The Big Book was written by superstitious men in the 1930's. It makes sense that they would rely on a God as a "higher power".
Belief in god, any god at all, is not necessary to get and stay sober. Anyone who tells you otherwise is full of shït. There is a place for the non-believer in AA, but you must keep an open mind. The group itself can be your higher power. It's just something outside of yourself that you can look to, a support system that you can lean on, but also that you can be helpful to.
Little known to most is that Jim Burwell, one of the first 10 AA's was an atheist. Died in 1974, still godless. His story is "A vicious Cycle" in the Big Book. Also. Check out the AA Approved book Under One Big Tent, a collection of stories from other atheists and agnostics within the rooms of AA.
This post isn't meant to argue with believers. Just putting this out there for those struggling with the religious conversion that many push in AA.
Check out these practically worded 12 steps:
