Personally, if someone brought up Jesus at my 12 step meeting...

[originalpckelly]

I'd be pretty freaked out. Immaculate regurgitation?

[liberalmuse]

1. Jesus is pretty cool, for the most part.

It's the fuckheads who worship him who scare the crap out of me.

[BlooInBloo]

2. (shrug) So's Aslan. I don't know that I'd want to talk about him if I had *real* problems, though.

[DJ13]

3. When I had a DUI in the mid 90's part of the mandated punishment

.... was to be forced to attend AA meetings.

The only AA meetings in my area of California are held in churches.

Fortunately after the third forced Holy Roller AA meeting that part of the sentence was challenged in court, so I didnt have to go after that.

[Clintonista2]

30. Thank goodness you didn't have to go through with such a terrible punishment

I'm sure putting the lives of everyone on the road in danger did not warrant such a cruel and unusual punishment

[EFerrari]

32. I've heard the cookies alone can kill ya.

[montanto]

43. There's an equation for ya.

DUI - AA = danger to the lives of everyone on the road.

Isn't it just possible that not everyone who gets a DUI needs to hear about how Jesus IS God and that you need Him to straighten out your life, blah, blah, blah. Punishment is one thing (I'm sure there were fines, attorneys fees, community service, etc.) but boredom is a death sentence. Me? I'd rather go to jail than hear a bible thumper tell me how badly I need Jesus. BTW where does the state get off telling me I need to go to a religious meeting as punishment for a state law?

[mrreowwr_kittty]

45. Uh, ever hear of a thing called "separation of Church and State"?

Is there no way to penalize someone for a DUI without mandatory attendence at a religious organization's meetings?

[Dorian Gray]

40. Thank God....

Drunk Driving is so much better than going to AA!!!!!

[mrreowwr_kittty]

4. You shouldn't be surprised.

AA is the concoction of a couple of rich white Protestant Midwestern men. Why wouldn't it be Christian-based?

[stillcool]

21. I think it depends on what meetings..

you go to..or maybe what part of the country you live in. I've always resorted to nature, to try and understand some sense of order, or a power greater than me. It requires way too much introspection to find something of my own that I believe... I can understand why it's easier to latch on to what someone else believes, or just not bother at all.

[jpertello]

33. AA says to believe in a "higher power". That's not Christian.

[annabanana]

37. Well it sure ain't Buddhist!. . . . n/t

[spiritual_gunfighter]

38. AA is not Christian based

The concept of a higher power isn't just Christian, it can mean anything. I was in AA for a few years in the 90's and it was a little too cult like for me. But it does work for people.

[undeterred]

5. They have non religious meetings, don't they?

[mrreowwr_kittty]

8. Nope. Goes against their whole principle. nt

[EFerrari]

9. There are meetings for agnostics. n/t

[mrreowwr_kittty]

11. Maybe in big urban centers, but not in most places. nt

[EFerrari]

16. You know, that makes sense. But people can start their own meetings

and get them on the calendar with the central office, and it can be for gay single agnostic vegetarian left handed men only. That's one of the cool parts about AA.

[undeterred]

20. I guess its not sponsored by AA, but in my city

they advertise a non-religious recovery group. http://madtownsecular.tripod.com/meeting.htm

I think its related to Save Our Selves: http://www.sossobriety.org/uptodate.htm

[conscious evolution]

35. Yes they do.

I first sobered up in an atheist meeting place.

[raccoon]

39. They're supposed to be. From the AA preamble:

"A.A. is not allied with any sect, denomination, politics, organization or institution..."

And 12 step groups are supposed to be spiritual not religious.

However, having attended mucho 12 Step meetings in the Bible belt, I'm aware that sometimes people bring religion into it. Also that some groups close with the Lord's prayer.

[baldguy]

6. Merry Christmas!

[Kalyke]

42. LOL!!

[EFerrari]

7. One of the main points of being in AA is to learn what you can control

(which turns out not to be much, lol) and what you can let go.

Freaking out over someone else's need for Christ may be in the latter category.

[mrreowwr_kittty]

10. Yeah, but one of the things you cannot contol

Is being expected to say the Lord's Prayer after every meeting.

