The idea of complete deflation and the teachings of the oxford group were offered as a solution to fred the accountant. Mike on experience the big book aa meetings available online. Home read the big book and twelve steps and twelve traditions alcoholics anonymous alcoholics anonymous this is the fourth edition of the big book, the basic text for alcoholics anonymous. A little ditty on the big book of alcoholics anonymous we agnostics. It sounds like they are trying to convert me to something. Sep 07, 2017 quad a alcoholics anonymous for atheists and agnostics was launched in 1975 in chicago. For many of us that seems to be an impossible task. Many times we talk to a new man and watch his hope rise as we discuss his alcoholic problems and explain our fellowship. And one should read page 191 of the big book for bill wilsons own statement. This is the third time we have been referred to appendix ii spiritual experience. Jennifer a on experience the big book aa meetings available online. The final point is that belief in god, acceptance of christ, and study of the bible are still quite available, viable, and dear to many of us in todays are christians. The big book of lists for atheists, agnostics, and secular. The first 164 pages of the big book with lined blank pages opposite each page of text for note taking.
A compilation of recordings from a 28 week big book workshop. A history of agnostic groups in aa william white papers. Then why does the chaptor we agnostics insinuate were all agnostic till we find out who god is in our lives and we have to have a spiritual awakening. I have had many spiritual experiences as a result of this approach as have many of the newcomers i. I have one of these and it is one of my favorite items, a really excellent and useful for book study meetings or as a gift to a newcomer who is going to be heading to one. All references to the topics will be found in the first 164 pages of the book, alcoholics anonymous. We, of alcoholics anonymous, are more than one hundred men and woman who have re. Those thoughts are more in line with our big books description of the alcoholic in chapter three more about alcoholism and in chapter four, we agnostics. I have experienced this process with almost 300 alcoholics and addicts over the past 4 years. Elkhart general hospital elkhart, in 600 east blvd.
We study the first 103 pages of the big book and when we come to the step instructions we take them together. The book alcoholics anonymous, aka the big book, is the basic text for the aa program of sobriety. I mean i understood it intellectually, but what i wasnt getting is it god means anything that is outside the self that has the power to healhelpetc. Here are the rest of the joe and charlies big book study tapes. This page is dedicated to the recordings that took place beginning with the 80th anniversary of the big book s publishing. What about those sanctimonious church goers who judge me for. Chapter 4 we agnostics page 41 notice the asterisk at the bottom of the page. I think this chapter gets ignored quite often, especially by members that feel theyve got a good grasp of the faith. Other groups read from the big book weekly and discuss each chapter as they go along. Many times we talk to a new man and watch his hope rise as we discuss his alcoholicproblems and explain our fellowship.
Joe had been studying the big book since 1962, but since he was an africanamerican man living in little rock, arkansas during that time, he was only allowed to stand in the back of meetings, and. The big book, alcoholics anonymous some groups discuss one chapter from the big book each week. It is my hope that you will find this site useful to you and our friends of bill w. I also dont approve of the big book saying i dont know who god is. If you would like to become a member, please send a blank email to. This book has more lists and some of them have been expanded to include as many as 100 items. The story of how many thousands of men and women have recovered from alcoholism. The word broken down from greek is, a meaning without, and gnosis meaning knowledge. This is a series of big book studies and workshops that are intended to give newcomers an adequate presentation of the program of alcoholics anonymous. For references see pages 30, 24, and 44 of the big book alcoholics anonymous.
