Celebarate Recovery Question - Al-Anon Family Group

dontcareinmi · Newbie

Celebarate Recovery Question

Mobirdie · Senior Member

I'm not but I did have a lengthy debate one evening with two members of NA (at a Naranon speaker meeting) that were claiming that Al-Anon was started by the Saddleback Church, which it wasn't. I wasn't able to convince them otherwise but finally simply asked them to please do some research on the issue prior to stating it as fact in a meeting again.

Tiger2006 · ~*Service Worker*~

In the future I encourage you to be weary of advocating treatment programs other than the al anon program. We, on this site, are members of al anon: we focus on our recovery, our issues, and our problems as they relate to the recovery from the family disease of alcholism. We do not discuss specific methodologies of recovery from the disease of alcholism other than al anon.

In light of this site not being under the jurisdiction of the General Confrence of Al Anon International, we do discuss books that are not confrence approved, using professional help as a supplement to our al anon program, our loved ones going into, through or out of various treatment programs (and our reactions to this process). However, out of our commitment to the al anon program, the vast majority of us refer back to the program of al anon in any decisions we make in our recovery.

Celebrate recovery is based on Christian ideals for an individual to recover, but not necessarily from anything specifically. Whereas organizations such as AA or NA are focused specifically for their members benefit, Celebrate Recovery is not; if you are looking at this program as a replacement for AA or NA, I do not recommend it, as it is general and does not directly challenge the individual dependent on the substance they are abusing to challenge their dependency. It also does not challenge the dependent individual to look at themselves as it relates to their alcholism/drug addiction: it simply allows them to look at their life in a general way, their fellow man in a general way, and themselves in a general way. Put another way, it simply allows for a person to go through their lives at a surface level and say "I have a problem;" it doesn't force them to name the problem nor own it.

tea2 · ~*Service Worker*~

Welcome Dontcareinmi

This is taken from page 39 of the

Al-Anon Alateen Service Manual 2004 – 2006

Suggested Al-Anon Preamble to the Twelve Steps

Al-Anon is not allied with any sect, denomination, political entity, organization, or

institution; does not engage in any controversy, neither endorses nor opposes any cause.

Please look for a Private Message from me.

Thank You, tea2

mel123 · Senior Member

I think any program that encourages or teaches addicts/alcoholics to live a life outside addiction is a good thing. To me it doesn't matter if it is AA or Celebrate Recovery. Whatever works to help someone become clean and sober is an awesome program. We shouldn't take such a narrow view on recovery. Recovery is in the heart. AA and Alanon have such a wonderful service, but it is not the only road to recovery. I have been very blessed here with MIP, but I know it is not the only way. Let us just show love to one another, regardless of their beliefs. Our ultimate goal is the same.

Love to all,

mel123

ShelBell · Senior Member

Yes, I agree with Mel. I personally don't find much CAL to be helpful, and I think that reaching out to many sources is a good thing. I seek out a great deal of books on addiction and recovery, and as a result I have learned a lot... even about myself. I think that my using a lot of different resources, you end up with a much more educated perspective.

Christy · ~*Service Worker*~

dontcare,
I hope you are not offended, asking a simple question is nowhere near advocating.
Being that this is your 2nd post I'm sure you have many questions.
Now, if you already have information on the link you provided and are trying to get others to go there, that's a different story. If an alcoholic chooses to recover they will find their own way. It's rarely because an Alanon pushed them in that direction.
Please continue to come back for more information.

Christy

-- Edited by Christy at 11:41, 2006-12-23

The material presented here is not Al-Anon Conference Approved Literature. It is a method to exchange information, ideas, feelings, problems and solutions on a personal level.