The word agnostic was coined by thomas huxley 18251895 from two original greek words. We hope we have made clear the distinction between the alcoholic and the nonalcoholic. The individual sections of this study guide material reflect ideas, emotions and attitudes you might hear from the. Agnosticism ontario consultants on religious tolerance. It is named, of course, after a chapter in alcoholics anonymous often called the big book. With god to illinois,lets start praying again, etc. We want to be defined by principles and not what we dont believe. And it means, of course, that we are going to talk about god. 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. Joe and charlie big book study on 11 cds with handouts. A history of agnostics in aa and millions of other books are available for amazon kindle. Big book study walking through the big book of alcoholics anonymous with chris s. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading the big book of quotations for atheists, agnostics, and secular humanists. The 1996 canadian census only counted 21,975 agnostics.
Schematic outline of the first 103 pages of the big book. The distinction of agnostics from atheists lies in the difference between unknowable and outright denial. Joe and charlie tapes aa big book study 34 free mp3 audio files listen download android and apple apps to download. Created especially for high school and college students, this anthology collects letters, essays, diary entries, book excerpts, blogs, and other brief readings by atheists and agnostics from ancient times to the present, from wellknown philosophers to ordinary people. 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. List of books and articles about agnosticism online. The number of american adults with agnostic beliefs. What if the fourth chapter of the big book,we agnostics had actually been written by atheists and agnostics. It is the sharing of our collective experience, strength, hope and wisdom inspired by our reading of this big book together that will make a difference in our recovery. Each quote is followed by alexs thoughts on the topic and a question for the reader to contemplate. I guess i was a bit of a fundamentalist at the time and feared that it wouldnt work if i didnt follow directions exactly. M download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. This 1968 book is the story of harry dawes, a modern catholic layman who has lost his faith, and struggles with the questions of existence and belief.
The big book offers these actions without predicting the exact spiritual experience that will result for a given individual, nor does it impose any conceptions upon the reader. Among prominent agnostics have been auguste comte, herbert spencer, and t. Find communities youre interested in, and become part of an online community. This is the audio version of the fourth edition of the big book, the basic text for alcoholics anonymous.
The 164 and more book, ebook, and web site are all concordances which display passages from the big book alcoholics anonymous, the twelve steps and twelve traditions, and the a. The big book would advise you, however, not to be too perturbed by these references. We admitted we were licked, that we were powerless over alcohol. The big book of quotations for atheists, agnostics, and secular humanists kindle edition by probulos, i. A perspective on we agnostics chapter 4 of the big book. Chapter 4 we agnostics page 41 notice the asterisk at the bottom of the page.
What about those sanctimonious church goers who judge me for. How could there possibly be a god when there are so many starving people and wars where everybody says god is on their side. This is now accurately known as a result of the aris studies. 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. The 2001 census data showed that the percentage of atheists, agnostics, humanists, adherents of no religion, etc rose from 12. We agnostics assignment we have covered the first and second components of the disease of alcoholism. I thought it had to be done precisely as laid out in the big book, and although bill w. Our goal is to study the steps as a friendly, focused group, and work them as the authors of the big book described. One of many good places to begin is in alcoholics anonymous aka the big book, specifically chapter 4, we agnostics. Agnostics at the core stress that it is impossible to prove or in some cases even comprehend the existence or nonexistence of a higher power. We confessed or shared our shortcomings with another person in confidence. Four short years before writing this chapter, the principal author, bill w. We agnostics chapter of the big book religious forums.
They are not aa approved, but are aa permitted to use and adapt the aa 12 step program. In the preceding chapters you have learned something of alcoholism. Joe and charlie big book study on 11 cds with handouts alcoholics. 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. Although these books are not written specifically for the agnostic, they use nonjudgemental direct language and are higherpower neutral. Many aa agnostics have found these books to be useful and enlightening. Big book workshop we agnostics big book step study. Atheist in big book alcoholics anonymous, 12 steps and 12. Words contained within the first 164 pages of the big book.
Big book workbook is for those who are willing to grow along spiritual lines 60. The big book of alcoholics anonymous including twelve steps and twelve traditions. It is fair to say that countless addicts and alcoholics have stayed clear of 12step recovery because of the pervasive nature of the word god in the big book. This page contains the recordings from we agnostics. Agnosticism is the view that the existence of god, of the divine or the supernatural is unknown or unknowable. We have a new site come and check us out thursday night big book study. 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. We agnostics i n the precedingchapters you have learned something of alcoholism. Many times we talk to a new man and watch his hope rise as we discuss his alcoho lic problems and explain our fellowship. Essential readings for the nonbeliever by christopher hitchens, the god delusion by richard dawkins. One more time i have come to believe that there is in fact a great reality. Preface to the aa big book fm qual mp3 14mb chapter 1 bills story fm qual mp3 12. Sorting and rendering passages in the proprietary format of the 164 and more concordance does not in any way imply affiliation with or endorsement by either alcoholics.
