quote:
Originally posted by babayada:
That's just my view of it. I'd cut off my arm sooner than join a 12 step program for ANY addiction I might participate in.
At the risk of sounding crazy, let me defend my choice. The motivation for me was not so much a desire to stop compulsive overeating as it was to have a structure to work with for The Path. Esmeralda Arana presents the techniques of applied sorcery in such a beautifully simple way; tying in the ideas of Carlos Castenada, A.A., and other things like the Monroe Institute. However, the Memetic Garbage of the actual groups is just bloody aweful. I couldn't realistically do Step Three and stay in the group at the same time. This is not just because the language presuposses the Divine has a penis ("Him"), but that my understanding of the Comic Birther is that I have all the inner resources I need right now to overcome any addiction or compulsion. The first three steps can be summed up as, "I can't. God can. I think I'll let God." For me, the experience is, "I can't. Oh wait, I can. I guess I will. Why the hell am I with these people?"
Now, with ANY addiction or compulsive behavior, there is MORE than just "stop it." There are reasons the behavior was adopted in the first place, and underlying issues do need to be addressed. However, there is no reason to bring a supernatural SkyDaddy into the picture.
I'm glad I joined OA, because I did gain a lot of useful distinctions. However, I believe recovery to be more important than anything else, including OA. Since OA is hindering my recovery through memetic garbage, I need to avoid it.
Think about it rationally. What's the better affirmation, "Hello, I'm Kaiden and I'm a compulsive overeater, DexTard, compulsive spender, and satyrmaniac?" or "Hello, I'm Kaiden, and I am free from all addictions and obscuring emotions."
[This message has been edited by Kaiden (edited October 22, 2003).]
