An Atheists 12 Steps
A member once shared in a meeting in Florida that newcomers should first study the 12 steps as set out in the Big Book of AA. Secondly they might question these steps. The directions of any organisation such as the 10 commandments for Christians are there to be considered and perhaps rationalised by the individual member whom they don’t suit. If questioning is not allowed, said the sharer, then the organisation is a cult and should be abandoned at once. Later, new AA members might write out new steps of their own that better reflect their individually tailored programs. Here follow Vince Hawkins’ An Atheists 12 Steps with six – that mentioned or inferred a god – changed to a more agnostic viewpoint.
- We admitted we were powerless over our problem – that our lives had become unmanageable.
- Came to believe we couldn’t solve the problem on our own, but that this program and the group power of people in it could restore us to sanity.
- We each nominated greater powers to remind us there are things bigger than ourselves and not to play god – then we began to let go of self-will.
- Made a searching and fearless moral inventory of ourselves.
- Admitted without reservation to ourselves and another human being the exact nature of our wrongs.
- Every few months made a shortlist of our defects most in need of attention.
- Made it a project to minimize one or more of our worse faults and improve our behavior.
- Made a list of all persons we had harmed, and became willing to make amends to them all.
- Made direct amends to such people wherever possible, except when to do so would injure them or others.
- Continued to take personal inventory and when we were wrong promptly admitted it.
- Sought through prayer and meditation to improve our spiritual awareness and our understanding of the way of life determined by our fellowship and program, and to discover the power to carry out that way of life.
- Having had a spiritual awakening as the result of these steps, we tried to carry this message to other addicts like us, and to practice these principles in all our affairs.