God/Christ & Addiction & Those 12 Steps

[Fluoro]

I've just read it on the To Be Maintained thread, but thought it deserved a thread of its own.

My mate got himself into a spot of bother on a night out, ended up on probation & because he works & his probation officer is ok she has agreed for him 2 go 2 Cocaine Anonymous once a week & 2 phone her the next day 2 tell her how he got on, & 2 just go & see her in person once a month (probation must be 2 busy i think).

Anyway, I went 2 a couple of meetings with him & u got a wide section of society in there. But the first week I didn't enjoy it, they kept going on about the black book & how it works. So I whispers 2 my mate what's the black book & he said its like a bible. Anyway as soon as I heard that, I lost what little interest I had. I just kept thinking how can a book help u? & although it was a CA meeting u got people with all types of addictions in there. Anyway I walked out, but went back the next week & it was a better atmosphere, there was more like minded people there. They still mentioned the spiritual stuff but just before I was gonna say it, some girl said "how can there be a God/spirit if he allows people 2 get themselves messed up in the first place?" They came back with a shit answer by saying, just follow the book it works.

I'm a Catholic, so suppose I should believe in god. But what does my head in about religion is, when there's tragedies like Hurricane Katrina or that Tsunami a few years back its a natural disaster & not gods doing, but when there's lives saved as a result of people working hard like those Chillean miners being saved, it was gods doing.

I don't call people for being religious as its a personal choice as whatever gets people through their lives is fine by me, but I just find it contradicts itself.

[Anon33]

The problem with all the step programmes is that they are a bit cult like.....if you are objective in any way you are slammed....read the orange papers.....very interesting reading which questions the whole step theory....I was chatting with my pals and we all agreed that it's all a a load of  crap really,,,like rehab it's a false environment...when u step back to the real world...no-one is forgiving or embracing.....religion/politics no-one can ever agree.....

[simon]

I think it works for many people and if it works for that person all well and good. They often think that their way is the only way and I'd not want to be like that.

[Fluoro]

I agree Anon33, it is a little bit cult-like.

Yes Simon it does work for a lot of people, but like u say its their way or no way.

[OP8S]

GOD ? CHRIST ? Addiction. We make our own choices in the world there's nothing worse than an alcoholic or ex-addict of any kind saying that god made them do it. Removal of a guilt is all it amounts to.

[sapphire]

Last time I checked God could not cure addiction, or perhaos I need to pray harder. 

[simon]

Last time I checked God could not cure addiction, or perhaos I need to pray harder. 

Look what happened to Lazarus!

[sapphire]

Oooh, I like the sound of that.......

The new improved Sapphire, risen from the flames like a phoenix, new improved latest model.

[simon]

Oooh, I like the sound of that.......

The new improved Sapphire, risen from the flames like a phoenix, new improved latest model.

There you go faith can move mountains. 

[froude]

Im catholic aswell,so was brought up with the bible.Personally if there was a God,I wouldnt of been holding a still born baby boy on 21/4/05,then my daughter was born on the same day 3 yrs later so is there a god i was thinking ,then another ,if there was a god would he let the Catholic Religion nonce so many people,all these wars,is there a purpose to all this or is it what life throws at you ,i think the later.Id like to think there is a God,but with all this shit happening all over the world,ummmm.......,All the best Froude

[OP8S]

Be your own God, at least you can make up your own rules then ! I deal with death a lot, when you're dead you're dead as far as I'm concerned. Food for the worms.
I had a key once who tried the 12 steps thing, he was asked to leave when he told me that even my kitchen chair could be my higher power. Couldn't stop laughing for days...though I do tend to respect that chair a bit more than others now!

[AllOut]

Just takes away personal resposibility and personal power. We can be brilliant but its up to us to do it!

[sapphire]

I'm quite happy to be anyone's God, all donations gratefully accepted.

[AllOut]

I'm quite happy to be anyone's God, all donations gratefully accepted.

Just message me your credit card details please!

[simon]

All worship the kitchen chair and love his omnipresence. Make some sacrifice for the wooden one and praise all who sit on him.