I am working on step two. I am having a hard time doing it. Not knowing what I believe in right now. I am working on the question in the Path to Recovery with my sponsor who is being very patient with me. My past experience being religious is when my father was in the hospital and he was having open heart surgery or any kind of procure then I did praying to God. The first time I ever had sex I thought that I was pregnant and I prayed to God. I was a very religious person when I was a little kid as I got older my ideas changed. I have always believe in Guardian angel when I was little when I started to go up I didn’t turn to religious as much. I didn’t like the way the church told people to pay money from there check every week. I didn’t like the idea that women weren’t able to do things that man can do. They don’t like gays, or that don’t want someone to have an abortion but they aren’t willing to take care of the baby. The don’t believe in birth control. They tell girls it is wrong to touch there bodies or think about sex.

Pathways is great, just take your time it, is not a race.  Remember  we are talking about spirituality not religion.  If you feel the need for church try a different religion.  Some  are very open to the topics that bother you.  I am a patoral care student if you want to discuss particular religioins  you can pm me here. I don't want to get into detail as religion is not a direct part of alanon.  As many times as I should have been dead my Guardian angel is getting over time!

josey

Your right it is not a race. I couldn't get my self to do the next questions because I am forcing myself to do it and that is not going to help me. Thank you for responsing.

Come on over to the step board ! We are on Step 2 this week ! :) I borrowed "Paths" from my step meeting and used some of those questions for my own step work on step 1 last week. I too have religion issues. My parents didn't give me any background. I remember my Mom thinking it would be good for me to choose when I got older. So anything I 'think' i know is from my own readings and discussions with others. I have absolutely no background. Someone said in one of my meetings last week, "alanon is Christianity w/o the agenda". Well I wouldn't put any specific religion in there. For me, alanon is Spirituality w/o the agenda. Alanon says our HP as we understand him/(her). Nobody in alanon criticizes me for how I relate to to my HP. As a matter of fact I find much encouragement here for my spiritual growth. Bob

thank you bob i am glad they are on step two.

I am also working on step two...again.  I am waiting on someone to post the questions on the board.  Dot, where are you? 

Anyway, I believe my Higher Power is my own personal God as I see him.  How I see him may not be how others see him.  Some believe in a merciful loving God and others believe in Fire and Brimstone.  A guardian angel can be a Higher Power.  There is a guy in one of the local meetings that has a tree for his Higher Power.  My husband tells me that I am his HP (no pressure there!)  I am having some difficulty with wondering why my HP is taking his sweet time with this and get frustrated that "in His time" and "my time" are so severly different.  Sometimes I have to turn to the group as my HP.  They know more than I do and have more experience than I do and that is what I am looking for at this point.

Your HP is a very personal thing.  I know that Alanon and Religion are not the same, but have found it difficult for people to work the program if they don't believe in a HP.  My husband didn't believe in God for a long time and now is angry with God, so that makes it very difficult for him to turn to him and trust in Him.

Last week dot posted the step and some literature and a day or so later posted questions.  I also went ahead and used some questions of of P2R.

Bob