It isn't a religious program, but it can be a spiritual program. The literature talks about finding a power greater than yourself-- a higher power that you can define however you wish. Then, I guess to keep things simple, they use the word God when refering to said "higher power". The "God" word really throws people. A lot of people just call it HP. I've heard people define GOD as Good Orderly Direction--doing the next right thing.
The big thing for me when starting AA years ago and now OA, is that I'm powerless over alcohol & food. The alcohol part is easier. Just don't drink. The food part is more difficult for me. I think I have power over vegetables because I don't binge on them, but that's really playing mindgames with myself.
I have trigger foods (sugar and white flour). I can also binge on non-trigger foods to try and stuff whatever down or fill that void.
So I know I am powerless over these substances. Yet here are these groups of people who have had success with these issues. They tell me that finding a Higher Power and working the 12 steps is what has worked for them. That in and of itself is a power greater than me. So if I want what they have, I'll do what they do. They seem to have a solution that I didn't. Why not try it? What had I to lose?
Then you have the fellowship--the people in the rooms. These people understand where you are at better than anyone else can. In our addictive/binging/purging behavior, we think no one else has done what we have done or could possibly understand. But they can and do.
Obviously, I am a fan of the 12 steps. I've been sober since August 1992 and abstinent since Sept 07. And I'm not a "religious" or church person.
I hope you can connect.
Amy
Religious?
