We, who have traveled this dubious path, beg you to lay aside prejudice, even against organized religion. We have learned that whatever the human frailties of various faiths may be, those faiths have given purpose and direction to millions. People of faith have a logical idea of what life is all about. Actually, we used to have no reasonable conception whatever.
We used to amuse ourselves by cynically dissecting spiritual beliefs and practices when we might have observed that many spiritually-minded persons of all races, colors, and creeds were demonstrating a degree of stability, happiness and usefulness which we should have sought ourselves.
Instead, we looked at the human defects of these people, and sometimes used their shortcomings as a basis of wholesale condemnation. We talked of intolerance, while we were intolerant ourselves. We missed the reality and the beauty of the forest because we were diverted by the ugliness of some of its trees. We never gave the spiritual side of life a fair hearing. WE AGNOSTICS 49-50
My contempt prior to investigation was rampant. Like it says above, I had no logical idea how to do life. Everything I learned and did was based upon feelings and emotions, never grounded in logic. Not only about spiritual matters and religion, but also with conceptions and perceptions that I brought with me from childhood and stayed stuck in. I regurgitated the beliefs I grew up with or parroted tv personalities and "intellectuals" so that I could amuse myself in debate. I had closed my mind to anything that threaten my way of thinking.
I had contempt for AA because it didn't work for anyone in my family. They kept coming back, but never stopped drinking...They didn't do the work, they just did meetings, which I didn't get at the time-I just thought AA, like religion, was a sham. I had prejudices toward the faith that I have now with a new perception, not based upon the sleazy personalities pandering for money I would see on late night TV.
I was intolerant of other viewpoints because I saw them as ignorant, again, forming an opinion prior to investigation. Never researching, just contempt. I gave my power over to the experts and intellectuals that must know more than me because they have letters behind their name telling me what to think because I wasn't educated, even if my gut is screaming it's wrong.
Fortunately God found a way to reel me back in. I found my way to AA in absolute desperation. The last house on the block. I could either die a painful alcoholic death or let go of my prejudices toward AA and the shame I had walking into my first meeting.
Same with religion. AA gave me a foundation to build from. I didn't have to baulk, condemn or judge. I could research, explore, seek, and ask. I was given the freedom to have my own conception of God, not anyone else's. Turns out my HP is the same one I had from childhood, but without the dogma and separation. I learned I could speak directly to my HP without a middle man. I could learn to trust and rely on Him and he would show me the truth I sought if I asked.
I also learned in AA that we do not follow or worship any one person. We are grateful to Bill W. and Bob, the first 100, our sponsors, the many wise speakers, Joe and Charlie, but they would be the first to tell you not to put them on a pedestal. The first 100 took information with divine guidance from many sources and proceeded to write the Spiritual Program as outlined in the BB of Alcoholics Anonymous, that are the Steps to the spiritual solution that treated my spiritual disease.
Our collective group conscious, that we are not governed or forced to be here, broke through my rejection toward authority and also helped me to see that God is in charge of all of it. Good and bad. SO I don't have to throw the intellects or people in authority under the bus either.
Not everyone in authority and positions of power "aka" have letters behind their name, are spiritually sound; so I don't have to go along thinking that because I don't, that I am in any way less than like I used to. I can use my God given discernment to make decisions not based on emotion and fear, turning my will and power over to people, but with a sound and logical mind to make the right decision for me. The internal battle I have struggled with because of my rejection over what is, does not have as much power as it once did.
I can now look at our similarities, not our differences. Where might they be right? My ego got pierced at first when I saw the truth about myself, but it was worth the blow. I get to have a real relationship and trust in my Creator, yeah, totally worth the blow to my pride.
I can have better relationships with people because I can see the human frailties in everything that is "organized" people will always bring their defects and opinions in, divided, split off, corrupt, distort, invert the truth, etc...it's the human condition. But, I do not have to throw the baby out with the bath water anymore. Thankfully and God willing, we should always have the foundation in the book and the traditions.
I can always seek discernment by going straight to God, the source of all information if I am willing to receive truth and logic. Even if and when that logic and truth isn't popular; trying to fit in for fear of social shame.
- obstinacy-the quality or condition of being obstinate; stubbornness.
- sensitiveness - [U] (REACTING EASILY) the quality of being easily influenced, changed, or damaged, especially by a physical activity or effect: An allergy can be described as sensitiveness of the body to a substance that does not normally affect other people
- unreasoning-not guided by or based on good sense; illogical.
- prejudice-Prejudice is an assumption or an opinion about someone simply based on that person's membership to a particular group.
Which one of these defects are you currently doing battle with in sobriety? What contempt toward God has kept you from having a relationship with Him? What is the current state of unmanageability that you might me stuck in?