1 post tagged “atheism”

I recently joined several online Al-Anon groups because I feel that I need to move past the fact that my father is an alcoholic. I am finding it difficult to adopt the program because of its emphasis on God. Other Al-Anon members think it is reassuring to say that Al-Anon isn't affiliated with any sect or denomination. That may reassure someone with religious belief of some kind, but not if you have none at all.

The fundamental premise of Al-Anon seems to be that you have to hand over your control to a "higher power": "Members are not required to accept someone else's concept of God, only to trust that there is a power "greater than themselves" however they wish to describe it or understand it." This is fundamentally incompatible with atheism.

I can understand the need to relinquish control over things that you can't control (like another's drinking). But in order to do that, I don't see the need to believe that something else is in control. I find it more reassuring that nothing is in control, but that runs so counter to the Al-Anon ethos that I'm not sure I see a place for myself in the group. Which is a shame, because I don't really see any other organizations that support the families and friends of alchoholics.