From: "Spiritual Meatloaf"

[janbear]

"You do not need to believe in anything that doesn't fit for you.You don't need to mold your brain to anyone else's idea of a Higher Power, creed, code, or spirituality. The only requirement for membership in any of Twelve-Step recovery programs is a desire to stopthe self-destructive behaviour that got you there. That phrase, in one form or another, is part of every Twelvle-Step program. It includes absolutely no requirement that you believe in God. In fact, the Steps were deliberately designed to include a large "spiritual loophole" that allows anyone, of any persuasion, to participate successfully in Twelve-Step recovery."

[janbear]

"While the idea of spirituality is a core element of the Twelve Steps, the truth is that you can define exactly what this means to you-on your own terms. It means there is room for just about anyone-even if you are an agnostic or an atheist, even if you are repelled by traditional religions or the various names attributed to God, or if you once had faith that you let go of for any reason. By taking the Twelve Step Programs at their word-that you can develop your own personal spirituality-you can successfully override, and therefore come to terms with, "the God thing."