AA and the other 12-step programs may seem confusing and scary. AA and other 12-step programs do indeed discuss God in many of their steps, readings, sayings, and meetings. You may wonder if there is a place for you in the rooms of AA, especially if you are agnostic, an atheist, or simply can’t make sense of the whole God thing right away.

Everything you are feeling is normal and to be expected. There are many people in the 12-step rooms who may not believe or agree with talks of God in AA. That is okay. Some people change their minds and others don’t. When you look at the principles and steps of the 12 step program, they are about surrender. Surrendering your will to drink or use drugs and handing this will over to someone or something outside of yourself. Period.

The AA group, as a whole, is bigger than you are. When you think about steps that talk about giving your will to a higher power, consider using AA as that higher power.

When AA talks about a higher power, for some this means God. For many people, this is simply recovery. Think about this, addiction is a monster that you can’t control. Likewise, recovery is really bigger than you. As long as you go to meetings, you can stay sober. That’s huge.

The steps even talk about God as you understand him. AA is definitely not religious. You don’t need to be Catholic or Buddhist. There are no rules. The only requirement for membership is a desire to stop drinking.

Your thoughts on God may change the longer you stay sober or they may not. Either way, you can still enjoy the benefits of 12-step recovery. The AA program is mindful that people have different beliefs. There are agnostic and atheist meetings in most cities, if you prefer these types of meetings. Agnostic meetings still work the 12 step program, but these meetings don’t talk about God in the same manner.

You can also attend traditional meetings and participate in AA without discussing anything religious. The primary principle of the 12-step program is sobriety. The meeting rooms are filled with people from different ethnicities, genders, backgrounds, and beliefs.

Help is just a phone call away. At The Kimberly Center, we care about your recovery. Call us now at 855-4-KCENTER. We are committed to helping answer your questions and learn about recovery. The Kimberly Center is a leading expert in recovery from addiction. Trust us with your recovery.