in article c4janl$3s2$1@newsg1.svr.pol.co.uk, JB at JBCatRB@coldman.com
wrote on 4/2/04 4:15 AM:

>
> "rosie" <sorry@toomanymalcontents.com> wrote in message
> news:wi4bc.12297$YC5.8064@twister.rdc-kc.rr.com...
>> tono,
>> when i go to meetings and hear someone talking about GOD (as they
>> understand him) i must remember, that it is THEIR choice, THEIR
>> decision.
>> no one makes me stop referring to my "god" as HP, so i must practice
>> patience and tolerance with others.
>>
>> i will admit that i get "a little antsy" when someone starts the
>> "jesus is my lord and savior" routine in a meeting, and quite
>> frankly, if i am sponsoring that person, i do ask them to lighten up
>> a little, because it CAN be a real turn off to others around the
>> table, and our job is to carry the message, as best we can.
>
> Your comments remind of what happened to me when I spoke at an AA
> meeting about the abuse I had suffered as a child. I was told that I
> should not talk about such things in a meeting because it might bring
> back painful memories to others which they might then use as an excuse
> to drink. I was incensed by this woman's attempt to not allow me to
> speak freely on one of the subjects that I thought was fuelling my
> drinking, that I decided there and then to stop going to AA.
>
> Given that believing in a God (as the individual understands
> him/her/it) is part of AA's recovery programme and that AA encourages
> its members to be tolerant of others views, I believe there is a need
> for all AAers to try to never openly object to anyone expressing
> whatever view of God they feel comfortable with..
>
> JB
>
>
>
This is the tricky area - the preamble says "AA is not allied with any sect,
denomination, politics or institution; does not wish to engage in any
controversy; neither endorses nor opposes any causes." But what that refers
to is AA itself - of course it would be great if individuals were perfect at
reflecting that idea in their shares (but its like that commercial, we don't
live in Perfect). That's why most AA meetings (at least the ones I have
been to) have somewhere in the format the reminder that what has been said
in the meeting is strictly someone's opinion and not that of AA. I live in
a "bible belt" area - so sometimes I feel like I'm in someone else's church
all of a sudden, but I am not responsible for someone else's share. We had
one particular group where we ran into problems like this, but there were so
many other issues going on in that group that people were no longer coming,
except for the "strongly opinionated" few and some stubborn cases who wanted
to try to keep the meeting alive. Eventually, another meeting was started.

All you need is a coffee pot and a resentment to motivate someone to start a
new meeting. That's how meetings get started. (at least that's been my
experience). People can get into all sorts of discussions about the
"quality" of someone else's share or content of it, and that is usually
coupled with discussions of that persons quality and quantity of sobriety.
Not for me to judge. I have a choice as to how I handle what other people
do or say, and that is the only thing I can work on.

Principles over personalities.

Love and light
Alana