Re: that ol' religion debate

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 98-07-17 07:51:59 EDT, you write:

<< At 01:02 AM 7/17/98 EDT, Betche2@... wrote:

>In a message dated 98-07-16 23:22:50 EDT, you write:

>

><< In the NA book, in the section entitled What is the NA Program, it says

" we

> have no leaders, no initiation fees, no dues. "

>

> Maimu

> >>

>

>

>Actually in the NA BT in the section titled " What is the Narcotics Anonymous

>Program " (p 9) it says:

>

> " We are not affiliated with any other organizations, we have no fee or dues,

>no pledges to sign, no promises to make to anyone. "

>

>It says nothing in this particular reading about leaders.

Which edition? I have always maintained my 3rd. Check out page 7.

Maimu

>>

I have a 3rd edition around here somewhere, but it was packed away when I

moved....The 5th edition is the one that is currently sold and most recently

approved by the fellowship. As the most recently approved, it reflects the

views of the present day fellowship the most accurately. I know there are some

that might debate this last sentence, but it was conference approved as such.

Bette

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[Guest guest]

At 01:02 AM 7/17/98 EDT, Betche2@... wrote:

>In a message dated 98-07-16 23:22:50 EDT, you write:

>

><< In the NA book, in the section entitled What is the NA Program, it says

" we

> have no leaders, no initiation fees, no dues. "

>

> Maimu

> >>

>

>

>Actually in the NA BT in the section titled " What is the Narcotics Anonymous

>Program " (p 9) it says:

>

> " We are not affiliated with any other organizations, we have no fee or dues,

>no pledges to sign, no promises to make to anyone. "

>

>It says nothing in this particular reading about leaders.

Which edition? I have always maintained my 3rd. Check out page 7.

Maimu

----

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[Guest guest]

At 09:49 AM 7/17/98 EDT, Betche2@... wrote:

>In a message dated 98-07-17 07:51:59 EDT, you write:

>

><< At 01:02 AM 7/17/98 EDT, Betche2@... wrote:

> >In a message dated 98-07-16 23:22:50 EDT, you write:

> >

> ><< In the NA book, in the section entitled What is the NA Program, it says

> " we

> > have no leaders, no initiation fees, no dues. "

> >

> > Maimu

> > >>

> >

> >

> >Actually in the NA BT in the section titled " What is the Narcotics

Anonymous

> >Program " (p 9) it says:

> >

> > " We are not affiliated with any other organizations, we have no fee or

dues,

> >no pledges to sign, no promises to make to anyone. "

> >

> >It says nothing in this particular reading about leaders.

>

> Which edition? I have always maintained my 3rd. Check out page 7.

>

> Maimu

> >>

>

>I have a 3rd edition around here somewhere, but it was packed away when I

>moved....The 5th edition is the one that is currently sold and most recently

>approved by the fellowship. As the most recently approved, it reflects the

>views of the present day fellowship the most accurately. I know there are

some

>that might debate this last sentence, but it was conference approved as such.

>

>Bette

I know what surrounds the NA seal of approval all too well. I was an ASR

when it was approved and RSR-alt three years ago at the Conference when the

" removing the word God " came up for a vote. It was then that I realized I

no longer wanted to be a part of that political infighting and petty

bullshit. After I completed my term as RSR-alt, I let them know that I

wanted more in life than their box could offer and left. It wasn't long

after that that I also began to leave NA entirely, making the final break

(without guilt, remorse or relapse) over a year ago. I used to be a real

purist when it came to the NA seal of approval. But then I figured that if

reading the 3rd edition means that I'm not a dutiful NA member (then so be

it. The Steps remain the same, and that's what's been important to me.

Whether or not the words surrounding them meet with anyone's approval is not.

Speaking of guilt: I said to a friend of mine, also very active in WSC (on

the Transition team, etc.) that I was planning to go to Estonia next year

in the Peace Corps. They have no NA (one of the few countries that still

doesn't), and I've been told their drug problem is tremendous....the Peace

Corps recruiter suggested I may want to consider starting up a meeting

there. In any case, when I said to my NA friend, that there is no NA

there, his response was, " WHAT?? No NA?? You mean it's the only country

where they can still use without guilt? " He made a point. The programming

is such that those who don't work it with perfection (staying consistently

abstinent) are made to feel guilty at a level that often effects self

esteem if they don't conform. It is also what often keeps many from

returning once it's happened, more so than " their disease " itself. But

that's another topic.

IMO only.

Maimu

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