Agnostic here

[boxerfan]

I have been an Agnostic most of my life. I started going to AA a little over a month ago and am having a hard time with the concept of a higher power and praying. I just don't know who to pray to. Thanks for listening. Lisa

[peajaye]

I don't know if this will help since you are agnostic, but what I was told to do because I was looking everywhere for a higher power was to sit quietly and ask, "higher power, are you looking for me?" It worked for me, I immediately felt a sense of peace flood over me. I found my higher power.

I suppose you've read the chapter to the agnostic in the big book? Nothing come to mind to quote out of there, but it might have some stuff you can use.

Hope you find one.

[fibiray]

Hi there Lisa welcome aboard, I have always believed in the basic principle focusing on the good in the world, if the god side of things is unpallatable. The other suggestion I've heard also is to believe in the group that you belong to, this is still something outside of yourself. As I have heard in meetings before GOD is Good - Orderly - Direction, another possibility for the agnostic. Hope this helps a bit. I guess its a journey of discovery. Good luck and god bless

Fi
xxx

[rockergirl]

Hello Lisa your not alone.When I came into the rooms of N A I to felt the same way.I had trouble grasping the higher power part of the steps.For me I look to the loved ones who have passed on, My father and my grandmother this helped me tremendously.

Toni

[Humblepie]

I too was an agnostic when I first came to AA. I found the 3rd step to be helpful with the Higher power concept. "Made a decision to turn our will and our lives over to the care of God as we understood Him". I had never heard of the idea of a God as I understood him. That opened the door for me to believe in a God that made sense to me, a God of Love. As for how to pray, well Lisa I'm sorry but there isn't just one right way to pray. You can look at the three favorite prayers of the early AA members as possible examples, The Serenity Prayer, The Lords Prayer or The Prayer of Saint Francis any of which you can google to find. Just remember there is no right or wrong way so keep just keep it simple and do what feels right to you.

[boxerfan]

Thanks for your replies, this helps me. Lisa :29:

[Chaz]

Boxerfan... I heard a fascinating talk by a recovering addict in Hawaii.... for him... he realized that when he sat on the beach on the north shore of Hawaii where the big wave crashed onto the shore.... that the shere impact of nature ... particularly when the ground shook when a big enough wave hit... that there was undoubtedly something bigger in this world than him self. For him... the forces of nature were a signpost on the road to discover a higher power as he understood it. From that point... he more clearly defined who his higher power was.

To me, it was fascinating that these signs are around us all over the place. The shere enormity and complexity of the planet suggests strongly to me that there are forces way beyond our understanding.

For me, I am seeing my higher power reveal his role in my life in such amazingly tangible ways. It is mind-boggling. So relax.... more will be revealed in time. Just stay open, listen to what you hear, set aside what doesnt make sense... for now anyway.

As another poster suggested.... ask your higher power if they are looking for you? This may sound wierd.... in fact it does to me even typing it.... but it works time and time again.

Glad you are here.

Chaz

[free2bunme]

hey there boxerfan

when i came into AA, i would not say i was exactly an agnostic ... but i had very very little faith in and trust in a Higher Power. I certainly had not prayed in years. It was suggested to me to pray outloud, even if I did not feel like it. To trust the process. So I did. At first, I felt so stupid, like I was talking to the air -- or to some huge vaccum or something. I would even say out loud, "Am I wasting my breath here? Can you even hear me?" Well, let me tell you .... after 2 years of praying consecutively, there is no doubt in my mind that there is a loving GOD who cares for me and who I can be connected to. It has been a slow journey with stops and starts. I just try to be honest with my HP. Like expressing anger rather than just shutting off. My HP can take it and will not leave because of my anger. You are seeking and that is what is important. I have heard that for every step we take towards GOD, he takes 2 towards us. I kinda like that. Hang in there, it will come. Just do the work, take action, and don't quit 5 minutes before the miracle! :42:

[dalin]

I stole this from yahoo answeres
Member since: August 13, 2007
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onefinefeller
0
Let's see... answer this one.. it is more positive.

I saw this in a pamplet... and it was cute and so true! It's by Ray Comfort.

"Billions of years ago, a big bang produced a large rock. As the rock cooled, sweet brown liquid formed on it's surface. As time passed, aluminum formed itself into a can, a lid, and a tab. Millions of years later, red and white paint fell from the sky and formed itself into the words "Coca Cola... 12 fluid ounces."

Of course my theory is an insult to your intellect, because you know that if the Coca Cola can is made, there must be a maker. If it is designed, there must be a designer. The alternative, that it happened by chance or accident is to move from the intellectual free zone.



Here is another:

"The Banana: The Atheist Nightmare"

Note that the banana...

1. is shaped for the human hand.

2. has a non-slip surface.

