The Pantheon of A.A. Gods

by Michael X.

This series presents images of some actual "Higher Powers" of A.A. members. A.A. members are encouraged to choose a god of their own understanding. It matters not what your god turns out to be. It can be an object, a person, a group of people...the point is that it can't be you because in A.A. philosophy you and your human qualities are useless in overcoming a drinking problem and in overcoming sin...er, defects of character. Hence, these gods are probably more appropriately called "Other Powers". The irony is that people are naming their own god and attributing that god with all sorts of powers which they themselves have relinquished in Step One. So who has the real power in this relationship? All of the following gods have the following attributes, so everybody's Higher Power in A.A. pretty much ends up looking the same anyway:

1. The A.A. God wants you to give your will and life to Him.

2. The A.A. God has a design for your life and will manage your life for you.

3. The A.A. God will remove your obsession to drink.

4. The A.A. God will remove your sins, ...er, darn it, why do I keep doing that?....defects of character.

5. The A.A. God is vitally concerned with your life and will guide you through your day.

6. The A.A. God will work miracles of healing through you as a recovered alcoholic.

So, A.A. members aren't really believing in their own understanding of God after all! How did that happen? "God as we understood Him" is thus a way of manipulating people into AA.