Higher Power

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For other uses, see Higher Power (disambiguation).

Higher Power is a term used in Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) and other twelve-step programs.[1] The same groups use the phrases "a power greater than ourselves" and "God of our understanding" synonymously. The term is intentionally vague because the program is not tied to a particular religion or spiritual tradition; members may use it to refer to any supreme being or deity, another conception of God, or even non-supernatural things such as the twelve-step program itself.

Definition and usage

In current

Buddha. It is frequently stipulated that as long as a higher power is "greater" than the individual, then the only conditions are that it should also be loving and caring, and able to relieve the individual of their alcoholism.[2][3][4]

Alcoholics Anonymous

The terms higher power and power greater than ourselves appear many times in the "Big Book". For example:

  • "Came to believe that a power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity."[5]
  • "The alcoholic at certain times has no effective mental defense against the first drink. Except in a few cases, neither he nor any other human being can provide such a defense. His defense must come from a Higher Power."[6]
  • "Follow the dictates of a Higher Power and you will presently live in a new and wonderful world, no matter what your present circumstances!"[7]

History

Sources that may have contributed to the adoption of the term in Alcoholics Anonymous (AA), the first twelve-step group, include spirituality, the King James Version of the Bible, New Thought religion, and the work of William James.[8]

James, who wrote "The only cure for dipsomania is religiomania" in The Varieties of Religious Experience, is cited in the "Spiritual Experience" appendix of The Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous.[9] Varieties of Religious Experience uses the singular term "higher power" four times, and the plural "higher powers" seven times, to refer to powers beyond the self that may provide assistance.

The term has been cited as found in the King James version of the Bible, again in the plural form, in Romans 13:1: "Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God." However, in this passage Saint Paul is referring to civil authorities such as kings and governments, rather than a spiritual power.

Correlates of belief

Sociologist

liberal Protestants and 10.6% of Episcopalians also agreed with it.[10]

An empirically based recovery framework likened faith in a higher power to motivation for personal growth as described by Abraham Maslow and Carl Rogers.[11]

Criticism

Christian

Celebrate Recovery was founded by a group of Christians who criticized the higher power concept as being too vague. In their twelve-step-derived group, Jesus is the only higher power allowed.[12][13]

In popular culture

See also

References

  1. ^ Silkworth.net. "The God Concept In Alcoholics Anonymous – Silkworth.net". silkworth.net.
  2. S2CID 218636189
    .
  3. JSTOR 3710917
    .
  4. doi:10.5642/jhummath.202201.33
    .
  5. OCLC 2353981
    . Retrieved 2009-09-02.
  6. OCLC 2353981
    . Retrieved 2009-09-02.
  7. OCLC 2353981
    . Retrieved 2009-09-02.
  8. ISBN 0-916856-07-0
    .
  9. OCLC 2353981
    . Retrieved 2009-09-02.
  10. ^ Dart, John (December 14, 2004). "Americans' belief in God is high but nuanced, study says". Christian Century. Retrieved 2008-08-10.
  11. PMID 15895914
    .
  12. ISBN 978-0-310-22108-1
    .
  13. ^ Ryan, Dale. "God as We Understood Him : Too Christian or Not Christian Enough?". Archived from the original on 2016-04-27. Retrieved 2008-07-14.
  14. ^ Bush, George W. (2008-06-26). "Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives National Conference". The White House, Washington. Retrieved 2008-08-10.

Further reading

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