A Viable Alternative for Agnostics

books:

	• A Skeptic's Guide to the 12 Steps Phillip Z. Hazelden, 1990 - 252 pages average customer review:based on 4 reviews view larger image
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Theistic v. Spiritual v. Cognitive

The book was a bit too "warm fuzzy" for me (with its heavy emphasis on the spiritual v. the cognitive); so I give it a 3-stars. Those of us who have not experienced an anthropomorphic God (i.e., one who intervenes in human affairs) have an uphill battle with the religionists. And those of us who experience "spirit" as a biochemical function of the brain, have had better success with a cognitive-behavioral approach to recovery. For 18-years, my Higher Power was my Home Group and the Big Book.
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As an alternative, the following is a non-theistic summary of the 12-Step Program:
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The Principles of the 12-Steps:
1. Honesty
2. Hope
3. Faith
4. Courage
5. Integrity
6. Willingness
7. Humility
8. Empathy
9. Justice
10. Perseverance
11. Spirituality
12. Service
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Three Cardinal Rules of Sobriety:
1. Stay Sober NO MATTER WHAT !!
2. Change the Brain from Stinking Thinking !!
.....(using cognitive therapy if necessary)
3. Help Others Stay Sober !!
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How to Work a 12-Step Program:
1. For the 1st 90-days, Be Quiet (except to ask questions).
2. For the 1st year, LISTEN and LEARN.
3. From Day-1, PRACTICE What You Learn.
4. Teach Others the Program (when you sponsor someone).
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In the mean time, I will keep researching other books to find a more complete, cognitive approach to the 12-Step Program. This best workbook using the cognitive approach (CBT) to recovery that I have read so far is "The Tao of Sobriety: Helping You to Recover from Alcohol and Drug Addiction." This little book is outstanding, and easy to comprehend.

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Don't worry about God

I couldn't have done it without this book and its discussion of a "higher power" other than the traditional god. It really helps for those of us who think too much.

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Essential 12 Step Book

This book is the one essential book I recommend to anyone starting a twelve step program. It helps anyone with doubts walk through the steps in an intelligent yet very personal way. By telling his story, the author illustrates the frustrations many of us have when confronted with the steps and then shows us, through research and much difficult soul-searching, how he was able to understand and apply the steps to his life.

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A Viable Alternative for Agnostics

For years I've been struggling with the AA 12 step program and the way it treats Agnositicism. Here at last is a book that offers even-handed help for Agnostics, Atheists, and Religious sufferers, all in the context of Spirituality. Well worth the read for those who believe that the spiritual experience can occur without religion.

What do people do if they want to recover but are not certain about the existence or role of a higher power? Phillip Z. has created an excellent resource that encourages readers to trust the twelve steps and to follow the spiritual journey of recovery despite such skepticism.

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