| The power and influence of words becomes very | | | | decision can be made by anyone willing to do the |
| clear when we discuss 'Spirituality' and 'God' as | | | | 12 Steps. The healing offered by the 12 Steps is |
| they relate to the 12 Steps used by Alcoholics | | | | available to all recovering human beings. |
| Anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous. I am | | | | (Einstein quote: Ronald W. Clark, Einstein: The Life |
| offering an understanding of these two words | | | | and Times, New York: World Publishing, 1971, pp. |
| that will allow atheists and agnostics to take | | | | 19-20.) |
| advantage of the 12 Steps. | | | | The 12 Steps |
| For centuries, the words 'Spirituality' and 'God' | | | | Step 1 |
| have been treated as though they are the sole | | | | We admitted that we were powerless over our |
| property of religions. A narrow definition has been | | | | addiction, that our lives had become |
| offered that is perfectly accurate for religious | | | | unmanageable. |
| purposes, but all too often it is implied or stated | | | | Step 2 |
| that it is the only acceptable use of these words. | | | | We came to believe that a Power greater than |
| This narrow 'religious' use of these words has | | | | ourselves could restore us to sanity. |
| stopped many people from getting the help, | | | | Step 3 |
| healing, and clarity the 12 Steps is offering. | | | | We made a decision to turn our will and our lives |
| What is Spirituality? | | | | over to the care of God as we understood Him. |
| There are as many definitions of spirituality as | | | | Often times we are able to know things we do |
| there are people. My understanding of spirituality is | | | | not understand. To know you are powerless over |
| that it is an ongoing effort to try and understand | | | | an addiction and that your life has become |
| one's significance in relation to everything that is | | | | unmanageable might seem obvious at first glance. |
| not oneself. It is made up of many parts: The | | | | To fully understand how those two points actually |
| search for self-awareness, the desire to | | | | are true is another thing altogether. As a |
| understand the way in which all things seem to be | | | | professional counselor I believe Step 1 defines an |
| connected, one's values and ethics, the search for | | | | addiction. Step 2 & 3 are the beginning of a |
| purpose and meaning, the need to serve others... | | | | recovery. |
| Religion and spirituality are not the same thing. | | | | When considering Step 2 & 3, the doors are |
| Religion is a set and system of beliefs. Spirituality | | | | all open. When we relate 'Power greater than |
| is an ongoing search for understanding. Religion | | | | ourselves' to 'God as we understood Him', the |
| might be seen as a place and spirituality as a | | | | choices are the individual's alone. |
| journey. Your journey might lead you to religion, | | | | It is a great credit to Christianity that Alcoholics |
| spirituality is definitely a part of all religions, but | | | | Anonymous was created by Christians. Because |
| religion is not a part of all spiritual journeys. | | | | they had the foresight and heart to include a |
| The component parts of the spirituality: | | | | broad interpretation of these two steps, is a |
| Meaning - significance of life; making sense of | | | | credit to their desire to service. My bottom line |
| situations; deriving purpose. | | | | regarding Steps 1, 2, & 3 is: If you have |
| Values - beliefs, standards and ethics that one | | | | admitted and accepted that you have no power |
| cherishes. | | | | over your relationship with a substance and that |
| Transcendence - experience, awareness, and | | | | aspects of your life have become unmanageable |
| appreciation of a "transcendent dimension" to life | | | | and unbearable as a result, then you need help |
| beyond self. | | | | from something outside of you; a power greater |
| Connecting - increased awareness of a connection | | | | than you all by yourself. This power can be God, |
| with self, others, God/Spirit/Divinity, and nature | | | | a doctor, a counselor, a fellowship, a group of |
| Nature. | | | | friends, or all of these together. The point is you |
| Becoming - an unfolding of life that calls for | | | | need help. You couldn't do it by yourself, or you |
| reflection and experience; including a sense of who | | | | would have done so. |
| one "is" and how one knows. | | | | My conclusion |
| (Excerpts from: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia) | | | | The 12 Steps is a spiritual journey that can take a |
| Spirituality is one's personal search for | | | | person from a mind set of self-interest, greed |
| self-awareness, meaning, and understanding. | | | | and self-loathing to one of altruism, self-respect |
| The Word 'God' | | | | and service to others. I believe the 12 Steps is |
| It is clear in my mind that it is not the intention of | | | | accessible to all people. |
| AA, NA, nor any and all responsible sponsors and | | | | Many detractors of the 12 Steps say that they |
| counselors to tell anyone recovering from an | | | | require a person to become a religious fanatic. I |
| addiction what 'God' means. Further, I believe that | | | | do not accept this at all, and I hope I have made |
| it is not their place to set parameters as to how | | | | that point in this article. |
| a recovering addict might define and understand | | | | The 12 Steps require only that you freely open |
| that word. Only the recovering addict can come | | | | your mind and bravely take a spiritual journey of |
| to that understanding. People have defined this | | | | self-discovery and transformation. |
| word for the purpose of doing the 12 Steps in | | | | As an addictions counselor and educator striving |
| many ways. Anyone in recovery can do the | | | | to help all people, atheists, agnostics, as well as |
| same. Their 'God' can be the 'God' of the | | | | believers, build a strong and sustainable recovery, |
| Christians, Jews, Muslims, or that of any other | | | | I have come to believe that the 12 Steps require |
| religion. Their 'God', their 'Power greater than' can | | | | only that you put your trust in a power that is |
| be Nature, Gaia, the fellowship, or, as Einstein | | | | greater than you, and, more importantly, outside |
| believed, 'the harmony of all that exist'. | | | | of you. It is my opinion that this is possible for all |
| My point is that only the person in recovery is | | | | people. |
| qualified to make this decision, and that this | | | | |