To one who feels he is an atheist or agnostic such an experience. Please be sure to read appendix ii about the spiritual experience. This page contains the recordings from we agnostics. When you search for a meeting, please use the phone number listed for that group near the top of the groups page, or if there is no phone number listed, click on email district to verify if there will be a meeting there. Aa newcomers the big book promises spiritual awareness, but its your first few days in recovery and you dont even know where the toilets are. The pdf links below the playlist are downloadable versions of the handouts that were given out each week at the studies. Perhaps the only sentence in that entire chapter that i found at all useful is the suggestion to readers that they ask for themselves what spiritual terms mean to them as individuals. The text got this name because the first edition of the book had rather thick pages, making the book even thicker than its content would suggest. In that setting, consider that, over in the corner, sits an old timer who has been around aa for over half a century. From the experience the big book aa study group with dr. If, when you honestly want to, you find you cannot quit entirely, or if when drinking, you have little control over the amount you take, you are probably alcoholic. Oct 12, 2017 one of many good places to begin is in alcoholics anonymous aka the big book, specifically chapter 4, we agnostics. Jan 29, 2017 in this part of the alcoholics anonymous big book study, joe and charlie discuss the chapter we agnostics this series of talks came about from a friendship that started in alcoholics anonymous.
This big book provides you with over 150 lists for atheists, agnostics, and secular humanists. According to the big book, when we speak of god, what do we mean. Book study 22 we agnostics 22 by the big book study. We agnostics p 44 to 45 dr mike may 28 2017 internet archive. It is the basic text of the fellowship of alcoholics anonymous, and has helped large numbers of alcoholic men and women, young and old, recover as of december 2009, 30,664,881 copies of the big book have been sold or otherwise distributed source aa gso ny.
Book study 21 we agnostics 21 by the big book study published on 20160829t21. The youtube playlist on the left top on mobile device is from the sahara big book study on thursdays in ansonia, ct at the sahara club. As parts of our country go into lockdown, many churches and meeting halls are becoming inaccessible to us for our meetings. The big book would advise you, however, not to be too perturbed by these references.
That means we have written a book which we believe to be spiritual as well as moral. Of course the name we agnostics is also a chapter in the big book. I have had many spiritual experiences as a result of this approach as have many of the newcomers i have worked with. The goal is to have very concise lists with about 10 key items concerning science, religion, faith, evolution, and nonbelief. Big book workshop we agnostics big book step study. The individual sections of this study guide material reflect ideas, emotions and attitudes you might hear from the mouth of that old timer over in the corner.
Folks, this tape has no tags or needs additional descriptive tags please add more tags in the comments section to help me categorize it better. We agnostics in the preceding chapters you have learned something of alcoholism. This is a study guide to the book alcoholics anonymous. This email address is being protected from spambots. Throughout the big book atheists and agnostics are portrayed as people who need to be convinced to open their minds to the idea of having a personal relationship with god. By exploring this method, we should be able to answer some questions about the nature of the big books ideas about god. Big book workbook is for those who are willing to grow along spiritual lines 60. In a nutshell, step 11 says to discover the plan god, as you understand him, has for your life and find the power to carry it out. Aug 24, 2009 we have a new site come and check us out thursday night big book study. The we agnostics of greenville south carolina alcoholics. Chapter 4 we agnostics page 40 for either case, atheist or agnostic, we are going to have to find some way to have this spiritual experience, and to use this power greater than human power.
Ive discovered that a lot of people ignore it, especially people that adhere to a particular religious tradition, and feel that theyve got the idea of faith in a higher power under control. By the very act of critiquing chapter 4, we agnostics, i admittedly commit aa heresy. Words contained within the first 164 pages of the big book. This is because we agnostics includes terms such as creative intelligence, which would appear not to gel with the notion that we are allowed to accept the greater scientific universe as the higher power of our choosing. Pages 44 through 57 chapter 4, we agnostics, is truly a remarkable piece of writing. A little ditty on the big book of alcoholics anonymous. Four short years before writing this chapter, the principal author, bill w. As i worked my way through the big book, one of the sections that i had to rewrite was the chapter titled we agnostics. The big book friends is an informal discussion group where men and women interested in the big book of alcoholics anonymous daily discuss the pages of the big book. In doing so, the big book also presents a method by which readers can investigate theological questions for themselves.
We agnostics chapter of the big book religious forums. The ideas in this chapter present a very powerful part of the program. Came to believe that a power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity. As first described by doctor carl jung, our experiences were in the nature of huge emotional rearrangements and displacements. One of many good places to begin is in alcoholics anonymous aka the big book, specifically chapter 4, we agnostics.