This is the third time we have been referred to appendix ii spiritual experience. It sounds like they are trying to convert me to something. Many times we talk to a new man and watch his hope rise as we discuss his alcoholic problems and explain our fellowship. Nor do they think that what he said is not open to question, since they do not accept any authority as absolute. In doing so, the big book also presents a method by which readers can investigate theological questions for themselves. In the big book we find a radical empiricism, applied to religion, with a set of actions offered as an entrance into direct spiritual experience. Please be sure to read appendix ii about the spiritual experience. According to the big book, when we speak of god, what do we mean. Oct 12, 2017 one of many good places to begin is in alcoholics anonymous aka the big book, specifically chapter 4, we agnostics. That means we have written a book which we believe to be spiritual as well as moral.
They both have their origin in the ancient greek language. If we are to accept our disease and learn to overcome it, we must accept that. Top 10 agnostic blogs and websites for agnostics in 2020. Were hoping to use this blog to connect with other nonreligious people who are. Immanuel kant was an agnostic who argued that belief in divinity can rest only on faith. Agnostics understand that there are reasons people believe in the creation of the universe by a higher power, and we also understand that theres reason to believe our existence could have been a. Alcoholism12 step support a perspective on we agnostics chapter 4 of the big book im not going for this god stuff. You may rely absolutely on anything they say about themselves. 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. The writing of the bible could be referred to as one of the worst cases of the game telephone in existence. It would be helpful to you as you read along to substitute the word food for alcohol and compulsive eater for alcoholic. To one who feels he is an atheist or agnostic such an experience seems.
They summarized what they learned from the oxford group in six simple principles. Well, reading and discussing this chapter plus a reading we discussed in the abstinence book in my meeting saturday helped me to find the spiritual aspect of abstinence. Popular agnosticism books meet your next favorite book. The big book of quotations for atheists, agnostics, and. I have confidence in the seafaring vessel called sciencethe problem is that the ships captain may be a moron. Unless you have an intense interest in this subject take a pass on this book. Atheism at its core stresses the nonexistence of a higher power. Agnostic in big book alcoholics anonymous, 12 steps and 12.
Oct, 2016 it is fair to say that countless addicts and alcoholics have stayed clear of 12step recovery because of the pervasive nature of the word god in the big book. Pages 44 through 57 chapter 4, we agnostics, is truly a remarkable piece of writing. Joe and charlie tapes download mp3 format toledo aa meetings. Naikan and danshukai for the treatment of japanese alcoholic patients. Thegodtest study guide pdf download engage resources. Written and repeatedly rewritten, edited and cherrypicked in fragments over 1500 years by literally hundred of individuals, often mistranslating from one language to another, and finally carefully edited to please kings and powerful clerics, the king james edition would not bear any. Another definition provided is the view that human reason is incapable of providing sufficient rational grounds to justify either the belief that god exists or the belief that god does not exist. Taken from the book alcoholics anonymous frequently called the big book. Newly expanded and improved the purpose of this study guide is to assist those using the god test by providing short answers, thoughts, quotes from experts, and possible followup questions to the primary questions asked in the god test. Welcome to we agnostics a weekly dose of recovery for the nonreligious. Sep 07, 2017 quad a alcoholics anonymous for atheists and agnostics was launched in 1975 in chicago. A compilation of recordings from a 28 week big book workshop.
It doesnt mean we shouldnt use science, logic, and math to navigate our way through the worldtheyre currently our best tools for forging ahead through dark waters. Many times we talk to a new man and watch his hope rise as we discuss his alcoholicproblems and explain our fellowship. And sadly, it is not only an unfortunate choice, it can be a deadly one. Quad a alcoholics anonymous for atheists and agnostics was launched in 1975 in chicago. And once again, i was amazed how easy it is for people to read and discuss scripture, even when they may not know anything about it, or even believe its true. For many of us that seems to be an impossible task. I also dont approve of the big book saying i dont know who god is. Oct 05, 2014 i thought it had to be done precisely as laid out in the big book, and although bill w.
This is the heart of the big book, the chapter that introduces the twelve steps of alcoholics anonymous, and is so revered that it is read to open. This is how i imagine it could have been in the preceding chapters you have learned something of alcoholism. Many times we talk to a new man and watch his hope rise as we discuss. Agnosticism is really the second largest religious belief system in the u. Some would place him on a level with buddha, some with socrates and some with abraham lincoln. 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. What if the fourth chapter of the big book, we agnostics had actually been written by atheists and agnostics. We have nothing against religious people, but since the adoption community seems to have a very christian tilt, we want to make it clear from the title who we are. May 14, 2020 san francisco, ca about blog reddit is a network of communities based on peoples interests. Agnostics article about agnostics by the free dictionary. Aug 24, 2009 we have a new site come and check us out thursday night big book study. Its not a magical book that requires arcane knowledge to decipher and understand. We may not beleive in the supernatural but we believe in you. Bernard basset is a jesuit, and the author of many other books such as we neurotics,born for friendship.
By the very act of critiquing chapter 4, we agnostics, i admittedly commit aa heresy. Reading guide for we agnostics amethyst recovery center. Aa cofounder bill wilson wrote we agnostics in an attempt to address the issue. In the book, he eventually experiences a selfawakening and returns to the faith. 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. This page is dedicated to the recordings that took place beginning with the 80th anniversary of the big books publishing. Agnostics take the stance that no knowledge of god is now possible. The authors summarize the second letter xxivxxvthe body of the alcoholic is quite as abnormal as his mind.
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