We Share Common Ground

In November of 2014, I was privileged to participate in the First International Conference for Atheists, Agnostics, and Freethinkers in AA. Many seemed surprised that I, as a religious, nonalcoholic person whose spiritual life has been strengthened, sustained and enriched by this Fellowship, would be part of this group. Frankly, I was surprised by the exclusion from AA felt by many of the participants in the conference. I knew about areas where the intergroups had “delisted” groups because they self-identified as being for those who cannot accept belief in a transcendent deity, but I was unaware of the depth of pain experienced by so many who were told they could never stay sober unless they came to believe in a God of their understanding. Clearly that conclusion is not true, as I met many with 30 or 40 years’ sobriety who do not believe in “an anthropomorphic, interventionist (male) deity.” As one participant expressed his experience, “You would be surprised by the scrutiny (be it reality or perception) that nonbelievers are subject to within AA at large. Some of our fellow AA members are fearful, dismissive or outright hostile toward us.”