Does Alcoholics Anonymous Help Grow the Spiritual but not Religious Movement?

Both the 12 Step movement of Alcoholics Anonymous and the spiritual-but-not-religious (SBNR) movement insist there is an important difference between spirituality and religion. Briefly, it is claimed that spirituality is personal and heart-felt, while religion consists of human-created doctrines, in...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Implicit religion
Main Author: Mercadante, Linda A. 1947- (Author)
Format: Electronic Article
Language:English
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Published: Equinox [2019]
In: Implicit religion
Standardized Subjects / Keyword chains:B Alcoholics Anonymous / Spirituality / Religiosity
RelBib Classification:AD Sociology of religion; religious policy
AG Religious life; material religion
Further subjects:B 12 Step
B Transcendence
B Community
B Spiritual-but-not-religious: Addiction recovery: Theology
Online Access: Volltext (Verlag)
Volltext (doi)
Description
Summary:Both the 12 Step movement of Alcoholics Anonymous and the spiritual-but-not-religious (SBNR) movement insist there is an important difference between spirituality and religion. Briefly, it is claimed that spirituality is personal and heart-felt, while religion consists of human-created doctrines, institutions, and outward rituals. However, the two routes to that definition differ in significant ways. For AA the dichotomy has been functional to allow a diverse membership and reduce an undercurrent of societal judgmentalism. For SBNRs, the claim has been boundary-marking, facilitating the movement away from organized religion. Nevertheless, as AA has progressed, it has become more of a portal away from religion and toward the SBNR ethos. This essay shows some of the more significant theological themes that have facilitated this movement.
ISSN:1743-1697
Contains:Enthalten in: Implicit religion
Persistent identifiers:DOI: 10.1558/imre.40699