This may be long:
I used SMART Recovery to get sober and found it really helpful for me because it is more science/evidence based, doesn’t require a spiritual belief or experience and uses more modern psychological techniques. But in order to get my vet license back, I am required to go to 3 AA meetings per week for 5 years. I figured since I had 5 years of 12 step meetings ahead, I may as well approach it open minded and open hearted to see what I might gain from the experience.
I have a good deal of religious trauma in my past from being a Mississippi gay boy in a Southern Bapt church growing up. And though I have worked very hard over the years to heal those wounds, I’m still skeptical of organized religions and resist the thought of a religiously based “God.”
SMART recovery takes an empowering approach, my spiritual path-one I’ve carved out from concepts from many religions but without the dogma of any-is also empowering. I don’t believe I am powerless over drugs until and unless I use. I’ve been sober for 3 years now.
I do have a sponsor and am reading the Big Book, though we haven’t started working the steps yet.
How do I combine these seemly disparate philosophies into a single recovery path? Should I try?
I’m a member of ACA adult children of alcoholics and they have religious trauma in our literature, it is actually abuse. Might check us out. I think your on a great path, I’m am a very active AA but if we had smart around I’d add some meetings to shake up my recovery. Always remember please that you can have any belief of spirituality in AA yes there are some thumper’s but they are outside of following the program. Be you and enjoy your journey, your worth it
I haven’t tried N/A but there are some meetings where I live. I’ll give them a try. Thanks for your feedback. 
First, congrats on your sobriety! Your question brings up a lot of feelings for me. There was a recent case where an airline pilot sued and won a case against the pilots Union that said he couldn’t substitute another recovery for A.A. He actually won because he said it went against his religious beliefs. Anyway, there’s definitely a way to do what you need to do. However, it’s going to take s lot of mindfulness and tolerance on your behalf. I like what Heather and Brian responded. I still cringe every time that darn “G” word comes up. I have to constantly remind myself that everyone can have their own interpretation of a higher power. That being said, there’s a ton of god talk in AA. Taylor posted something pretty cool just recently about how to approach A.A. without god. It’s very doable. You can do it
Darn right there’s a place for you!
Keep in mind AA meetings are like ice cream, there are so many different flavors but basically all ice cream. Some are more godcentric than others. You might have to search around a bit. HeII here in Cleveland we even have one called the "god squad". There are lots of secular AA meetings where all we talk about is sobriety, zero prayer etc.
Wow, that’s something I can not only get behind puts words to behaviors I already use or at least try to use. Thank you very much!
You're welcome!
Glad you posted.
I had bad experiences with the religion in my youth also. Good news is the only requirement for A.A. membership is a desire to stop drinking.
In the Big Book there is a lot of God/Higher Power talk, but nowhere are you required to believe in anyone’s concept except your own. Nor are you required to believe in anything.
As a matter of fact in the AA 12&12 on page #26 it says “First, Alcoholics Anonymous does not demand that you believe anything. All of its 12 steps are but suggestions.” And then says “all you really need is an open mind”
Honesty
Open mindedness and
Willingness are all you need.
Your Higher Power does not have to be a God. It can be a bee for instance like Justin Furstenfeld’s (the lead singer of Blue October) is. The whole idea is that alcohol is more powerful than your own willpower to control, and you need to believe and understand that there is some power or force out there greater than you (the force of nature for example) that you can rely upon to help you through sobriety. Atheists and Agnostics have recovered using the 12 step method.
Al AA is a Spiritual Program not a Religious Program and there is a huge difference between the two. Personally I will never attend another NA meeting because I have tried several and the language is horrible. The ones I have tried have no structure at all. For ME it’s AA only.
Al H
I’m so glad you asked! And I’m happy that you’re open minded about doing both recovery programs. I’m an Alcoholic and I love AA. The God part was tough for me in the beginning. It’s wonderful that in AA we get to have our own conception of God. Plus the program is all suggestions. If you don’t like any of the prayers that are suggested by all means come up with your own. Here’s the biggest takeaways from what I get out of the program:
I’m allergic to alcohol
I’m selfish and self centered
I have an obsession of the mind
I wasn’t spiritual
I turned my will (thinking) of to my creator.
I took inventory of myself- looking at who and why I was angry. How it affected me and what was my exact nature of my wrongs. Where was I to blame?
Then I realized the character traits/defects that I rely upon to live day to day where causing harm to others and myself. Then looked at my sexual conduct to see what my behavior was like. Then I looked at the people I’ve harmed and realized I owe them an amends. So I was able to clean up my side of the street. I continue to watch for resentments, dishonesty, selfishness and fear throughout the day. At night I pray and meditate answering ten questions on page 86. To really go inward and make sure I’m not hiding anything. And the best part of the program is carrying the message. I have sponsees that I have taken and continue to take newcomers through the book. Guiding them through the steps. This is how I stay sober. Helping others achieve sobriety. It’s truly a way of life a design for living. I hope you’re next 5 years in AA is better then the three years I have had so far. And I’ll end with this these three years have been amazing with ups and downs. Big growth and no growth, it’s all a journey. Make the best of it. Don’t harm people and give as much as you can.
Good luck brother!
Why not? You don’t have to believe everything in the BB. There are even Atheist/Agnostic AA groups. The higher power concept is flexible, and the “spiritual experience” thing can be interpreted/felt in subtle, psychological ways—called “spiritual” for good measure. The steps,especially 4 and 5, area
I found very useful and transformative, though I personally don’t call it “spiritual.” More psychological and moral philosophy at work for me. Explore as many meetings as possible. Find one you feel comfortable with. Take what good AA has to offer, but you don’t have to, in my opinion only, let the program
make you commit intellectual suicide. Good luck. I’ll wager you’ll encounter a lot of good ideas and people
First and foremost get over the religious implications. Embrace the "... God of my understanding..." pieces and find a meeting that suites you. They come in every flavor under the Sun. I was raised in a Jewish neighborhood, baptized Presbyterian, confirmed Episcopalian and educated hard core Roman Catholic. I got through it . My partner got a DUII years back and I attended her court ordered "community based support " classes with her. There's nothing in Life Ring, Sober Support or other "non" religious programs that is in conflict with any 12 step program
You know what the opposite of depression is? Expression. Expressing your emotions associated with your traumas will create room for healing within yourself. Whatever medium you choose that best suits you, hey, more power to you.
I’ve never been to AA, but was at a camp where they told me it was a Rehab Camp for Veterans: most of the inhabitants were 18-26 habitual drug offenders; it was just me and one other guy that were Veterans, lol. So, there was a bit of a disconnect, at one point they started talking about the big book and saying some prayer that had me flashback to Roman Catholic Church and psychotic abusive nuns, but that’s my past and not my present. I calmly stood up and stepped out of the circle, and no one said anything to me negatively. As soon as they were done, I rejoined the circle, shared something about my experience at camp, and then that was it. Folks that go to AA are the welcoming sort, not the Bible fighting sort, far as I’ve seen. By the by, I don’t express my emotions with words, so I don’t see a necessity in going to those meetings for me. Doesn’t mean it is nor will be a bad experience for others. Hope that helps you out.