Turning to "God"

I come from an area with a lot of drugs, violence, etc, and it seems when a person gets out of jail, leaves narcotics/alcohol behind (WITHOUT the aid of meetings), etc, they turn to the Christian God. I don't know if they preach Christianity in prison, so that may be an obvious answer. But those who have cleaned up without someone pushing them in the direction of the church, why do they turn to the Christian God?

Feel free to discuss, if you were in that situation before and turned to paganism.

Should the pagan community start something along the lines of Narcotics/Alcoholics Anonymous?

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Permalink Reply by Balor The Huntress~Warrior on January 1, 2009 at 12:37am: I always wondered that myself. I have seen so many find "God" in prison. I have to wonder if its a true belief or a means to manipulate people.

*Good Topic*; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Starfeather on January 1, 2009 at 1:25am: Good observation. I didn't even think of that. It is feasible that it's being used as a form of manipulation. After all, do you want to go to Hell? Doesn't sound like the place to be to me. lol; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Balor The Huntress~Warrior on January 1, 2009 at 1:55am: Lol..so true; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Patricia Lafayllve on January 1, 2009 at 4:46am: ...or, and more insidiously...you're in prison, which *is* Hell. Now here, read this book and pray that God will let you out of it.

See?; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Starfeather on January 1, 2009 at 1:27am: My father was like that when he kicked his heroin habit. NA hosts thrust a bible at him, and told him to pray, so he did. I'm not bad-mouthing their methods or the faith, of course. That was just pretty much how it happened. I'm happy he was strong enough to get through it, and if the born again Christian theme of NA facilitated that, more power to him.

I just think it's weird that it seems to be everyone's fail-safe.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Patricia Lafayllve on January 1, 2009 at 1:30am: Well, in many ways what the various "Anonymous" programs do is trade a person's addictive lifestyle to that of a more spiritual lifestyle. For some addicts this means nothing mroe than trading one addiction for another, although I'm happy enough to have them addicted to "God" than "drugs," so.

Still, I know a few pagans and heathens who are non-drinkers or recovering addicts (or both), and I think it might be time for us to take a closer look at those twelve steps and see if they can be adapted. I know at least one heathen who offers to run AA/NA meetings at heathen events, which I think is an excellent practice...; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Starfeather on January 1, 2009 at 1:49am: I think a Pagan version of the NA/AA methods would be a great idea. Especially for those addicts/alcoholics who are already Pagan and would feel uncomfortable at a Christian-dominated meeting. It would open a door for them that is otherwise closed. Not locked, mind you, just... not a door they'd venture through freely, I suppose.

It's great of that acquaintance of yours to offer to run meetings at events. It's such a valuable support system that should be available to everyone with a problem. Kudos to him. =]; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Balor The Huntress~Warrior on January 1, 2009 at 1:57am: I agree.....I think it would be a great idea too!!; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Patricia Lafayllve on January 1, 2009 at 4:47am: Also I know that Starwood has a whole AA/NA track to follow for people who are there and also recovering addicts. Which is not run by my friend at all....so it's definitely somethign going around (and I'm glad); ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Lisa Logan on January 1, 2009 at 5:14am: I don't know where people are encountering "Christian" meetings, but that is against AA's own stated purpose. I actually credit AA in part for my journey toward paganism, as it was the first place I was encouraged to form a spiritual bond with a god of MY choosing. It is a spiritual program, not a religious one, and they do not endorse any given religion.

That said, if some meetings have fallen away from this, I'd recommend finding a different one and calling the area chapter office to complain about the deviation from the AA mission. This type of religious overtone could turn away others in dire need, which is precisely why AA does NOT endorse this practice.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by LadyDragonfly on January 1, 2009 at 9:10pm: Its not that there are "Christian" meetings, it is that you can still find those type of zealous "my way is the only way" people anywhere, including AA meetings. And as some others have stated, sometimes people just switch addictions. Sometimes, if they stay around long enough and open up their minds, that can change. It is said "God as we understand him" which can definitely be taken as a christian way, but I also learned that it was about finding a higher power of one's own understanding, and learning to be true to one's self. Sometimes people are just afraid to explore what is true for them, and just accept what they think is the norm.

I let that type of fear control me for awhile, but also like Lisa stated above, I was able to find my spirituality and my path...and I need to stay sober to be able to do that. And believe me, some of the crap I heard from some people in AA because I chose a different path than christianity was unreal. I tried the christian path, and I learned alot from it, but it also ultimately didn't ring true for me, and to continue to stay sober I had to be true to myself first and foremost. Its certainly not something I share with everyone, but I believe my spirituality is a very personal thing.

The struggle I have had with AA meetings lies with the people who are pushy, closed minded, and stay stuck in the victim mentality. Thank goodness not all are like that, and I try to avoid those that are. The meetings in my area open with the "Serenity Prayer" and close with the "Lord's Prayer" which are both christian prayers, and that can add to the confusion and/or pushiness some feel that it is a christian program. Personally I just choose not to say the prayers, and I have seen others do the same...some are athiest or agnostic, muslim, jehovah witness, etc. There really are people from all walks of life that attend meetings. The Twelve steps can be adapted for anyone, no matter what their belief system or cultural/ethnic background may be. The thing is that the steps work in helping the addict/alcoholic change their lives.

The powerlessness aspect really can get some people stuck. I had to find my way beyond that...yes, I am powerless over what I would do once I use a substance, but I am not totally powerless...I have choices in my life, and I have learned to empower myself to live life fully...and that right there is exactly what my pagan path has enabled me to do.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Lisa Logan on January 2, 2009 at 5:22am: I agree with much of what Lady Dragonfly is saying here--after all, AA meetings are populated with creatures known as "human beings," and are privvy to all the personality deficits and flaws thereof. True, in the years I spent there--past tense, as I, too, believe in moving on after a season--I saw people turn to the Christian church. Many more, however, did NOT.

The notion of a "God as WE understand Him" is actually rather sacriligeous to my childhood holy roller background--"He Is Who He IS" and all that, and there was no room for personal interpretation. So I never felt Christianity was being shoved up my addictive disorder in AA, or I'd have been the first one running for the door.

As for the prayers, the words rang true to my spirit and could be uttered to the God of MY choosing, so I derived benefit from their power. But not everyone would be comfortable doing so, so to each his own. For all its imperfections, I am grateful for the wisdom of Lord and Lady in pointing me to AA, as that is where I began the practice that enriches my path today--seeking the similarities between spiritual beliefs, not the differences.; ▶ Reply to This