Do they have any 'directives' about Jehovah's Witnesses going to AA??
AA and JWs
by JWdaughter 10 Replies latest watchtower medical
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Arthur
To my knowledge, the "current position" of the society is that this is a personal decision. I think that their position is that they really have no position on AA. Individual witnesses, however have widely varying views; some of which are quite dogmatic.
What's interesting; is that one of the statements in the resolution that was passed at the District Convention; stated that JWs shall shun all "interfaith movements". This term is rather cryptic and ambiguious. It could possibly cover organizations such as the twelve-step groups. My personal view is that the WTS surely does not like any of these twelve-step groups, yet could potentially face lawsuits if they explicitely instructed JWs not to participate in certain organizations which provide addiction recovery assistance.
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AudeSapere
I've seen it and it's members disparaged. Some witnesses think of it as a religion. Especially with the 'Higher Power' reference.
Also the strong, near mandatory, pressure for meeting attendance. The witnesses seem to relate to that and take it as competition, I guess.
-Aude.
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BrendaCloutier
Even after being out of the dubs for 12 years I had a tough time attending some of my first AA meetings as they were held in churches. The first AA meeting I ever attended was in the basement of a baptist church. I almost couldn't touch the doorknob - I just knew I was going to be struck down. Now I had been to weddings of worldly friends in churches so this fear was totally irrational and probably dreadged up by my lil' ol' addict as an excuse not to attend that or any AA meeting.
Needless to say I survived my first AA meeting in a baptist church, and I eventually got sober (hopefully for good) three years later in 1990.
When I left, alcholism was very much considered a morality issue with the dubs (1976). In 1993 I had a "come to jesus" meeting with my dad, a long-time elder, about "things", and after I told him I was sober - blah blah - he brought up alcholism as a morality issue and one of choice, not a disease. (My adoptive parents were "normies" with alcohol)
Here's a gem for you if anyone throws that in your face: I told my dad, who is a diabetic, that I my body does not process alcohol normally, just as his body does not process sugar normally.
And for the first time in my life my dad was speachless.
PM me if you wanna talk.
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rebel8
I recall one jw who attended AA and was allowed to do so only because the judge ordered him to (drunk driving). Everyone constantly expressed sympathy to him because he had to "endure this hardship of being exposed to Satan's influence". He didn't go to the ones held inside churches because other meetings were available.
AA is not supposed to be religious at all. You are supposed to admit you need a power higher than yourself to recover, but that could power could be anything more powerful than you alone--it could even be the AA group itself. What the member designates as his personal higher power is completely up to him.
If they see prayers etc. being done during AA meetings, they should complain because that is not supposed to be part of the meeting. When I worked in inpatient rehab & facilitated AA groups, I would tell the patients they are free to pray if they want, but only once the meeting had concluded and they had to announce that it wasn't mandatory so as to avoid people feeling uncomfortable.
My point is the borg being prejudiced against AA is fairly baseless. It's an outgrowth of their paranoia about psychology & medical care coupled with paranoia about "Satan" infiltrating jws' lives. Darn that Satan, always trying to sneak in a little Lord's Prayer at the end of their self help group.
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blondie
While a few uninformed JWs have said you can't go to AA, my experience is that it is up to the individual whether they go or not; they will not be disciplined if the do. I'll confirm what Rebel8 says about the religious aspect, "higher power", etc. Each group is somewhat autonomous, so if they venture outside the non-religious aspect, say something.
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g8212/8p.19AnAlcoholicintheFamily—WhatCanYouDo?***Whether to seek the help of such groups or not is a personal decision. Of course, a person who is desirous of living by Bible principles would want to be careful that he did not become involved in activities that would in any way cause him or encourage him to compromise the Scriptural principles he lives by. Also, a person who is one of Jehovah’s Witnesses would first consult those in the Christian congregation who have spiritual qualifications to help in these matters.
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BrendaCloutier
If they see prayers etc. being done during AA meetings, they should complain because that is not supposed to be part of the meeting. When I worked in inpatient rehab & facilitated AA groups, I would tell the patients they are free to pray if they want, but only once the meeting had concluded and they had to announce that it wasn't mandatory so as to avoid people feeling uncomfortable.
I had a friend who was Irish Catholic (sexually abused as a child by his priest) converted to Judaism. When it came time for the prayer, if it was the serenity prayer, he'd join the circle. If it was the Lord's prayer, he'd back out, out of personal religius conviction. I had NO problems with that.
Myself, as the ex-bible-know-it-all-dub, I was highly embarrased that I could not recite the Lord's Prayer!
No, prayer is not necessary in AA. When confronted with G.O.D. one can translate that to Good Orderly Direction.
Unfortunatly, the active consciencious Dub in AA will miss out on a great deal of the fellowship that help make recover possible for many: The power of prayer in a circle holding hands; seeing the similarities within the group instead of the religions differences (reinforcing the addicts attitude that AA isn't necessary); even to the point of forgoing coffee after or before a meeting or other group activities that help reduce the feeling of being an outsider, and bolster one's self esteem; learning from others just how to LIVE sober. So many dubs haven't a clue as to that one.
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south african beef
I at first thought this thread was about the Automobile Association in the UK - I thought what would be wrong about the Witnesses being members of a breakdown recovery organisation, then I realised you meant Alcoholics Annonymous.
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JWdaughter
Thanks for the comments. I didn't want to talk to my mom about it until I had some idea of what I and she may be dealing with and facing.
Congratulations are due to those of you who are overcoming the problem. I have so many food issues, I just consider myself lucky that I feel ill after a sip-with my family history, I would otherwise have the same issues as my mom with alcohol. I love this group. You are all like having a super diverse and wonderfully warm family that will tease you and be angry sometimes and still at the end of the day, care about you. Blessings to you all.
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vitty
*** g8212/8p.19AnAlcoholicintheFamily—WhatCanYouDo? ***
Whether to seek the help of such groups or not is a personal decision. Of course, a person who is desirous of living by Bible principles would want to be careful that he did not become involved in activities that would in any way cause him or encourage him to compromise the Scriptural principles he lives by. Also, a person who is one of Jehovah’s Witnesses would first consult those in the Christian congregation who have spiritual qualifications to help in these matters.
Well most of the elders I know are big drinkers.................say no more.