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I grew up Catholic. As a young child this meant attending church each Sunday and later meant attending Catholic schools. It was what my family was and a label which I wore proudly. I loved the ritualism in mass and took comfort in much loved traditions. Having been raised by an exceptionally spiritual mother (and consequently my maternal side of the family) I began to later question religion. This became more pronounced throughout the years (much to the chagrin of my teachers-particularly those who taught our required Religion courses). In short I (as respectively as possible) became argumentative in these types of classes. I became increasingly frustrated by a faith which provided me with few answers. To further compound the problem I began reading material which would horrify even the most liberal of priests. I struggled and couldn't understand why I couldn't swallow the explanations my peers so readily accepted. Some of my readings focused on politics-primarily that books in the Bible were chosen as result of politics (to unite an empire under one centralized religion) versus divine inspiration. I was indignant that books that spoke of reincarnation were carefully (and silently) discarded at the Council of Nicea.. It seemed ludarcris to me that no one seemed to even question Jesus whereabouts from roughly the age of eighteen to his thirties (note: I think scholars knew exactly where he'd been but the explanation did not tie in neatly to their carefully constructed story). Alas, I am not here to debate the Bible. My aim is not to sway others from their long held and beloved beliefs. Rather, I propose that all paths lead to God regardless of the road one chooses to take. Nothing has reaffirmed my belief in this more than AA. Here millions of people found a power greater than themselves with which to live by. A power which literally saved them in ways nothing else could. In the rooms of AA no one would infringe upon another's right to believe in whatever might save another person from the true hells of alcoholism. Despite years of Catholic ideaology as well as books devoted to questioning religion, I was unable to get sober. Through AA I have discovered a power greater than myself which helps keep me sober. As it would turn out I would find God not through books or childhood teachings but within the walls of AA. I thank God for this everyday.
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