I'm a Taoist and my Wife is a devout Tibetan Buddhist. We have both been sober for over twelve years with the help of the things we learned in AA. The idea that AA is a religious organization with a lot of "Christian baggage" and that it "substitutes religion for alcohol" are criticisms that I have often heard, but will gladly refute. AA is a spiritual organization, not a religious one. It doesn't matter if you are a Baptist, a Buddhist or an Atheist as long as you are willing to accept two ideas: 1) You and your little ego are doing a pretty lousy job of living your life and alcohol is a major factor. 2) There is something in the Universe greater than yourself and that if you seek an understanding of that thing - if you seek to transcend that ego that is causing you to drink in the first place - you just might be able to get through this day without taking a drink. Pretty damned simple to me.

Since we live in a predominantly Christian society, it's natural that a lot of AA members express their spiritual concerns in Christian terms. If you do not believe in the Judeo-Christian concept of God you just re-interpret their comments into metaphysical terms that you can accept. Also pretty damned simple.

By the way, we recently lost a good friend to pancreatic failure brought on by years of abuse. She had finally stopped drinking a few months ago, but the damage had already been done.

Bruce