The problem which is not a problem. One of the problems Bill W. was taught to be wary of (by the 3 spiritual men who taught him Recovery) was about the potential and likelihood many people who would enter the halls would be so desperate and confused they would view Recovery as a religion and impose their past understanding of religion on our 12 Step program. When NA came into being it to infused this fear into the construction of their program and prior to the start of all NA meetings one of the readings points out “we are not a religious group”. So the question is … “why is everyone so uptight about me worshipping “the Father or another god I know and spreading it to everyone in Recovery?” Well this is a heck of a good question! Because even today confusion reigns about why it’s such a big no-no and many many newbies and “ole timers” still make a strong effort to infuse and IMPOSE their religious beliefs on the program and everyone in it. The key word in that sentence is … IMPOSE. To IMPOSE means to force upon another in some way. When what is loosely termed as “religious freaks” are sent to the halls, these misguided desperate fanatics decide our Recovery is religion and decide in their new found holiness to save everyone and get a front seat in Heaven. What their zeal does not allow them to see and hear … is our programs are not religious … We are a people embarking on a Spiritual journey to find a New Way of Life. We are attempting to avoid and not repeat the mistakes of the old way so we can have a front row seat in Heaven right here on planet Earth. Okay… maybe just maybe the fog is beginning to clear! So let’s get into it a little bit more. Let’s discuss what the heck is the difference between religion and Spirituality that gets everyone in such an uptight mood in the first place... aren’t they the same? That’s just it … religion and Spirituality are very very different! Religions most often are laced with rules, laws, sanctions (bad things that happen to you if you don’t do as you’re told) clear cut unswerving definitions of whatever god they were created for and most fearful of all hypocrisy. Yes, fellow Recovering family that’s the one we fear the most. To say one thing and then do the exact opposite. To talk about loving one another and then hating anyone who doesn’t do it OUR way. To throw out and ban people from receiving the 12 Steps for a whole variety of hateful reasons. Worst of all because they refuse to Recover MY way. Yes… yes… yes… I know! These types will try to brand me with this very behavior in an attempt to discredit this discussion post so they can continue to spread the WORD of their savior so they don’t lose that front row seat they seek so desperately. But you see ... that’s the very difference between US (those seeking to live the principles of love embodied in the 12 Steps) and the poor misguided fanatics. WE accept they are confused and need time, love and patience for the light to dawn on them. WE accept these character defects and extend “unconditional love” to them and beg them to “keep comin” hoping and praying someday they will get it … hoping their religious fanaticism and distain for anyone not doing it THEIR way will be replaced by OUR way of acceptance and love for all people. OUR way of opening up our hearts and sharing OUR experience, strength and hope … they will find a god of a better understanding .. which is composed of merely two basic elements .. it is loving and caring. Namaste…Shalom… Salem Aleichem… god bless… live with love… family
Posted on: Sat, 08 Nov 2014 10:57:13 +0000
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