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Unconstitutional A.A.

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C

Chef FourString

Feb 4, 2011
765
4
Texas
#1
I was thinking about this the other day. I'm not too sure about the answer but mine makes sense to me.

Would court appointing an atheist to A.A., or any other meeting as such, be considered unconstitutional?

Considering you have to break down and accept a"higher power" to even advance in the course, I would say yes. What do ya'll think? This is just open thinking, so, please no bashing. If the facts say I'm wrong than let me know.
 
#6
It comes down to the old saying:

You can lead a horse to water, but you can't make it drink.

Just because someone goes to A.A. does not mean that they will stop drinking because of it.
 
#13
Chef FourString said:
I was thinking about this the other day. I'm not too sure about the answer but mine makes sense to me.

Would court appointing an atheist to A.A., or any other meeting as such, be considered unconstitutional?

Considering you have to break down and accept a"higher power" to even advance in the course, I would say yes. What do ya'll think? This is just open thinking, so, please no bashing. If the facts say I'm wrong than let me know.
Click to expand...

No. The fact that you are asking this question means that you have an incomplete understanding of A.A. Furthermore, the bit about 'advance in the course' is also wrong for a number of reasons.

Let me guess: your "friend" got tagged with DUI, MIP, or public intoxication and is now ordered to attend some AA meetings.

Close?

Strohsx said:
That would depend on how you define "higher power" wouldn;t it?
Be it a god of a religion or simply an idea that's of greater importance than yourself.

Make sense?
Click to expand...

This guy has it. Do you believe that the US government as a whole has more real power than you as an individual? Boom! Higher Power.


Addendum: If you "friend" is having legal problems because of his drinking then perhaps this friend has a drinking problem.
 
#18
Chef FourString said:
Would court appointing an atheist to A.A., or any other meeting as such, be considered unconstitutional?
Click to expand...

Appoint? You mean order to go to meetings? It is done all the time. Why would it be unconstitutional? AA is not a religious organization. Actually, according to it traditions, it has no opinions on religion (outside issues) at all.

There are atheists in AA. Lots of them. Many use the group as a higher power. Some use Micky Mouse. As it was explained to me, the only thing I need to know about a higher power is that I am not it.
 
#19
PSPookie said:
No. The fact that you are asking this question means that you have an incomplete understanding of A.A. Furthermore, the bit about 'advance in the course' is also wrong for a number of reasons.

Let me guess: your "friend" got tagged with DUI, MIP, or public intoxication and is now ordered to attend some AA meetings.

Close?

This guy has it. Do you believe that the US government as a whole has more real power than you as an individual? Boom! Higher Power.

Addendum: If you "friend" is having legal problems because of his drinking then perhaps this friend has a drinking problem.
Click to expand...

No. I had no friend that has anything to do with this. It was a random thought.

Let me guess: You think you know everything in which you think you have the right to say anything.

Like I said, dude. It was a thought open for debate. If you don't like it, than don't post. I'm sorry it was so tragic for you to come across this thread.
 
#20
PSPookie said:
No. The fact that you are asking this question means that you have an incomplete understanding of A.A.
Click to expand...

+100

The whole question is a non-starter.

Only requirement for membership is a desire to stop drinking. The higher power is a suggestion and no particular higher power is advocated. I have heard of people using the parking meter. There are plenty of atheists in meetings and also in the service structure.

There are no ranks, no graduations nor any official approval or disapproval of any individual. Of course individuals judge each other as individuals just like here on TB.

S
 
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