The AA serenity prayer listed above is a condensed version of the prayer commonly used in Alcoholic Anonymous meetings. There are other self help groups that utilize the serenity prayer as well.
The extended original AA serenity prayer continues:
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Many individuals have concerns about the use of the word God throughout the Alcoholics Anonymous literature as well as in meetings, for example in the AA serenity prayer. This can serve as a barrier for these individuals when trying to fully participate in the Alcoholics Anonymous Program.
So what can you do? First, recognize that most of the Alcoholics Anonymous literature was written quiet some time ago. Second, if it is the specific use of the word God that you are struggling with, try using an acronym.
There are many members of Alcoholics Anonymous who identify as Spiritual and not Religious. As a result, they do not view God the same. One approach is to use the many acronyms. For example, “Good old direction” and “Group of drunks”.
If you have concerns about the use of the word God within the Alcoholics Anonymous program, challenge yourself to have an open mind. Try a local meeting with an open mind. If you are in a place to accept help, this is a great opportunity to do so.
Is AA not right for you? Then there are other options, such as these non-AA alcohol treatment programs. Learn more about the Sinclair method, spiritual recovery, Women for Sobriety, Lifering secular recovery, SMART recovery, Rational Recovery, and other alternatives. Contact us today to know more about these programs.
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Lead Writer/Reviewer : Kayla Loibl
Licensed Medical Health Professional
Hello!
I am a Mental Health Counselor who is licensed in both New York (LMHC) and North Carolina (LCMHC). I have been working in the Mental Health field since 2015. I have worked in a residential setting, an outpatient program and an inpatient addictions program. I began working in Long Island, NY and then in Guelph, Ontario after moving to Canada. Read More
Sources:
Information regarding the symptoms of alcoholism that can be observed in the early, chronic and end stage: Signs of Alcoholism: Symptoms of Early, Chronic & End Stages (americanaddictioncenters.org)
A list of Podcasts related to alcohol use written up by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC): Alcohol related podcasts | CDC
A list of Blogs related to alcohol use written up by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC): Blogs | Alcohol | CDC
Facts and statistics about alcohol use provided by the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIH): Alcohol Facts and Statistics | National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) (nih.gov)
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