3. Has outward indicators of it's inward contents. Green - too early, yellow - just right, black - too late.

4. Has a tab for removal of it's wrapper.

5. Is perforated on wrapper.

6. Has a bio-degradable wrapper.

7. Is shaped for the human mouth.

8. Has a point at the top for ease of entry.

9. Is pleasing to the taste buds.

10. Is curved towards the face to make the eating process easy.

To write that the banana happened by accident is even more unintelligent than to write that no one designed the Coca Cola can.

Test 1.

The person who thinks the Coca Cola can has no designer is:

A. Intelligent

B. A fool

C. Has an ulterior motive for denying the obvious

Now the document that I am referring from states that the eye has 40,000,000 nerve endings and focuses it's muscles approximately 100,000 times a day. and that the eye has a retina that contains approximately 137,000,000 light sensitive cells.

The document continues and states that Charles Darwin stated:

"To suppose that the eye could have been formed by natural selection, seems I freely confess, absurd in the highest degree" Agreed... it does not have the reference recorded so I do not know if this statement is true or false. But let me get to the point at hand.

If man can not create the human eye then how can anyone in their right mind believe that it was created by chance? In fact... man can't create anything from nothing... we just do not know how to do it. We can re-create, reform, develop... but we can not create one grain of sand from nothing. Yet the human eye... is a mere tiny part of the most sophisticated part of creation - the human body.

Again... another statement which I would have to research and verify if this person actually made this comment:

"George Gallup; "If I could prove God statistically; take the human body alone; the chance that all the functions of the individual would just happen, is a statistical monstrosity."

Now this statement concerning Albert Einstein. This is confusing... why would this man contradict himself? If he stated this... then every other statement that has been quoted at this forum is invalid because the man appears to be speaking from both sides of his mouth. In this statement Einstein is quoted to have said:

"Everyone who is seriously interested in the pursuit of science becomes convinced that a spirit is manifest in the laws of the universe - a spirit vastly superior to man, and one in the face of our modest powers must feel humble."

Test 2:

1. Do you know any building that did not have a builder? Yes? No?

2. Do you know any painting that did not have a painter? Yes? No?

3. Do you know any car that did not have a maker? Yes? No?

If you answered "Yes" to any of those statements... please give details:______________________...



Third analogy:

Could I convince you that I dropped 50 oranges onto the ground and then by chance fell into ten rows of five oranges? Logically, anyone with an intelligent mind might conclude that someone put them there. The odds that ten oranges would fall into a straight line is mind boggling. Let alone ten rows of five.

Test 3

Yes or No 1. From the atom to the universe is there order?

Yes or No 2. Did it happen by accident or must there been an intelligent mind?

3. What are the odds of 50 oranges falling by chance into ten rows of five oranges? ______________________________...

To declare that there is no God is to make an absolute statement. And for an absolute statement to be true; one must have absolute knowledge. Here is another such statement: "There is no gold in China."

Test 4 What would I need to have for that statement to be true?

A. No knowledge of China?

B. Partial knowledge of China?

C. Absolute knowledge of China?

"C" is the correct answer. In order for the statement to be true, I must know that there is no gold in China.

Likewise; to state that there is no God and to be correct then you are stating that you are omniscient. You must have absolutely certain knowledge that there isn't one.

Let's say that a circle contains all the knowledge of the universe. And let's say that you have an incredible understanding of one percent of all that knowledge. Is it possible that the knowledge you haven't yet come across, that there might be ample evidence to prove that God does indeed exist?

If you are reasonable, you would have to admit, "Having the limited knowledge I have at present, I believe that there is no God." In other words, you don't know if God exists, so you are not an atheist. You are an "agnostic." You are like a person that looks at a building and doesn't seem to know if there is a builder.

Test 5 The man who sees a building and doesn't know if there is a builder is:

A. Intelligent

B. A fool

C. Has an ulterior motive

In summary: There are plenty of things that we have faith in that we do not fully understand. Most of us do not have a complete understanding that when you turned your computer on as to why it worked. You took a step of faith that turning it on... that somehow that it would work. You accept the unseen electrical waves that appear right in front of your eyes when you type your comments here. We do not see the reason for why the messages appear... because the powers that be are invisible to the naked eye. For them to be manifest, we need a monitor... so we can enjoy the experience of this forum.

God is not flesh and blood; He is an eternal Spirit. Immortal and invisible... like the computer waves. He can can not be experienced unless the monitor is turned on. One should approach the Bible in the same way as the monitor. If it works, enjoy it and if it doesn't, forget it.

Or do you have an ulterior motive? Could it be that the "atheist" can't find God... as a thief can't find the policeman? Could it be that your logic is clouding your good judgment?"

[dalin]

check this again too