[EFerrari]

15. No one beats you up if you don't. As far as I know.

lol



Every third person in my family is in AA. I'm not huge on the Lord myself but he hasn't been much of a problem in the meetings I've gone to with my peoples. Maybe in smaller communities? Where there is a fundy presence? That's more about the community than AA. They have all kinds of meetings around here that aren't centered around Christianity at all.

[conscious evolution]

36. My first group did not do the LP

nor any other prayer.
When I go to other meetings where they do say the prayer I,and others,walk out when they do it.No one has ever said anything to me about it.

[madrchsod]

12. "jesus is just alright with me"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gy9uf9720mo

[flvegan]

13. I think Jesus is pretty fucking cool.

His followers, at times, not so much. I'd probably not freak out considering He's in the Top 3 topics for a lot of folks.

Jesus, sex, money...it's what folks talk about it seems.

[ShortnFiery]

14. Hey, Jesus is alright with me. :-)

[grantcart]

18. I agree, BTW who is the picture of?

Jesus would have looked more like this





Article by the BBC

http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://news.bbc....

[EFerrari]

19. My gramma had a pic like SNF's in her room with those eyes that followed you

around the room. I think she did it on purpose.

[ShortnFiery]

22. LOL. Since Jesus is DIVINE, it's up to our imaginations to envision.

[EFerrari]

26. There was actually a teevee special about the image grantcart put up.

It makes perfect anthropological sense but, I have a hard time imagining the Son looking like my uncle Carlos. Especially because he yelled at me all the time to put my shoes on and stuff.

Maybe my God is too quiet.

lol

[leftstreet]

17. Jesus. 12 step. Water. Wine

Hmm...

[ShortnFiery]

24. It's often encouraged to use "Higher Power" which we can ascribe meaning to the entity that

applies to us personally. If for SOME MEMBERS, their Higher Power is labeled "Jesus" --> I don't see what a little tolerance would harm the others' souls?

Perhaps the "outrage" also speaks to some issues residing with individuals within the audience?

[gogoplata]

23. AA talks about a higher power, but you can have a higher power

of your own choosing. No one forces their views on others.

Your higher power can be the big rock in your front yard if you want.

[originalpckelly]

25. God, I swear you people have a higher density than lead!

I mean, come on, brought up? Immaculate regurgitation?

Seriously. I'm not telling you anymore of my jokes! I'm going back to the lounger where we can have fun and only occasionally get flamed!

[EFerrari]

27. If you want to raise Cain, well, be my guest.

[Contrary1]

28. Nah, Jesus was pretty cool...

I see Him as the first and most understood hippie. No need to freak out.

[snot]

29. I wish there were an alternative for those who

don't believe Jesus or his relatives were a "higher power," though he may have been more enlightened than most, and who don't care to attribute such higher power to a rock or anything much else. what if we ourselves have as much power as we can count on?

i agree it's not always enough; but some of us think we may have to make do with ourselves nonetheless.

[EFerrari]

31. Maybe the idea is to put yourself back into perspective

when your own problems seem so overwhelming on one hand, and maybe it's also a way to get back in touch with the sense that there is kindness in the world, wherever you chose to locate it -- even in other people who show up at meetings.

It can be that simple, knowing that a few people together can manage more than most of us can on our own.

[pecwae]

34. Have a Blessed Day.

You may aspirate that vomit.

[originalpckelly]

41. It's a joke.

I think if someone vomited up Jesus, that'd be pretty fucking weird.

[Rabrrrrrr]

44. Amazing - apparently no one actually read your post. I think it's funny and gross.

"brought up Jesus" --> "Immaculate regurgitation"


That's awesome!

"Oh my God, Bill, where were you this morning? What is that? Is that... is that JESUS?!?!?!"

[mrreowwr_kittty]

46. To all the people on this thread floating that "But...AA is SPIRITUAL not RELIGIOUS" bullhockey:

Can it. I'm an atheist and make no distinction between those two concepts.

You may be comfortable with something that tells you to "submit to a higher power" and has a text and 12 steps that make numerous, specific references to God, but I and many other non-believers are not. And no amount of parsing and excuses and "but but my meetings are different!" is going to change that. People are free to go to AA of their own volition and if they find help in it, great. But no court of law should compel anyone to go to them.