WELCOME TO SECULAR AA!
FREETHINKERS IN A.A., Denver, Colorado, since 2013 is a Registered Group of Alcoholics Anonymous with A. A. World Services, financially supporting the A.A. Service Structure.
“I am responsible…
When anyone, anywhere reaches out for help,
I want the hand of A.A. always to be there…
and for that I am responsible.”
We are committed to helping others accept and practice the Twelve Steps of Alcoholics Anonymous in a supportive and accepting fellowship, emphasizing willingness, honesty, and open-mindedness.
Our meetings are OPEN MEETINGS of Alcoholics Anonymous for anyone seeking help with his or her own problems with alcohol, as well as supporters and others interested in how our program works.
IN-PERSON MEETINGS SUSPENDED
until further notice
MONDAY – DENVER
Freethinkers in AA
7:00 p.m. NEW TIME!
https://zoom.us/j/400233126?pwd=NFAzUHp3OE15emFaeHpJQ2p0aC9CQT09
ID: 400 233 126 Password: 244300
One tap mobile +13462487799,,400233126# US
Contact: JEB 720-608-8532 freethinkersinaa@gmail.com
THURSDAY – AURORA
Aurora Freethinkers
7:00 p.m.
https://zoom.us/j/736435686?pwd=YnFiRm9RZVZ1d3VKTVBDdjBMQnJQUT09
ID: 736 435 686 Password: 408291
One tap mobile +13462487799,736435686# US
Contact: JEB 720-608-8532 freethinkersinaa@gmail.com
SATURDAY – DENVER
FREETHINKERS IN AA
9:3 a.m.
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81189449650
ID: 811 8944 9650 Password: 307613
One tap mobile
+16699006833,,81189449650# US (San Jose)
+12532158782,,81189449650# US (Tacoma)
Contact: freethinkersinaa@gmail.com
Website: www.freethinkersinaa.org
For information, contact: Jeb at freethinkersinaa@gmail.com
LINKS FOR DAILY SECULAR MEETINGS:
https://www.ftcleveland.com/worldwide-secular-meetings [CONVERTS TO YOUR TIME ZONE.]
https://bit.ly/secular-online-meetings
Recovery Dharma
https://recoverydharma.org/
SEE THE PAGE FOR COLORADO SECULAR MEETINGS FOR MORE INFORMATION.
Welcome to our site for information about secular, non-religious meetings of Alcoholics Anonymous. We have become able to do, feel and believe that which we could not on our unaided strength and resources alone. We have found what we needed in fellowship with other alcoholics.
In a 1966 letter, Bill Wilson wrote: “There are few absolutes inherent in the Twelve Steps. Most Steps are open to interpretation, based on the experience and outlook of the individual. Consequently, the individual is free to start the steps at whatever point he can, or will.” (As Bill Sees It, page 191)
Our meetings of atheists, agnostics, and freethinkers endeavor to maintain a tradition of free expression, where alcoholics may feel free to express any doubts or disbeliefs they may have and to share their own personal forms of spiritual experience, their search for it, or their rejection of it. In keeping with A.A. tradition, we do not endorse or oppose any form of religion or atheism. Our only wish is to assure suffering alcoholics that they can find sobriety in A.A. without having to accept anyone else’s beliefs or having to deny their own.
THE SERENITY GOAL:
“May we find serenity to accept things we cannot change,
courage to change things we can,
and wisdom to know the difference.”
TRADITION 3 (Long Form)— Our membership ought to include all who suffer from alcoholism. Hence we may refuse none who wish to recover. Nor ought A.A. membership ever depend upon money or conformity. Any two or three alcoholics gathered together for sobriety may call themselves an A.A. group, provided that, as a group, they have no other affiliation.
TRADITION 4 (Long Form) — With respect to its own affairs, each A.A. group should be responsible to no other authority than its own conscience. But when its plans concern the welfare of neighboring groups also, those groups ought to be consulted. And no group, regional committee, or individual should ever take any action that might greatly affect A.A. as a whole without conferring with the Trustees of the General Service Board. On such issues our common welfare is paramount.
TRADITION 5 (Long Form) — Each Alcoholics Anonymous group ought to be a spiritual entity having but one primary purpose–that of carrying its message to the alcoholic who still suffers.
“We are responsible…
When anyone, anywhere reaches out for help,
we want the hand of A.A. always to be there…
and for that we are responsible.”
In an effort to fully explain Tradition Three Bill Wilson expanded on it in an article in the Grapevine: “So long as there is the slightest interest in sobriety, the most unmoral, the most anti-social, the most critical alcoholic may gather about him a few kindred spirits and announce to us that a new Alcoholics Anonymous Group has been formed. Anti-God, these rampant individuals are still an AA Group if they think so!” (Anarchy Melts, AA Grapevine, July 1946)
– To thine own self be true. –
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FIVE RULES TO LIVE BY
Question authority.
No idea is true just because someone says so, including me.
Think for yourself.
Question yourself.
Don’t believe anything just because you want to.
Believing something doesn’t make it so.
Test ideas.
Use the scientific method: experiment and observe.
If a favorite idea fails a well-designed test, it’s wrong.
Follow the evidence, wherever it leads.
If you have no evidence, reserve judgment.
Remember you could be wrong.
Even the best scientists have been wrong about some things.
Science is a way to keep from fooling ourselves and each other.
[Borrowed from THE SECULAR HUB, Denver]
12 ZEN THINGS
1. Do one thing at a time.
2. Do it slowly and deliberately.
3. Do it completely.
4. Do less.
5. Put space between things.
6. Develop rituals.
7. Designate time for certain things.
8. Devote time to sitting.
9. Smile and serve others.
10. Make cleaning and cooking become meditation.
11. Think about what is necessary.
12. Live simply.
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THERAPEUTIC FACTORS (1994) – Irvin Yalom
- Universality – feeling of having problems similar to others, not alone
- Helping and supporting others
- Instillation of hope – encouragement that recovery is possible
- Altruism – nurturing support & assistance
- Corrective recapitulation of family of origin issues – identifying & changing the dysfunctional patterns or roles one played in primary family
- Imparting of information – teaching about problem and recovery
- Development of social skills – learning new ways to talk about feelings, observations and concerns
- Imitative behavior/Interpersonal learning – modeling another’s manners & recovery skills, finding out about themselves & others from the group
- Group cohesiveness – feeling of belonging to the group, valuing the group
- Catharsis – release of emotional tension
- Existential factors – life & death are realities
Just remember happiness is a way of travel – not a destination.
WE MAKE EACH OTHER POSSIBLE!