In the interests of offering a way out of addictive disorders for those leery of the 12 Step programs' focus on seeking a Higher Power or God as you understand Him, I suggest the following website called AA Agnostica. This site seems to suggest a way to access the well known curative factors of the 12 Step programs, namely, the support and caring of one alcoholic/addict for another, honest sharing of experience, strength, and hope, and all that the fellowship of these programs embraces. Here is a summary of what this website says that it is about:

"The AAAgnostica website does not endorse or oppose any form of religion or atheism. Our only wish is to ensure suffering alcoholics that they can find sobriety in AA without having to accept anyone else’s beliefs or having to deny their own. The word “Agnostica” in the name of this website is derived from Chapter Four, “We Agnostics,” of Alcoholics Anonymous, otherwise known as the Big Book. When we use the word “agnostic” in relation to AA – or similar words like “atheist” or “freethinker” – we are simply referring to the specific wisdom of groups and individuals within the fellowship who understand that a belief in “God” is not necessary for recovery from alcoholism.The experience strength and hope of these women and men form the basis for the pages and posts on this website and are often a comfort and an inspiration for others in AA. If you have something similar that you would like to share then this is a place where your contributions will be warmly received."

In my own early recovery journey, I had serious reservations, even anger, about the language used in AA, such as God and Higher Power, but experienced my first connection with the spiritual strength present in meetings when I heard and felt real people honestly sharing real feelings. So, I present the AA Agnostica site as a good place for the agnostic or atheist to start his/her, dare I say, "spiritual" recovery journey. As always, comments are invited. Jan Edward Williams, 06/07/2013.