Do I have to believe in “ God” to be in this process?
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Nope. Just yourself.
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Nope. Some people need it, some people don't. If the concept of a god or higher power doesn't do anything for you in the first place, it's not going to do anything now.
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Cynthia, I was an an agnostic with moments of atheism before sobriety. Today I’m a believer in God, Lord Jesus Christ. How I got to this point in my sobriety was through a belief in a higher power greater then myself, called GUS. This stands for Great Universal Spirit. The first time I heard this acronym I fell in love with it. I journaled to this Higher power, I told everyone at meetings about it. I was on fire with a higher power. The best part is it kept me sober and coming back to meetings. Then one day after I really started diving into the Big Book of AA, I had a paradigm shift in my belief and told myself that I need to call it God. Because I always had to try to make things different or better in my life that always was existed. I’m other words I don’t need to reinvent the wheel.
Another analogy I would use is this; I would ask myself this, can I stop the waves from crashing on the beach? Or objects falling back to earth after I toss them up into the air? This new way of thinking for me was huge in making progress in early sobriety.
I hope you got something out of this. Either way, all we have to do is not pick up that drug or drink today. And if we ask our higher power to remove theses urges we have a real good chance of recovery. Have a blessed day my friend.
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In my experience, most people who have long term sobriety (years), have found some form of God (higher power). Just keep an open mind and be willing. God does play a big part in my recovery. I think a lot of people avoid spirituality because they are afraid to do it wrong, but there is no wrong or right, just an openness that is required.
If you want, Google chapter 4 of the big book of Alcoholics Anonymous (We Agnostics) and read what it has to say. I am including a link from Joe & Charlie which is an entertaining and informative way to cover the chapter.
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Absolutely not. Not to rip on the religious portion but the God stuff is archaic and has no practical application (for me) in recovery. I think 12 step is detrimental as well as it keeps the label and groveling alive. All you owe, is to yourself. The past has already stopped existing so there is no need to keep it present. Serve yourself.
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There’s an interesting history to present day A.A. The basic premise is based off the Oxford group which was/is? a Christian fellowship. Bill and Bob used the spiritual part and left out the God dogma. They decided the only requirement should be a desire to quit drinking, in opposition to a belief in Christ. This opened the door to believers and non believers. They were very insightful and forward thinking.
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Nah absolutely not. I struggled with this for quite awhile myself.. I'd recommend reading some of Russell Brand's books. For me at least it helped me reconcile my own beliefs with the preconceptions I held with traditional 12 step programs. Hope this helps!
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No harm… just don’t have blind faith. I’ve seen too much horrific things. Not a pity party or an excuse.
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And, you have responded and been helpful. Thank you
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No. All I would ask is what more you yourself can try that you haven’t tried already?
I got to a point where I conceded that I couldn’t quit on my own. So I went to 12 step and got a sponsor. And I went to meetings and read the books. And I felt like everyone there knew what I was struggling with. So after a while of not drinking my sponsor asked me what had changed? And I told him that the meetings helped me not drink. And boom, there was my power greater than myself. Just as 2 is greater than 1, a group of sober people proved to be more powerful than I was as the individual alcoholic. So we moved on to step 3. And quickly on to step 4.
Now and again when the conversation goes that way, I just remind myself that I am not god. But I am sober. So there is something greater than me out there.
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What harm is there in not believing or just being ambivalent?
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‘God’ is such a loaded word. I don’t have a problem with Jesus, but the Bible is hopelessly outdated and cannot provide useful guidance for nowadays issues. Most religions start out with great ideas and intentions and end up as opium for the people at best or a ‘holy mess’ entirely. All that being said, I do believe in a force greater than myself, and whenever I can connect with that I find joy and change for the better. I believe we all have to find something that resonates with us, and then everything becomes much easier, sobriety included.
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No. You just need to believe in yourself. Mindfulness practice helps. I find Buddhism teachings super helpful but not in the religious sense. Just in the way that it gives you tools to improve your awareness of self and others. 
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Well... Yeah. If the day comes and that happens, I'll be okay with saying "my bad". Never had a problem admitting my faults or when I'm wrong, so, why start at death? Still won't matter much or do anything for me, though.
In this hypothetical though, for all you know my chance at a new reality isn't blown. We're humans who cannot speak for an entity we have no fundamental understanding of or any interactions with - all we have is a 2000 year game of telephone to rely on.
On another note, I could never follow a god that that would prevent salvation over not following blindly. That's just bizarre to me and has always sounded like a way to use fear to get you to follow their teachings.
Like I said above, it's cool if you need it or want it. I just don't share those feelings.
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Hmmmmm 
A lot of good shares/opinions..
When I was locked up my own belief in self did not free me from incarceration, when I would trust my gut feelings about things it did not free me from incarceration of the mind especially when I need a drink pill or fix. It was obvious if not to me others.. my structure, thought process among other things were damaged.
(SELF) it’s kind of like relying on sand to be a solid foundation/base to hold up a structure.. sooner or later things will get a bit shifty and that structure will fall.
I’ve been around for a few 24 hours and my concept of higher power has change.. it’s not of a certain religion or anything like that.. which is neither a good thing or bad thing.
The cool thing about the fellowship I belong to does not require a certain higher power 
Talk about a relief 😮💨
The program I belong only requires a desire.. then rest will happen when you get to that point.. for now do your best to focus on today. In reality today is all we have.. how are we going to experience the possibilities of tomorrow if we can’t do today?
It’s purdy obvious something greater than self had a huge part in getting you where you are at today in your life.
What that something is just might be part of your beautiful journey.
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God does not equal religion. Spirituality does not equal religion. Breaking that comparison is a good step towards an open mind.
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When we get involved in such discussions not only are we involved with the discussion at hand, we are also involved in our personal recovery.
Like my sponsor says to me, “your not always gona be the popular kid in the crowd!”
I tell ya what bro I didn’t get clean to win friends and influence others..
Stay involved brother
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You remind me of my sponsor, Tommy.
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Okay….
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