For the spiritual atheist who wishes to receive the benefits of Alcoholics Anonymous, here are the Secular Twelve Steps:
1. We admitted we were powerless over alcohol — that our lives had become unmanageable.
2. Came to believe that we have the means and power to restore ourselves to sanity.
3. Made a decision to turn our will and our lives over to sobriety and sanity.
4. Made a searching and fearless moral inventory of ourselves.
5. Admitted to ourselves, to another human and to those we have wronged the exact nature of our transgressions.
6. Were entirely ready to have these defects of character removed.
7. Resolved to remove our shortcomings.
8. Made a list of all persons we had harmed, and became willing to make amends to them all.
9. Made direct amends to such people wherever possible, except when to do so would injure them or others.
10. Continued to take personal inventory and when we were wrong promptly admitted it.
11. Sought, through self-reflection or other means, to improve our moral constitution and the power to carry that out.
12. Having been awakened as the result of these Steps, we tried to carry this message to alcoholics, and to practice these principles in all our affairs.
An explanation of each of the changes
Step 1:
Original: We admitted we were powerless over alcohol — that our lives had become unmanageable.
This step is the most important one. It is impossible to address a problem if one does not recognize that it exists. This step does not mention God and remains unchanged.
Step 2:
Original: Came to believe that a Power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity.
Rewrite: Came to believe that we have the means and power to restore ourselves to sanity.
The insistence on a “power greater than ourselves” has been removed. It is incongruous with the statement in the Q&A that others don’t believe in [God] at all.
We do have the means and power, and, for some people, this may include a belief in God – that is their means and power, and that is up to them. For others it may be the A.A. organization in general. For others still, it may be their own desire and willpower. I gravitate toward the latter believing that faith in oneself is far more important and productive and that instilling self-confidence is far more valuable than faith in a nebulous “God”; history has shown that such blind faith can result in horrible consequences such as the Crusades, the Inquisitions and the 9/11 attacks.
Step 3:
Original: Made a decision to turn our will and our lives over to the care of God as we understood Him.
Rewrite: Made a decision to turn our will and our lives over to sobriety and sanity.
The words “the care of God as we understood Him” have been removed and replaced with “sobriety and sanity.” Historically, the addition of the words “as we understood him” were added to placate the agnostic but it does nothing for the atheist. Even for the agnostic it is meaningless as agnosticism is based on the belief that to understand “God” is impossible.
However, I believe that we can all agree that we do turn ourselves over to sobriety and sanity, so let’s just say that and leave “God” (whomever that may be, if “He” exists at all) out of the equation.
Step 4:
Original: Made a searching and fearless moral inventory of ourselves.
This remains unchanged. We do seek to make a “searching and fearless moral inventory.” This is possible for everyone. Areligious does not equate to amoral.
Step 5:
Original: Admitted to God, to ourselves, and to another human being the exact nature of our wrongs.
Rewrite: Admitted to ourselves, to another human and to those we have wronged the exact nature of our transgressions.
The reference to “God” has been removed and those we have wronged have been added, in keeping with the 8th and 9th steps. The most important people to whom we should admit the exact nature of our wrongs are ourselves, another person and those we have wronged. Some may chose to admit it to their “God,” – in a confessional, for example – however, that is their choice.
Step 6:
Original: Were entirely ready to have God remove all these defects of character.
Rewrite: Were entirely ready to remove all these defects of character.
Again, the reference to “God” has been removed. We can remove our defects of character without “God.” It is not a requirement to have “God” do it for us. It should be of our own belief and choosing as to how our defects of character are removed. Perhaps that is through a belief in God, but not necessarily.
Step 7:
Original: Humbly asked Him to remove our shortcomings.
Rewrite: Resolved to remove our shortcomings.
We may be humble but that doesn’t necessitate groveling to a particular God (again, emphasized and implied by the capital “H”; that there is one single God).
Steps 8, 9 and 10:
Original:
8. Made a list of all persons we had harmed, and became willing to make amends to them all.
9. Made direct amends to such people wherever possible, except when to do so would injure them or others.
10. Continued to take personal inventory and when we were wrong promptly admitted it.
These remain unchanged. They do not reference God, do not necessitate God, and are worthwhile activities as they stand.
Step 11:
Original: Sought through prayer and meditation to improve our conscious contact with God as we understood Him, praying only for knowledge of His will for us and the power to carry that out.
Rewrite: Sought, through self-reflection or other means, to improve our moral constitution and the power to carry that out.
This has been completely rewritten, only preserving the phrase “the power to carry that out.” Prayer and meditation (religious concepts) have been replaced with the idea of self-reflection or other means (which may include prayer or meditation). The goal of improving one’s “conscious contact with God” has been replaced with the more valuable goal of improving one’s moral constitution; a concept more personal and rewarding.
Step 12:
Unchanged as this goal is secular and remains valid.
