How Religious are Alcoholics Anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous?

1. How Religious are Alcoholics Anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous? Dr Wendy Dossett Principal Investigator: The Higher Power Project Department of Theology and Religious Studies University of Chester Recovery from Addiction: Bridging the Gap between Policy and Practice April 29th 2014

2. Richard Dawkins (Prominent Atheist) Michaelangelo’s God (sort of)

4. Three mistakes to avoid in Religious Studies • Assuming the text = the tradition • Assuming the earliest version of the tradition is the correct/orthodox version • Assuming the default ‘secular is normal’

5. Higher Power Project findings to date Data from more than 80 participants (to date) who describe themselves as practicing a12-Step Programme (with 6 months + continuous clean time/sobriety) Of the 65 so far processed:

6. SBNR ‘Spiritual but not Religious’ (Fuller, 2001)

7. Keith, atheist ‘With one or two exceptions people accept my viewpoint, many agree with it and are more inclined to acknowledge their own lack of religious belief when someone like myself, with long term sobriety, demonstrates that it is possible to combine atheism, (or agnosticism), with the AA programme. I use an adapted version of the 12 steps which does not mention God. I have two sponsors, one a devout practising Roman Catholic and the other a high-church Anglican; both of them accept my views and do not love me any the less.’

8. GOD Gift of Despair Group of Drunks/Druggies Good Orderly Direction

9. Ian • […] I hated the f**ker. All the bad things that had happened to me in my life were his […] fault. And this being the God I was brought up on. Catholic. I’m pleased to say I’ve been able to separate God from religion.

10. Ben ‘[…]I describe God in the feminine because my concept of ‘life-giver’ is purported to the feminine of all species I know of[…]’

11. Jennifer “I don't consider a Higher Power to be a personal being — anthropomorphic — nor an intelligent puppeteer in the sky directing the show. I do not conceive of HP as a santa god who rewards the good and punishes the naughty. Neither do I see this force as working for some and not others as in “There but for the Grace of God go I.”

12. Jennifer ‘I toss out the personal god language or the maleness […] and replace those words with GRACE or LOVE.’

13. Sophia ‘Ricky Gervais is a well known Atheist and I've read what he has written on the subject. Also Stephen Fry, David Mitchel and Germaine Greer are all people I'm interested in so I've listened to what they've said about Religion / God, as well as discussing it with friends.’ ‘I've heard 'The Force' in Star Wars being compared to HP and I quite like that, I guess it had some influence.’ ‘The people in the fellowship have had a huge influence over my version of a HP, mainly by me not agreeing (for me) with a lot of HP versions I hear in AA. So by defining what my HP is NOT it has helped me define what it IS.’

14. Other sources of inspiration mentioned • The Lion King • Star Wars • A Course in Miracles • The Dhammapada • Jonathan Livingston Seagull • The Prophet Khalil Gibran • Co-dependent No More Beattie • The Dalai Lama • Babette’s Feast (Film) • Les Miserables • Julian of Norwich • Ken Wilbur • Eckhart Tolle • The Footprints prayer • ‘Hazelden literature’

15. Thank You especially to our participants @higherpowerproj higherpowerproject@chester.ac.uk If you would like to volunteer for the research (& have six months clean time in 12-Step) Please sign up at the HPP stand