And it means, of course, that we are going to talk about god. Mar 29, 2018 conference question literature for we agnostics. Beth and dan conduct a workshop on the chapter we agnostics at an unknown event in aug of 2018. Womens 164 big book meeting 728363 lake park lutheran church 2647 n stowell ave milwaukee, wi 53211 map it womens meeting. Aa speakers joe and charlie we agnostics the big book. Agnostics pages 44 through 57 chapter 4, we agnostics, is truly a remarkable piece of writing. Big book, discussion, literature, newcomer, open, secular, speaker. Many times we talk to a new man and watch his hope rise as we discuss his alcoholicproblems and. The story of how many thousands of men and women have recovered from alcoholism is often referred to in alcoholics anonymous meetings aa as the big book. Chapter 4 we agnostics this chapter explains the atheist and the believer and how some us came to believe in a power greater than. Readings from as bill sees it can inspire sharing on discussion topics. It is the basic text of the fellowship of alcoholics anonymous, and has helped large numbers of alcoholic men and women, young and old, recover. He genuinely believed that he had a spiritual experience granted by god, and it was his sincere view that this.
John s from we agnostics kansas city aa beyond belief. We agnostics assignment we have covered the first and second components of the disease of alcoholism. Stream tracks and playlists from the big book study. The purpose of this study guide is to enable the student to better understand the information the authors of the book, alcoholics anonymous, intended to impart to. Unitarian church on barry street on the topic, an agnostic in aa. This playlist is from the seymour big book study on sundays in seymour, ct at the united methodist church of seymour. During any such meeting to study the aa big book, you would expect to encounter a wide variety of viewpoints on the portions under consideration. Folks, this tape has no tags or needs additional descriptive tags please add more tags in the comments section to. This is the second edition of the book alcoholics anonymous, which made its first appearance in april 1939. At this point, before we move on, id like to point out how carefully step two is worded.
Because this book has become the basic text for our society and has helped such large numbers of alcoholic men and women to recovery, there exists strong sentiment against any radical changes being made in it. The individual sections of this study guide material reflect ideas, emotions and attitudes you might hear from the. Our goal is to study the steps as a friendly, focused group, and work them as the authors of the big book described. This is a long chapter, but like the rest of the big book, the ideas are simple and straightforward. I have provided a link in a couple of places on this page for your convenience, so you can get to the search page. Milwaukee gp topic 933 e center st milwaukee, wi 53212 map it. Chapter 4 of the big book, we agnostics, in which bill w argues that.
How could there possibly be a god when there are so many starving people and wars where everybody says god is on their side. Alcoholism12 step support a perspective on we agnostics chapter 4 of the big book im not going for this god stuff. A perspective on we agnostics chapter 4 of the big book. Sep 12, 2017 michael taylor on thoughts on recovery no. If you are a member of the listening room our streaming audio. Joe mcquany and charlie parmley, a team of two men who died in 2007 and 2011, respectively known as joe and charlie who met in 1973 and spent the next three decades spreading their interpretation of the big book. Alcoholics anonymous aa 12step program as described in the the big book, aas guide for people recovering from alcoholism, has many references to god and religious themes, and step 11 is no different. The purpose of this study guide is to enable the student to better understand the information the authors of the book, alcoholics anonymous, intended to impart to each of us based on their experience and knowledge of alcoholism and their program of recovery. What is everyone laughing about here is a collection of talks to help you survive and thrive.
If you are a man and think you have a problem with alcohol, you are welcome to attend. We wish to make the 12 steps of alcoholics anonymous part of our. May 21, 2008 in its chapter, we agnostics, the big book outlines its attitude toward spiritual and religious matters. Now, let us use the wisdom of we agnostics to examine the topic in even. Many times we talk to a new man and watch his hope rise as we discuss his alcoho lic problems and explain our fellowship.