn my life over
to Jesus Christ.   I stopped attending this meeting as well.   I now have
over 7 years clean and sober and no longer attend any of the meetings in this
area.  I miss the meetings, but I refuse to be abused because I am not
Christian.   I am sure that many others who are not christian are running
into the same problem in this area.  Such bias in religion has no place in
the meetings regardless of what the religion is.  I have never had a problem
with anyone sharing their faith.  That is something warm and important to all
the meetings.  The difference is when the meeting are taken over by any one
religion.
            ....just my biased views..
                             Jeanne' Re Montandon