Religion - Humanism - Politics and Recovery

Religion – Humanism

Politics and Recovery

Religion and humanism would appear to be at war with each other in politics and recovery. According to one of my friends, I’m stuck in an old argument that has already been settled or is tired and worn out. I think not, but I am unsure how to proceed myself. As a recovering alcoholic/addict, I work with other’s in order to help both them and myself. I am basically consensus oriented and non-confrontational, but as an alcoholic/addict I can bounce between wild extremes. I am not a spokesperson for any particular 12 step program, and am not currently attending any meetings (ah, gotcha you say, but read on). One of the biggest reasons, I stopped attending meetings, was that I felt that the continuing war between the humanists and the born again Christians was bad for my sobriety. I feel a need to loudly and assertively (aggressively?) chase both elements out of the particular 12 step meetings, so I hid, but here we have the same elements in society having the same war in the political world. I don’t want to hear either the name Bradshaw (or any other non-conference approved humanist) or Jesus Christ in the 12 step meeting of my choice. I would technically be an old timer, my sobriety date is 12/13/1988, but I have never been a strong apostle of the more tuff love approach, basically because I am more comfortable with an unconditional love approach, however I see some great wisdom in the tuff love concept, it’s just not my strong suit. We have no opinions on outside issues, the divinity of Jesus Christ was an outside issue for all 19 years of my sobriety, and I feel that to the core of my being. Did Jimmy Carter attempt to solve the problems of the Middle East by making Sadat and Begin accept Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior? Get in the real world, it’s about as appropriate as the assorted long distance companies trying to interrupt your dinner to examine your current plan and the one they are selling, it’s annoying, no if and buts! In some sense, it’s the fault of the ministers of certain denominations’, they should tell you 12 step meetings are not the ideal place to identify your Higher Power as Jesus Christ, if someone asks it would be okay, but Christians (of some sort) tend to be the majority, and too much Jesus scares people off (this is a 12 step meeting, what would a Jew, Atheist or a Muslin {Black or Otherwise think). It sounds so simple, but it is really hard for people in certain Churches to get it. I would rather be surrounded by ash tray worshipers and coffee cup fans than have one Born Again eruption in a 12 step meeting. I don’t come to your church and talk about ashtrays and coffee cups. The Divinity of Jesus Christ is an outside issue, end of lecture. As for Bradshaw, my therapist and shrinks told me prior to my sobriety, we can’t do anything for you until you quit using. They still have their work cut out for them, but I’ve been clean nearly 20 years. I’ve heard it over and over again that this isn’t enough for me, I need more than “Put a Plug in the Jug and one day at a time” and especially “take the cotton out of your ears and put it in your mouth”. Okay, so go get sober, then if you like, you can find Jesus or get some therapy, I think that’s Cool. But don’t use a strong personality to push a message that is an “Outside Issue” , why is it so hard? I just think of the codependant Alanon who is not supposed to be in a closed meeting going on and on about Crucille( a basically Catholic way to be Born Again), and one of the wealthiest people around the tables going on and on about “This isn’t enough for me”. There isn’t enough money in the United States Treasury to fix everyone with Therapy. so what exactly is this person sharing? It’s enough to make you drink, and then we have Rev. Wright and Jerry Falwell and Bob Jones and it’s a miracle that I don’t, there must be a God? So, perhaps my rantings and ravings, will make more sense, and maybe I’ll go to a meeting if I can feel that I won’t Go Off on a humanist or a Born Again Christian, it gives me a big headache? I currently go to Abe Lincoln‘s church, which is………..?

No, No, No!!! You can’t run off and get drunk/smoke crack because you’re sick of the humanist fighting the “Born Again Christians” citing my example without going to 2-3 meeting a day for 15 years (you’ll have to use the old standby reasons that the sun came up in the morning so I got drunk (smoked crack) or it went down at night so I got drunk (smoked crack), or our all-time favorite, he/she didn’t treat me right?

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