Jamffer wrote:

> "Tim Bruening" <tsbrueni@pop.dcn.davis.ca.us> wrote in message
> news:47A6EE9A.6A863357@pop.dcn.davis.ca.us...
> > According to the 12 steps advocated by Alcoholics Anonymous, alcoholics
> > are supposed to turn to God/A higher power for help in overcoming
> > alcoholism. Alcoholics are to believe that a higher power can restore
> > them to sanity, turn their wills and lives over to God, admit to God the
> > exact nature of their wrongs, ask God to remove their shortcomings, and
> > seek through prayer and meditation to improve their conscious contact
> > with God.
> >
> > If an alcoholic happens to be an atheist, how would he apply the 12
> > Steps?
> >
> > If an alcoholic atheist is COURT ORDERED to attend AA meetings, would
> > this constitute an infringement on their First Amendment right to
> > freedom of religion?
>
> You need to do what all Christians do.
>
> You need to (pretend) that a God exists.
>
> It doesn't matter whether God is or isn't, just (try to believe) that there
> is a God, no matter how ridiculous it seems.
>
> If you are cured of alcoholism and God wasn't real then who cares if God is
> imaginary?

If you don't truly BELIEVE in God, how can you use faith in Him to cure your
alcoholism?