Comments on: Are 12 step groups more like the Church than church?

By: GentlePath

GentlePath — Sat, 21 Feb 2009 14:53:04 +0000

My SA meetings seemed like what church was supposed to be back when I was a believer. There aren’t many churches where an avowed atheist will be genuinely welcomed. In fact, my SA friends are the only ones I feel safe enough with to share that with.

By: rainbow

rainbow — Sat, 24 Jan 2009 09:01:15 +0000

there’s a sign-in sheet at my meetings and one of the things you are supposed to fill in is a column that asks “how do you feel right now?” and after much deliberation yesterday I put down “powerless.” I felt a little embarrassed to write that and pass it on so others could see it, but the next lady turns to me and said “That’s a good place to be.”
It was so cool.
Can you imagine telling a stranger at church that you felt powerless? Pffft.

By: Chaz

Chaz — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 21:07:37 +0000

Ben… I attend Alcoholic Anonymous and have asked myself the same question… is this not more like what Church could be?

The reason I believe 12-step groups of whatever kind reach us at such a deep level is because of our singleness of purpose. We are really not there for too much more than our sobriet/recovery.

Churches on the other hand have taken on so many agenda. The basic purpose of churches I feel is diluted with programs and agenda. While they may all be great ideas, it complicates the basic purpose right out the door some times.

Also, since many of us are in crisis in 12-step programs, we are hungrier for God and more open to connecting with him. Again, less time or energy for a lot of complicating issues.

I believe the Bible deeply but do not attend church currently. I attend a number of AA meetings weekly which is where I spend time with God and receive from him.

The whole program was based on the Bible in the first place and is a fabulous track to run on to live a Christian life.

Church in my experience has had a lot of pretentions and unrealistic performance expectations. And just too much “stuff” for me!

Until I feel a direction otherwise, AA is my fellowship for now. Similar to what you are experiencing in your fellowship.

Ciao. Chaz

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Wed, 21 Jan 2009 00:52:30 +0000

Very interesting post, Ben. Reading it over, it speaks to me. Sometimes I feel like at church there is an “A” List group (the leaders and the more visible members) that I am not part of. I’ve often wondered–especially during what I think of as the “morning cocktail hour”* between services–what the people would think if they knew that brothers and sisters with emotional struggles (depression/OCD) are in their midst.

*This is something I thought of some months ago. Instead of martinis and appetizers, we have coffee and doughnuts. But I sometimes feel as out of place as I would if I was at a real cocktail part

By: Daniel

Daniel — Tue, 20 Jan 2009 23:55:33 +0000

I have no opinion about this but you might be on to something…….

(okay, that’s a lie, you know I have an opinion, but you said, so I won’t, I don’t think I, what was the?, oh yeah, content with the, structures we’re producing, no, content produced by our structures, um, that’s a good, well maybe, actually, oh shoot, what is that funny smell?, what if what?, oh yeah, structures, wait, I left a burrito in the microwave….)

Now I’m beginning to wonder if that’s what you meant by “hear your thoughts”….