An Atheist Reads the Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous

Welcome to An Atheist Reads the Big Book of AA Episode Eleven! This episode kicks off Working With Others.  There's a reason that the 12th step gets its own chapter and for me it is because this step is really the back bone of what makes AA work.  Giving away this recovery thing - not just to other alcoholics that may need to find their way to recovery (even if that isn't AA) but to those around me in every day life.  I carry this new, better me in all my affairs.  In this episode I also talk about control and what it means to refocus what that really means in my life.  Being in control of what I put out in the world is the only real control I should be putting energy into.  

Join the conversation on Facebook at An Atheist Reads the Big Book of AA and on Twitter at @anatheistin.

Welcome to An Atheist Reads the Big Book of AA Episode Ten! This episode finishes off the chapter Into Action of the big book of AA.  Before getting to that I discuss gatekeeping in AA online communities and ways to combat that.  Have you felt like you weren't able to share your truth in certain AA communities?  What communities have worked for you?

Join the conversation on Facebook at An Atheist Reads the Big Book of AA and on Twitter at @anatheistin.

Welcome to An Atheist Reads the Big Book of AA Episode Nine!  In this episode I will be reading the first part of Into Action from the Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous.  This chapter is pretty heavy and required me to break it up into 2 episodes.  I talk a little more about my experience with my new sponsor and how building that trust and being willing to rely on someone else (somewhat) is an important aspect of my recovery.

The Big Book (and more) also talks about prayer but where does that word land amongst atheists and even agnostics?  Prayer for some is mediation for others is simply putting out into the world things you want to improve.  Much like the kinetic act of writing can produce a different response than, say, typing so to can speaking your inner thoughts have a certain power (even if this power isn't metaphysical).

Into Action covers a lot of ground but is where the work really begins!

Join the conversation on Facebook at An Atheist Reads the Big Book of AA and on Twitter at @anatheistin.

Welcome to An Atheist Reads the Big Book of AA Episode Eight!  In this episode I will be reading How It Works from the Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous.  In traditional and non-traditional meetings alike there are typically readings and rituals that start the meetings off.  In most traditional meetings they read from this chapter and cover the 12 steps all in one shot.  Is there value in these rituals or should AA move past them?  What are the 12 steps and what value do they have in modern recovery?

I talk a bit about sponsorship and it's importance in my recovery.  After 2.5 years with my sponsor I found myself in a position to need to ask someone new to take on the role.  How do you view sponsorship?  

Join the conversation on Facebook at An Atheist Reads the Big Book of AA and on Twitter at @anatheistin.

Welcome to An Atheist Reads the Big Book of AA Episode Seven!  In this episode I will be reading We Agnostics.  This chapter is considered by many atheists and agnostics to be kind of an insult at worst and a complete misunderstanding of atheism and agnosticism at best.  The chapter tells us that we don't have to name the higher power but we have to have one - but is this true?  If all gods can fit into this program then can't no god?  I explore this very heavy topic and more!

Join the conversation on Facebook at An Atheist Reads the Big Book of AA and on Twitter at @anatheistin.

Welcome to An Atheist Reads the Big Book of AA Episode Six!  In this episode I will be reading More About Alcoholism from the Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous as well as the July 17th excerpt from The Daily Stoic. How do we socialize with our old friends?  Are they our old friends or just 'our friends' if they continue to drink?  How do we know when our paths aren't aligned with those that are from our old life?

A Brief History of Secular AA

Join the conversation on Facebook at An Atheist Reads the Big Book of AA and on Twitter at @anatheistin.

Welcome to An Atheist Reads the Big Book of AA Episode Five!  In this episode I will be reading More About Alcoholism from the Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous as well as the July 17th excerpt from The Daily Stoic. How do we socialize with our old friends?  Are they our old friends or just 'our friends' if they continue to drink?  How do we know when our paths aren't aligned with those that are from our old life?

Join the conversation on Facebook at An Atheist Reads the Big Book of AA and on Twitter at @anatheistin.

Welcome to An Atheist Reads the Big Book of AA Episode Four!  In this episode I will be reading There is a Solution from the Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous as well as the July 10th excerpt from The Daily Stoic.  Are you putting the work in to perfect your craft?  How are you making progress? (Apologies for the audio artifacts! It has come to my attention have a habit of running my hands over my mouse/keyboard pad when I speak - this will not persist!)

Join the conversation on Facebook at An Atheist Reads the Big Book of AA and on Twitter at @anatheistin.

Welcome to An Atheist Reads the Big Book of AA Episode Three!  In this episode I will be reading Bill's Story and what a wild ride it is!  I will also be reading an excerpt from The Daily Stoic for July 5th.  How are you improving on a daily basis?  What are you doing that will lead to you being a better person? (Apologies for the audio artifacts! It has come to my attention have a habit of running my hands over my mouse/keyboard pad when I speak - this will not persist!) 

Join the conversation on Facebook at An Atheist Reads the Big Book of AA and on Twitter at @anatheistin.