12-Steps & Religion: Is AA Secular? 

As a professional counselor for 38-years, the last 35 of which have been spent exclusively addressing issues related to alcohol and other substance use, a frequently asked question has had something to do with the apparent religiosity of AA or other 12-step mutual aid groups. Most frequently such questions come from those being referred to AA and are based on either a limited previous exposure - "a couple" meetings "years ago" - or what had been "heard" about AA or how it was portrayed in a film or TV program. I must admit that addressing this concern was something of a challenge in the early days of my career, but as with so many things in life, it has become easier as time...and opportunities to practice...have passed. As my grandfather used to say, "We do best what we do most." Consequently, I have a couple specific thoughts to share for your consideration:

1. 1.      I have found that with individuals reluctant to consider AA or other 12-step programs--and more recently, my students who are asked to consider if they will use 12-step programs as an adjunct to their professional counseling--a bit of prep work in advance of a “first meeting" or more informal exposure, e.g., AA/NA literature, can be quite helpful. This includes accentuating the positive aspects of meetings that may be realized specifically or involvement with “the fellowship” in general. Examples of this include, the opportunity to socialize with those who do not use, the opportunity to recognize that one’s use (and the results of it) are not unique to “me,” or the simple “something to do with my time rather than use." Likewise to help him/her understand that the language used at meetings and in the literature is not necessarily as the individual interprets it. By this I mean, help the individual recognize that “language” is composed of words that are mere “auditory symbols” that only have meaning as the result of the way they are used and in the context of how they are conveyed by those who use them. Consequently, the “meaning” of words can change over time and/or the meaning of the speaker may not be the same as that of the listener who is interpreting them. I often use the example with students of the word “gay.” When AA was being formed, 1935 – 1939, “gay” meant “happy” or “joyous.” Today, of course, many people 60 or younger understand “gay” to mean being homosexual, particularly being a male homosexual. Although “gay” continues to also mean happy and joyous, it is often the context in which the word is used that enables the listener to discern the speaker’s meaning. This, unfortunately, is a bit more difficult when it comes to the perceived religious-speak used in 12-step literature and at AA and NA meetings. Consequently, the counselor has to work a bit harder to help the individual who may be agnostic if not atheist, and whom she or he wishes to refer, to be able to tolerate, let alone embrace, the program of recovery that has come to be known as AA’s/NA’s 12 suggested steps.
2. Related to the first, is to proffer a “different set of lenses” through which the agnostic or atheist can view AA's or NA's 12 suggested steps and the “language of recovery” spoken at 12-step/mutual aid meetings. One vehicle I use is B. F. Skinner’s—the famous behavioral psychologist—“humanistic alternatives” to the 12-steps. Although AA/NA is not going to alter one word or even syllable of any of its texts, we can help individuals who we believe may benefit from the program to clear the hurdle presented by the language that results in a misperception that unnecessarily precludes one from benefiting from such mutual aid groups because of a perception of their religious tone if not orientation. You can find Skinner’s “alternative steps” at http://silkworth.net/magazine_newspaper/humanist_jul_aug_1987.html
3. Another, albeit more academic resource in addressing this question is a paper I wrote on understanding (interpreting?) the 12-steps of AA. Although written for my counseling students to help them better grasp the potential12-step programs hold to provide a useful adjunct to professional counseling, this might be of use, at least as a source of “talking points” if addressing the issues of “GOD” or “Higher Power” and other things “apparently” religious in AA. Visit http://bit.ly/cI4dNh 

In closing--and to answer my opening question--"yes, I do believe that AA is secular...non-religious...focused on moving further away from the last drink or drug use rather than closer to "God." As I once heard at an open meeting of AA I attended when someone was railing about all the "god talk," "if the word bothers you as a reference to a supreme being, then use it as an acronym...Good Orderly Direction."

What do you think?

Dr. Robert