‘God As We Understood Him': Being ‘Spiritual But Not Religious' in Alcoholics Anonymous

Members of Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) draw upon beliefs, practices, and experiences they deem spiritual in order to help them get and stay sober. This article traces how AA emerged from its evangelical parent to become a "spiritual rather than religious organization" by encouraging members...

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Autore principale: Hahn, Jennifer Lois (Autore)
Tipo di documento: Elettronico Articolo
Lingua:Inglese
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Interlibrary Loan:Interlibrary Loan for the Fachinformationsdienste (Specialized Information Services in Germany)
Pubblicazione: [2019]
In: Implicit religion
Anno: 2019, Volume: 22, Fascicolo: 2, Pagine: 101-121
(sequenze di) soggetti normati:B Alcolisti Anonimi / Immagine di Dio / Spiritualità
Notazioni IxTheo:AD Sociologia delle religioni
AG Vita religiosa
Altre parole chiave:B Perennialism
B Spirituality
B ‘spiritual but not religious'
B Alcoholics Anonymous
B unchurched
Accesso online: Volltext (Publisher)
Volltext (doi)
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Riepilogo:Members of Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) draw upon beliefs, practices, and experiences they deem spiritual in order to help them get and stay sober. This article traces how AA emerged from its evangelical parent to become a "spiritual rather than religious organization" by encouraging members to engage with "God as we understood Him." Interviews with thirty-four current and former AA members in the greater Los Angeles area, as well as ethnographic observation at AA meetings and related events, reveal how a significant number of modern AAs have adopted a personal "spiritual but not religious" orientation, seeking a healing truth outside of traditional religious organizations. Emerging from the Twelve Steps and sometimes in imitation of one of AA's founders, this perennialist orientation touts a loving and forgiving Higher Power and a notion of spirituality as a profound interconnection with other alcoholics, challenging scholarly assumptions about narcissism and social disengagement in contemporary spirituality.
ISSN:1743-1697
Comprende:Enthalten in: Implicit religion
Persistent identifiers:DOI: 10.1558/imre.37778