Why Can't I Use Myself As a Higher Power in Alcoholics Anonymous?

Question

I have to attend AA meetings because my lawyer strongly advised it. I was convicted of DUI 2.5 years ago. (I quit drinking cold turkey the night of my arrest. It was a huge wake up call that I need to stop partying and get rid of friends that are a negative influence).

I went to a meeting last night. I need to get a sponsor soon to show the judge. However, I am an athiest. I do not believe in God or any type of divine being that has a personal relationship with me. Why can't I use myself as my Higher Power? I realized that when I used to believe in God and pray to him and find strength, it was actually ME that was giving me strength. I use my inner strength, determination, intellect, and courage as my Higher Power. Can I say that to my sponsor or should I lie and say I am a devout Christian that worships God daily?

I just want to get my DUI expunged. So, can I use myself as a Higher Power? Why would my sponsor have a problem with it?

Answer 1

Same reason you can't drink and drive. Some people know more than you do, and if you are a Higher Power you would not have 2 DWI you would have had the awaking after the first.

If you don't believe in GOD then use g.o.d.=or Good Orderly Direction. that is what AA is offering to you a good way to get your life going in the right direction. You know IF you keep an open mind you may get more out of AA then just what the court ordered. You may end up with a happier life. Go into this for 3 months with a totally open mind if you have it in you. Good Luck 25+ years Friend of Bill W.

Oh yeah try the Supreme Court thing on your judge-the judge will tell you AA is not about relgion which anyone that goes to meetings would know...

Answer 2

Because the cristians are scared of the world YOU MUST BELEAVE the same as all the rest of them You are but a lone person what power do you possess HA HA just live the best life you can best of luck

Answer 3

The truth is that you can use yourself as your higher power...in a roundabout way.  My take, and the take of many agnostics and atheists and even many Catholics and Christians who have remained in AA but refused to acquiesce to the "god" thing is that whether you choose to call it god, Wicca, the group. or the infamous doorknob, your acknowledgment of a higher power is but the acknowledgment that you could not do it alone...that you needed help.

All said and done, whatever your higher power is, it is YOU who must do the work.  It is you who must abstain, moderate, or modify your problem.  

The whole gist of the twelve step program is about enabling YOU.  It has become corrupted since its inception by the same mentalities which have corrupted organized religion.  Spin the message your way, and you gain power and prestige.  

One need but sit in a meeting for a few minutes and one can understand what I am saying.  But, sitting in a meeting and realizing this spin for what it is, is completely different from sitting in  meeting and buying into the spin.  Are you speaking/thinking for you, or are you speaking/thinking for the group (and what you think the group wants to hear you say)?

AA and its fellowship is a valid concept.  The strength of a common problem and common support is a model supported throughout the "therapy" community.

In the end, only YOU will choose to remain sober or not.  Higher Power or not!

Joe...

Answer 4

There have been cases in which courts have forced people to go to AA. As AA uses some kind of 'higher power' and that's, in a way, forcing religion on a person, technically they cannot force you to go specifically to AA, but to a treatment that does not have a 'higher power' as it's main focus. I believe there was a supreme court case about this.

Answer 5

I agree with Ray.  You're there to play the game, so play the game.  Is it right that a person should be forced to go through this obnoxious charade in order to have a DUI record expunged?  No, in fact it's unconstitutional, and you could fight it on those grounds.

But it sounds like you aren't about to fight, you just want your record expunged.  So go to the meetings, but don't take them seriously, and play the game.  

As far as sponsorship goes...is the idea that the sponsor would vouch for you in some way?  If so, then it sounds like you are going to have to find someone with a fairly relaxed attitude to start with, and then tell him what he wants to hear.  If you go to meetings, you'll hear the kind of stuff people say, just parrot that.

Answer 6

The program speaks specifically against it, claiming that all atheists think of themselves as God.

You quit 2½ years ago, you don't need a sponsor or the program to help you quit, so I assume you're doing this for show, in order to get you record expunged, in which case, go along with the show. Pretend to be a good little AA member and don't rock the boat. A negative report from a sponsor could only hurt you in court.